TACLOBAN CITY – Inventions to enhance local food processing, detecting potential bad posture, and computerized scoring of manual examinations have emerged as this year’s winners in the week-long Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (RICE).
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Director Edgardo Esperancilla lauded local inventors for coming up with concepts to solve problems.
“The work of our inventors reinforces our belief that science and technology can improve the lives of the people and empower them to improve the quality, progress, and posterity of rural communities,” Esperancilla said during the closing program at Robinsons Place here on September 21.
The DOST picked four winners representing the best of each category and received P20,000 as cash prize each.
For the outstanding creative research for high school category, tagged as the best was the Philippine Science High School for “Posture Notification System Prototype using Gyroscope Sensor,” a device used to detect potential bad posture.
The Samar State University Paranas Campus won the outstanding creative research for college category for its invention on the “Utilization of Sarad into Sarad Crackers.” Sarad is a variety of scallops that thrives well on Samar Sea.
Judges selected the work of Higino Alminario Jr. as the winner for the outstanding creative research on his research “Computerized Scoring A Paper-Based-Multiple-Choice Exam through Image Processing.”
Winner of the outstanding utility model was the concept of Leonora Doncillo and Vivian Moya. They received P25,000 for coming up with a process of preparing squid rings.
Mayor Leonardo Javier of Javier town in Leyte, who is the region’s science and technology ambassador, said that concepts and innovations have made life easier for people.
“For everybody who are here, you are sorrounded with ordinary things, but with DOST those ordinary things become special,” he told local inventors.
The DOST led the celebration of the Science and Technology Week with the theme “Science for the People” held from September 19 to 21 which featured various activities such as science and technology forums, and exhibits.
(MA. MYRELLE L. MONTALLANA/PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is seeking the extension of validity of Korean-funded $20.63 million loan for the Samar Pacific Coastal Road.
DPWH Regional Director Edgar Tabacon said on Monday (September 25) that the loan extension is badly needed since there were pre-implementation activities that have been done for the project.
The proposed extension will be presented for approval by the Regional Development Council (RDC) on Sept. 29 after it was endorsed on Sept. 22 by its infrastructure and utilities development committee.
The Korea Export-Import Bank-Economic Development Cooperation Fund Loan No. Phl-14 was signed last Aug. 19, 2013 and was effective dated Jan. 17, 2014 with the original closing date of Jan. 16, 2018.
Tabacon said the pre-implementation activities for the project was delayed since efforts have been diverted to post-Yolanda rehabilitation activities.
The DPWH completed the detailed engineering design last Oct. 8, 2015. Pre-procurement conference for selection of contractors was held Jan. 11, 2017, followed by a pre-bid conference on Feb. 7 and submission of the technical and financial proposal on Feb. 28.
The government submitted the report to the Korean bank on March 25, 2017 and was concurred last July 5, 2017. The DPWH is eyeing to start its implementation between September 2017 to January 2020.
The loan will expire on Jan. 18, 2018. Under the proposal, the DPWH seeks an extension of the loan up to January 2020 or an additional 24 months for the implementation of the road project.
“The Samar Pacific Coastal Road, which has a total length of 109.3 kilometers, will eventually complete the circumferential road loop for Samar Island. This will enhance the development of potential agricultural lands and fishing grounds of two Samar provinces,” Tabacon added.
The foreign-funded project involves the improvement of the 11.30 kilometers unpaved section of the coastal road and construction of three bridges.
Once approved by the RDC, the proposal will be forwarded to the National Economic and Development Authority main office for endorsement to the Korean Bank.
The foreign-funded project is on top of the ongoing works for the Arteche-Jipapad-Las Navas-Catubig-Rawis that link Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

CALBIGA, Samar- A young student of the Mabini National High School was rescued from deceptive recruitment from the New People’s Army (NPA).
The student, who was rescued in Barangay Mabini, Basey, Samar on September 9, said that one ‘Ka Monica’ said to be a former rebel member recruited her to join the outlawed NPA.
However, the student said that she rebuffed her saying what Ka Monica told her were all lies and would only ruin her future.
The leadership of the 87th Infantry Battalion, based in this town, condemned the NPA in corrupting the young hearts and minds of students. (PR)

MAASIN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte district engineering office (DPWH-SLDEO) is seeking a P2.2 billion funds to finance infrastructure projects in the province next year.
The proposal is up than the P1.7 billion outlay for 2017 as the central government steps up roads and bridges widening activities and construct new bridges.
“Since most of our road sections have been widened, the next step is to widen the bridges to complement road expansion projects,” said District Engineer Ma. Margarita Junia.
The proposed budget will also fund the improvement of roads leading to major ports and other production areas as well as for building and upgrading of access roads to various economic zones and tourist destinations.
Pending the final approval of the 2018 projects, the district office has been conducting pre-detailed engineering activities to ensure that projects will be implemented soon after Congress gives a thumbs up to the proposal.
“We have to be ahead of our preliminary engineering works so that we can bid out our identified projects for next year as soon as the 2018 General Appropriations Act is enacted proved,” Junia said.
Bidding is scheduled in October and notice of award will be issued after the budget approval.
Pre-implementation activities include surveying, preparation of design plan, preparation of technical specifications, and road right of way acquisition plans, among others.
“We have formed survey teams to speed up the surveying works in different categories such as buildings, roads, bridges, and flood control. The newly procured modern equipment helped hasten our job in surveying and coming up with project designs and layouts,” Junia said.
The DPWH-SLDEO is tasked to maintain and upgrade 299 kilometers of national roads and 155 bridges, built in 18 towns and Maasin City, the provincial capital.
As of August 2017, the DPWH field office here posted a 60.12 percent accomplishment, ahead by 11.33 percent than the 48.79 percent target for the month. (PR)