GOVPH

In response to the mold technology and skills development requirement of the Philippine metals industry, the Korea Association of Machinery Industry (KOAMI) of South Korea in partnership with The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will establish the Mold Technology Solution Center (MTSC) at the Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ).

The Groundbreaking Ceremony will be held on the October 30, 2019 at the EPZA-Bacao Road, Barangay Bacao 2, General Trias, Cavite.

*MIRDC do not own the rights to some of the images; all credit goes to its original creator(s). 

‘As you watch the balloons disappear out of sight, …. A secret message of hope and renewal will be heard by the wind.’

Kirsti A. Dyer

Alabang Station – June 20, 2019, will be forever marked in Philippine history as the day its very own Hybrid Electric Train (HET) locally designed and developed by the Department of Science and Technology-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC), is turned over to its adopter, the Philippine National Railways (PNR). 

After thousands of kilometers and total running hours to test the HET’s reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety (RAMS), it successfully passed all stages of testing required by the PNR.  The next stage – acceptance. 

The PNR now assumes ownership of the HET, and expressed gratitude to the DOST for the donation.  The HET will be used very soon to serve commuters.   This is definitely good news to all our train riders using the Calamba-Alabang route. 

The turnover event was led by DOST Secretary Fortunato T. De La Peňa and PNR Operations Manager Ms. Joseline A. Geronimo.   

As the HET finds its new home with the PNR, the technology designed and developed through Filipino ingenuity opens every Filipinos’ eyes to the realization that we can do it! The HET is proof that we can really make dreams come true. 

The PNR’s acceptance of the HET is only the beginning.  More good news and historic milestones are in the pipeline: comfortable train rides, better commuting experience, predictable travel time, less loss of productivity, and list goes on and on and on. 

Below are photos to show the highlights of this very memorable event.

Engr. Acuin at the pilot's cabin. The next time he wants to sit in this area, he will have to ask permission from the PNR’s new owner

At the platform before the HET ride

Releasing of balloons.  White and blue represent the colors of the DOST

The HET ride makes a stopover at the San Pedro Station

The DOST, the technology-maker, and the PNR, the technology adopter, a few minutes before contract signing

It is now official - the HET belongs to the Philippine National Railways

Sec. De La Pena shares with the audience his group chat with the Cabinet where he sent pictures and updates regarding the HET turnover ceremonies

Kudos to the DOST, DOST-MIRDC, DOST-PCIEERD, and the PNR for a job well done!

Engr. Robert O. Dizon, Executive Director of the DOST-MIRDC, shares a brief history of the HET from conceptualization to turnover

Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, DOST USec for R&D, further adds positive emotions to the event by recounting all the successes the HET accomplished along the way

Ms. Joseline A. Geronimo, Operations Manager of the PNR, conveys her team's excitement with the turnover of the HET

Mr. Davie Ang, Plant Manager, shares the journey of the Fil-Asia Automotive and Industries, Corp, as the manufacturer of the HET

DOST and PNR share the limelight during the Q&A portion

Ms. Joseliine Geronimo delivers the acknowledgment message of Mr. Junn B. Magno, PNR's General Manager

Calamba, Laguna – A typical scene of the Pinoy’s everyday life along the riles (railroad): thriving marketplace very near the railroad, families living in makeshift houses, tricycles ferrying commuters around.  National issues bombard Filipinos and cause tremendous pressures on people's lives, especially those of the low-income families who struggle very hard to make both ends meet.  Despite the challenges, we Filipinos manage to adapt.  We make do of what we have, and we carry on making the most of the situation, no matter how uncomfortable or difficult.  

For many years, mass transportation has been a very problematic issue for us, not only for people living in Metro Manila but for those who live and work in the suburban.  The most reliable mode of public transportation is the train, and for most Pinoys, the first train that comes to mind are the classic trains of the Philippine National Railways (PNR). 

The PNR trains have their share of issues, too.  These, unfortunately, are felt by thousands of Filipinos who rely on the PNR's services to move from place to place in this busy world where mobility is one of the critical requirements for success.

Enter the Hybrid Electric Train (HET). 

The HET is a project of the Department of Science and Technology – Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) in partnership with the PNR.  Apart from providing long-term technology-based solutions to the worsening mass transportation situation of the country, the HET aims to raise the efficiency of the PNR’s operations through reduced production and operational costs.  The partnership between the DOST-MIRDC and the PNR is behind the eventful journey of the HET.  After its launch in 2016, the HET successfully conducted various tests and just recently, passed the reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety (RAMS) testing in late 2018.  In the pipeline of activities for 2019 is the PNR’s validation of the RAMS testing which will require 150 hours.  After the validation, the HET prototype will finally be turned over to the PNR for commercial use plying the Alabang-Calamba route. 

The HET prototype represents the technology proudly designed and developed by Filipinos.  A product of the DOST-MIRDC’s research and development initiatives, the HET technology is a breakthrough in its own right.  This home-grown technology, once given a chance, is going to make the Filipinos' public transportation challenges a thing of the past.  Although the DOST-MIRDC and the PNR are still finalizing the schedule of remaining activities before the turnover of the HET prototype, the technology is good and ready.  ‘We are turning over the prototype to the PNR, but the technology is now ready for transfer to and commercialization by the private sector,’ says DOST-MIRDC Executive Director, Engr. Robert O. Dizon.

After the completion of the validation tests, the turnover of the HET prototype is the next activity that will follow.   We are looking forward to this event as it will mark the beginning of better commuting experience for every Juan de la Cruz.  The PNR’s train service, the DOST-MIRDC’s engineering and R&D capabilities, and the eventual involvement of the private sector for the mass production and wide-scale commercialization of the HET will create the ecosystem we need to build and sustain a Philippine railway industry.  The upcoming turnover event of the HET prototype is indeed going to be the fruition of the past years' hard work and will set the scene for the realization of every Filipino’s dream of a safe, comfortable, environment-friendly, and reliable public transportation.