By Liza Soriano

ISABELA — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in collaboration with Isabela State University (ISU), has successfully introduced a new herd of goat kids, born through Embryo Transfer (ET) technology here.

The five goat kids were produced using semen from a purebred Boer buck and egg cells from three dams with bloodlines comprising 50% Boer, 25% Anglo Nubian, and 25% native goats.

Under the guidance of DOST Balik Scientist Dr. Miguel Mervin Pajate, the ISU project team set up the laboratory for laparoscopic ET. The successful pregnancies of the surrogate dams were monitored by a team led by Dr. Jonathan N. Nayga of ISU.

ET is a technique where embryos are collected from a superior donor female and transferred to a surrogate dam for the remainder of the pregnancy. Its primary advantage is the increased number of offspring generated from each female.

“Through embryo transfer technology, the Philippines can harness the economic and nutritional benefits of a robust goat industry,” said DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr.

“The goat industry presents a viable business opportunity for local entrepreneurs, requiring minimal upkeep and low investment costs. With embryo transfer, we have the chance to improve the health and productivity of our local livestock.”

To date, the ISU project team has completed three trials. The first was conducted in February 2023, with kids born in June 2023; the second in October 2023, with kids born in February 2024; and the most recent in November 2023, with kids born in March 2024.

ia/mnm

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Balik Scientists program is supporting the establishment of the first biomolecular engineering laboratory in the country at the University of Mindanao (UM).

This initiative aims to transform environmental wastes into valuable industrial compounds and develop innovative biosensors for detecting environmental pollutants, according to DOST.

During the inauguration ceremony of the University of Mindanao Biomolecular Engineering Laboratory (UMBEL), three DOST Balik Scientists — Dr. Angelo Banares (metabolic engineering), Dr. Chosel Lawagon (nanotechnology), and Dr. Terence Al Abaquita (crop protection, neurobiology, chronobiology, and cell and molecular biology)—showcased their collaborations to enhance the capabilities of the new laboratory.

UMBEL was established to advance studies in biomolecular engineering using state-of-the-art approaches and techniques.

The laboratory focuses on integrating metabolic engineering and synthetic biology to address pressing environmental issues through the engineering of nonpathogenic microbes.

The research interests of UMBEL include:

-Metabolic engineering to accelerate the degradation of wastes such as plastics, agricultural, urban, and other toxic chemical wastes.

-Metabolic engineering to convert wastes into specialty and high-value chemicals.

-Optimization through fine-tuning of metabolic pathways and fermentation processes to enhance the production of engineered strains for industrial purposes.

-Development of cost-effective biosensors for the detection of toxic heavy metals and chemical pollutants.

(el Amigo/mnm)

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. (middle, left) and San Miguel Foods President Francisco Alejo III (middle right), sign a memorandum of agreement formalizing their partnership to develop a standard premix for enhanced nutribuns to support government’s nutrition program for children. With them are (extreme left) DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) Director Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, and (extreme right) San Miguel Mills Inc. OIC-General Manager Antonina Sio. The standardized flour premix, based on FNRI’s formulation, will help ensure children get the precise nutrient bundle they need.

MANILA — San Miguel Foods (SMF) and the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) have partnered to standardize the NutriBun formulation used in government feeding programs for underprivileged children to help address malnutrition and prevent stunting among vulnerable communities.

The agreement, formalized through the signing of a memorandum of agreement, is seen to enhance the effectiveness of government efforts to improve child nutrition and health nationwide.

The premixes will be used by DOST-FNRI’s nationwide network of “adaptors”–makers of enhanced NutriBuns distributed to children beneficiaries of the program.

The program aims to ensure that sufficient, standardized nutritional values go into every NutriBun so all children get the full nutritional benefits intended. At the same time, it will also allow for cost-effectiveness for the program’s adaptors.

Through its flour milling unit San Miguel Mills, Inc., San Miguel Foods will also provide funding for FNRI’s research, and help deliver the precise nutrient bundle needed by children in each serving of the nutrient-packed bread.

“Nutrition is an advocacy we have been focused on for many years now. This partnership will combine the research and development being done by DOST-FNRI, and the technical know-how and production capabilities of San Miguel Foods. Ultimately, this will benefit many children, especially those in disadvantaged communities who do not get enough or proper nutrition,” said SMC president Ramon S. Ang.

The company’s supply chain and logistical resources are also seen to complement DOST-FNRI’s network of enhanced nutribun adaptors, ensuring the program reaches more children all over the country.

