The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is allocating P60 million to support research initiatives that will enable the Philippines grapple the effects of COVID-19.

Spearheaded by the DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development, the project “Science and Technology for a Resilient Community against the Pandemic” or STRAP Block Grant is the department’s response to help Filipinos combat the pandemic and adapt to the new normal.

Projects that will be funded in this program should fall under these priority areas:

1. Work from home tools

           These are tools for efficient communication, collaboration, focus, learning new skills, resources for working, managing stress, and the like.

2. Workplace ergonomics

           Workplace re-design and managing movement could be studied and simulated to ensure social distancing during the new normal.

3. Safe mobility and transport – air, sea, and land

           Digitization and connectivity will be a crucial key to enabling a seamless mobility and transport during the new normal.

4. Response and coping up with the new normal

           Some of the ways to help cope with the new normal phase include the delivery services, digital contactless payments, virtual learning, 3D printing, drones, among others.

5. Testing and calibration of locally developed medical devices

           DOST-PCIEERD supported the design and development of ventilator prototypes to be simulated and tested in cooperation with the Electronics Product Development Center (EPDC) and FDA-accredited testing body. This program will provide testing facilities and additional support needed by local developers to have their prototypes tested, accredited, clinically tested for multiple production for deployment to its partner hospitals and institutions. This is not limited to ventilators but can be extended to other medical devices (e.g. respirators, thermal scanners, etc.)

6. Geospatial and ICT Solutions to address COVID-19

           The most recent challenge lies on establishing a safer, more connected new normal related to governance challenges that opens opportunities for scientific geospatial solutions provided by DOST. This include educational tools, artificial intelligence, mobile apps and devices, among others to address COVID-19 crisis.  

7. New devices and products

           The program shall help ensure that individuals, patients and health care providers have timely and continued access to high-quality medical devices including masks, face shields, gowns, gloves, and electronic wearables to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic.

8. Protective coatings for Surfaces and PPEs

           Nano-based coatings for surfaces and PPEs can help prevent the spread and infection of the corona virus. When the virus touches the surface, nano-based coatings will automatically neutralize the virus. It will also allow the reusability of the PPEs while also addressing the lack of adequate number of PPEs for our frontliners.

9. Detection and disinfection technologies

           Ultraviolet LEDs are currently being considered as an effective means of detecting, disinfecting and neutralizing coronavirus from surfaces and, potentially, air and water. As a technology, UV Light disinfection has been used for a while and can still be further explored or developed.

10. Emergency food for COVID-19 affected families, communities, and frontliners

           In the past, there are emergency food deployed for areas and communities affected by natural calamities. This time, more food options will be developed to cater to the needs of affected families, communities, and frontliners that have longer shelf life, safe and ready-to-eat.

DOST PCIEERD Executive Director and STRAP project leader Dr. Enrico C. Paringit expressed hope that the research outputs from the endeavor will help Filipino communities to thrive and get back on its feet.

“As a leader and partner in enabling innovations in the country amid the pandemic, we are optimistic that the outputs of the STRAP Block Grant will keep us buckled safely as we navigate the new normal,” he said.

Paringit avowed to continue supporting novel ideas and concepts that can provide solutions and opportunities for all Filipinos.

“We will be relentless in our pursuit of newer ways in finding our way out of this pandemic.  We believe in the ingenuity of our Filipino researchers and look forward to their ideas,” he said.

 

Addressing concerns over threats to food security, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) seeks proposals that will innovate the supply chain and help the food manufacturing industry adapt to the new normal.

Dubbed “Smart Food Value Chain Program”, the grant seeks to provide funding for projects that focuses on food production, food processing, logistics supply chain and resource management systems, and smart retailing systems.

DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Resource and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit unveiled the initiative as the department provide solutions and opportunities in promoting sustainability in the food supply chain and ensure food at the table for every Filipino.

“As leader and partner in enabling innovations, we are in the lookout for novel ideas that can revolutionize how our food value chain and provide food for every citizen.  We hope that through this initiative we can keep our economy afloat while ensuring health protocols are in place and followed,” he said.

