Los Baños, Laguna – The Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc.’s (LBSCFI) celebration of the 2008 National Science and Technology Week was concluded with a closing ceremony held last July 18 in this university town.

At the University of the Philippines Los Baños’ (UPLB) D.L. Umali Hall, the event drew the participation of an interesting mix of students, researchers, politicians, artists, government officials, and LBSCFI officials and staff.

“I would like to commend the Los Baños Science Community (LBSC) for upholding the tradition of celebrating yearly the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW),” Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro said. Alabastro was among the key personalities invited by LBSCFI during the affair.

Alabastro added that among the science communities in the country, LBSC is the most active in the observance of the NSTW. She recounted that for the past 5 or 6 years, LBSCFI has always invited her to grace its NSTW celebrations.

“I would like to congratulate LBSC for always coming up with novel ideas in promoting and increasing interest in S&T (science and technology) among its stakeholders. And this year is no exception,” the secretary commented on LBSCFI’s NSTW celebration also dubbed as “Syensaya.”

R&D symposium-cum-award rites

As with the previous years, LBSCFI’s NSTW celebration culminates with the presentation and recognition of outstanding research and development (R&D) works.

For this year, the F.O. Tesoro Technology Transfer Award went to “Substitution of supplemental light required for the bolting of Aster ericoides hybrid using gibberellic acid” by Dr. Leonido R. Naranja and Ms. Maria Charito Balladres of UPLB. The project developed a technology for the induction of bolting or flowering of aster. It used gibberellic acid, instead of electric-powered incandescent bulbs, for supplemental light to induce bolting.

“Biotechnology-assisted development of bunchy top virus resistant banana by mutation breeding” was given the Philippine Agriculture and Resources Research Foundation, Inc. Award. The project demonstrated protocols for generating mutations using gamma irradiation; induction, selection, and multiplication of mutant lines using tissue culture; greenhouse screening; and field evaluation of banana bunchy top virus. The team behind the project are UPLB’s Olivia P. Damasco, Teodora O. Dizon, Felipe S. dela Cruz, Jr., Judith B. Estrella, Leila S. Caymo, Efrelito Jay M. Guittap, Ryan Rodrigo P. Tayobong, and Evelyn Mae T. Mendoza.

The Dr. Elvira O. Tan Memorial Award for best published paper in aquaculture/inland fisheries went to “Polyculture of green mussels, brown mussels, and oysters with shrimp control luminous disease in simulated culture system” by Eleonora A. Tendencia of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-Aquaculture Department. For the award’s best published paper in marine fisheries, “Enhancing the recovery of depleted Tripneustes gratilla stocks through grow-out culture and restocking” won. Authors of the paper are UP Marine Science Institute’s Marie Antonette Junio-Meñez, Helen Grace Bangi, Maria Celia Malay, and Davelyn Pastor.

Incidentally, the LBSCFI R&D Awards Committee for agriculture and forestry is chaired by PCARRD Deputy Director for R&D, Danilo C. Cardenas.

New board of directors takes oath

Another highlight of the program was the induction of LBSCFI’s new set of Board of Directors, which was presided by DOST Estrella F. Alabastro. The new board is composed of Dr. Cecilio R. Arboleda, UPLBFI president; Dr. Leuvina M. Tandug, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau OIC-director; Dr. Robert S. Zeigler, International Rice Research Institute director-general; Dr. Alexander Madrigal, DOST-4 regional director; Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, PCARRD executive director; Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and and Research in Agriculture director; Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Resources Research and Development executive director; Caesar P. Perez, Los Baños mayor; and Dr. Luis Rey I. Velasco, UPLB chancellor. (See previous post)

Cong. Abaya keynotes

Honorable Joseph Emilio A. Abaya, chair of the House Committee on S&T and congressman of the 1st District of Cavite, also took center stage, as he delivered the keynote speech.

“The country’s current problems give us an even better perspective of how dependent we are on science and technology. The rising prices of rice and petroleum products; the devastations caused by natural calamities; and the effects of global warming are just a few of the many problems we can link to S&T,” he said.

The congressman likewise commended LBSCFI’s 18 years of cooperation and collaboration to address priority needs of the municipality. He noted that the R&D works recognized in the event are “efforts in harnessing S&T for development and making it work for the people.”

He also mentioned that in Congress, they take care of the policy side of the equation. “Two months ago, the Committee on Science and Technology has unanimously approved House Bill 3270, known as An act providing the framework and support system for the ownership, management, use, and commercialization of intellectual property rights (IPR) derived from R&D funded by government or the technology transfer bill,” he added. Abaya elaborated though that the initiative is DOST led.

In closing, he assured of the support of Congress. “We will support you by providing a conducive policy environment for S&T to prosper,” he declared.