The urgency of delivering enhanced nutribuns is supported by alarming statistics from DOST-FNRI’s Expanded National Nutrition Survey in 2021.

Their study revealed that 26.7% of children aged three to five years old and 19.7% of children aged five to 10 years old are already considered stunted.

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. emphasized that partnerships with the private sector are integral to scaling up the many programs and technologies DOST produces to address malnutrition.

He also lauded the efforts of SMC and Mr. Ramon S. Ang to promote science and technology to advance national development.

“SMC President Ramon Ang is one of the champions of Science, Technology, and Innovation, which can be considered as drivers of change. Mr. Ang is a firm believer that scientists, research and development outputs, and S&T services play a key role in societal and economic development.”

Partnering with DOST-FNRI on the enhanced nutribuns programs is just one of the many ways the diversified conglomerate has supported the reduction of hunger and malnutrition in the country.

San Miguel Foods President Francisco “Butch” Alejo III expressed the company’s intention to produce affordable products that address the nutritional needs of those in marginalized sectors, especially the youth.

“Nourishing people is more than just providing affordable food. We want to create opportunities that will uplift generations of Filipinos. With our huge production capacities and DOST’s research capabilities, we can develop and deliver safe, delicious, and nutritious meals that fuel the mind and body, and invigorate the Filipino spirit,” Alejo said.

Apart from producing nutritious products, the company also continues to prevent stunting in communities where it operates through its CSR program Handog Kalusugan, a three-year sustainable program that aligns with the country’s First 1,000 Days Law.

The program focuses on the critical developmental phase in a child’s life, from conception to two years old. Now on its second run, the program has helped ensure that 97% of the babies chosen for the initiative recorded normal height and weight.

(el Amigo/MNM)

Ni Liza Soriano

MANILA — Inaprubahan na ng Senado ang panukalang badyet ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST) para sa taong 2024, na nagkakahalaga ng P26.7 bilyon.

Gayunpaman, ikinabahala ni Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva ang magkakapatong na tungkulin sa loob ng iba’t ibang departamento ng gobyerno.

Ibinigay niyang halimbawa ang Department of Health, Department of Energy, at ang Department of Agriculture, na may magkakatulad na aktibidad sa pananaliksik at pagpapaunlad.

“Nagiging biro na lang po every time we talk about different departments doing the same thing, and somehow confusing legislators,” ani Villanueva.

Hiniling ni Villanueva sa ahensiya na magsagawa ng pagsusuri sa pagtatasa ng istruktura at tungkulin ng organisasyon ng bawat kalakip na ahensiya.

Kinilala ni Senador Francis Tolentino, sponsor ng badyet ng DOST, ang magkakapatong na tungkulin at ipinaliwanag na may ilang ahensiyang nagpatibay ng mga tungkuling orihinal na nakabalangkas sa Executive Order No. 128 ng 1987.

“They’re the ones in charge of research and development, and other government entities are supposed to coordinate with them. What is happening right now..is that their outputs are being utilized by other government agencies to justify perhaps their existence,” ayon kay Tolentino.

(ai/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

THE systems of the Philippine National Police and the Department of Science and Technology have been breached, the Department of Information and Communications Technology said Friday, the 13th of October.

“Dito sa DOST, we confirm na mukhang breaches nga ito. Initial report is that there are some experts’ data, [personal identifiable information] ng mga experts,” DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy said in a radio interview.

“Meron din kasing report sa PNP, pero iyan ay sobrang luma naman iyan so kumbaga hina-hype lang nila pero lumang tugtugin na rin iyon,” added Dy.

While experts consider the data breach “dangerous,” Dy claims the leak is on a small scale.

“We’re going to advise DOST to also advise the people whose credentials were leaked to make the proper defenses or mitigations,” Dy said.

Earlier, a data breach in the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) was also reported.

DICT said that is now looking at possible suspects behind the data breach in PSA.

However, Information and Communications Technology Spokesman Assistant Secretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso did not disclose the name or what group was behind the attack.

“We want to be responsible as well in statements that we would issue out so we will be more accurate and responsive to all the queries. With the PSA, our suspect is local and amateur,” Paraiso said.

Meanwhile, the official reminded the public to be vigilant.

“We would like to ask the public to be very vigilant at huwag ho masyadong mag-panic given that again we have very competent people here in DICT and we would be very transparent if there is an actual attack that happened as long as we can confirm it we will tell the public right away,” Paraiso said.

(ai/mnm)