The grant is open to all public and private universities and colleges, research development institutes, research and development consortia, non-profit laboratories, and other public or private non-profit science and technology institution in the Philippines.

 The scope of R&D work includes the following:

1. Upgrading of Selected Food Processing Centers and Roll out of Technologies in the Regions
2. Smart Modular Mobile Food Processing Facility
3. Development of An Integrated Food Value Chain and Resource Management System (FVCRMS)
4. Smart Retailing System (SRS)

All proposals should be submitted online through dpmis.dost.gov.ph on August 7 to 21, 2020. Instructions for submission are also available in this site.

Requirements for the proposal include:

• Letter of Intent and Endorsement from the head of the institution addressed to:

             DR. ENRICO C. PARINGIT 

             Executive Director 

             Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) 

             Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 

             4^th and 5^th Level, Science Heritage Building, DOST Compound, Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City 1631 

• Detailed DOST-GIA Proposal Format through the DPMIS
• Supplementary Files uploaded
  • Scientific Basis/Theoretical Framework
  • Workplan
  • Letter of Intent or Cooperation from partner agencies and technology adopters
  • Gender and Development Score
  • Details of Line-Item Budget
  • Risk Management Plan
  • Curriculum Vitae of Project Leader

For inquiries or comments, you may contact: 

ENGR. NIÑALIZA H. ESCORIAL

Chief SRS, Industrial Technology Development Division

5th Level, Science Heritage Building, DOST Complex,  

Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

(+632) 8837-2926

Note that only applications with complete documentary requirements will be processed.

Screenshot from the Training Launch on 10 August 2020. The activity was graced by DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, DOST Undersecretary Brenda Nazareth-Manzano, UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, and UP-SURP Dean Hussein Lidasan

10 August 2020 – The Department of Science and Technology and the University of the Philippines today launched an online training course for local government planners to help them project growth in their area.

Dubbed the DOST-PLANADES Settlement Model Training Module, the online course will be a useful tool in identifying suitable locations for urban expansion, predicting future demand for housing and its financial requirements, and planning for the spatial development of these emerging areas.

The training module is a product of a research conducted by the UP Planning and Development Research Foundation Inc. (PLANADES), supported by DOST and monitored by the DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).

DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit lauded the timeliness of the training module especially its shift to the online platform.

“As leader and partner in enabling innovations, we believe that the DOST PLANADES Settlement Training Module is an essential tool for local government planners who would like to come up with data-driven, science-based plan for their development. This training module will be helpful in their journey towards sustainable growth in the regions,” he said.

The training module offers an online course consisting of eight modules and is expected to be completed within 22 hours. The project will maximize the use of Canvas Network to aid the trainers and learners in completing the entire course.

The Human Settlement Modeling Project under PLANADES was created to deal with two concerns: first, to project settlements development in new growth areas in the country, and second, to estimate the corresponding housing requirements in the identified growth areas. Its four outputs are as follows:

1. A settlement development model for new growth areas in the Philippines
2. An estimation of projected housing requirements in the new growth areas.
3. The adoption of a model by a pilot LGU in its Comprehensive Land Use and Comprehensive Development Plan
4. A training module on the use of the settlements development model

PLANADES has identified nine (9) drivers of growth that would affect the development.  According to the study, they are:

1. Internal Revenue Allotment
2. Average Family Income
3. Government Expenditure
4. Resilience to Flood Hazards
5. Presence of Ecozones
6. Proximity to Airport/Seaport
7. Groundwater Allocation
8. Proximity to Road Network
9. Within developable areas (outside Protected areas)

The research team has also identified the top 20 growth provinces.  They are:

1. Cebu
2. Cavite
3. Bulacan
4. Negros Occidental
5. Laguna
6. Pangasinan
7. Rizal
8. Davao del Sur
9. Batangas
10. Pampanga
11. Iloilo
12. Nueva Ecija
13. Quezon
14. Leyte
15. Zamboanga del Sur
16. Camarines Sur
17. Isabela
18. South Cotabato
19. Misamis Oriental and
20. Negros Oriental

Paringit expressed optimism that the outputs of the DOST PLANADES Settlement Model will boost economic activity in the region as it can pave the way for better local government planning.

“DOST PCIEERD will continue to support endeavors like the DOST PLANADES Settlement Model Project and provide solutions and opportunities that can make change happen and accelerate development in our regions,” he said.

Interested individuals may inquire about the training program by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

As teachers scramble for ways to find a viable and effective way of teaching mathematics in the new normal, the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), developed an online platform that makes math more interesting, compelling, and engaging for students.

Developed by the team led by Loyola Schools Associate Dean for Research and Creative Work Dr. Ma. Louise Antonette N. De Las Penas, the “Technology Innovations for Mathematical Reasoning, Statistical Thinking and Reasoning” or Mathinic project seeks to create a digital mathematics learning environment to transform young Filipinos into proficient problem solvers using digital mobile applications and instructional materials, large-scale database of assessment results, and a database for statistical learning or Census-at-School.

“Our focus is to intuitively spark a zest among Filipinos, of varying age, to become math wizards by developing a digital classroom with sound pedagogical principles, user-friendly, aligned with the Department of Education (DepEd) curriculum, has minimum system requirements for mobiles or computers, and is cost-effective,” De Las Penas said.

The research seeks to create twenty (20) interactive applications that focus on number magnitude (for Grades 1 to 6) with accompanying user manuals, twenty (20) interactive applications in mathematics for Grades 7 to 10 with accompanying teaching guides, database for storing census results, making mathematics e-learning to be more interesting and meaningful among Filipino children.

At present, the project has finalized the test structures for addition and subtraction, conducted needs and gaps assessment in two (2) grade schools and two (2) high schools in San Mateo, met with school representatives, identified least-learned topics for grade and year levels, conducted the initial meeting with Mayor and Vice Mayor of San Mateo and representatives from DepEd-San Mateo to discuss and endorse the use of technologies. The project will soon finalize its test items on multiplication, division, and fractions.

The apps can provide number sense experiences to children and support teachers who wish to integrate research-based practices in the classroom. The database for statistical learning will be the first in the Philippines giving students access to authentic data.

DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit recognized the value of the apps especially for teachers who are now looking for tools to aid in the blended learning method of teaching in the new normal. 

“As a leader and partner in supporting innovations, we hope that we support more technologies that can help us navigate in the new normal,” says Paringit.

Event-based wind hazard regional hourly-simulation of Typhoon Kammuri (Tisoy).  It can determine the individual wind swath of existing tropical cyclone wind events showing the location of maximum wind where damage could be significant. The wind hazard varies considerably in the surrounding areas due to local terrain roughness, the shielding due to upwind structures and topographic factors.

As the Philippines enters the rainy season, researchers from the Department of Science and Technology and the University of the Philippines unveiled the development of severe wind hazard maps for susceptible buildings around the country.

Funded by the DOST and monitored by the DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST PCIEERD), the researchers from the program “Severe Wind Hazard and Risk Assessment for Cebu City” developed fundamental datasets and information on hazard, exposure, and vulnerability of different building types against strong winds, providing critical information for local disaster response teams.

The research team from the DOST Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration developed regional wind hazard maps for the entire country. Severe wind maps for 78 provinces, and 41 local wind hazard maps for 41 provinces. The regional wind hazard maps were modified to local settings like terrain and other topographic factors.

DOST PAGASA also developed a risk exposure database for 2, 600 buildings in Cebu City to prepare local chief executives on the effects of strong winds in their LGU.

On the other hand, researchers from the UP Institute of Civil Engineering are developing building vulnerability classification system that classifies structures according to their susceptibility to damage when battered by severe winds.

DOST PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit explained that the severe wind hazard maps that will soon be made available to local government units for disaster preparedness and mitigation, Philippines being one of the most prone to tropical cyclones in the second half of the year.

“We hope these hazard maps can equip our local disaster mitigation officers in preparing, planning, responding, and mitigating hazards that are brought about by strong winds of tropical cyclones. As leader and partner in enabling innovations, we shall continue to provide solutions and opportunities that can help the Filipino people cope with the challenges of natural disasters,” he said.