Tagum City, Davao del Norte – It was an event that began with a happy note, and ended with a lot of gratitude and remarkable success. The Department of Science and Technology-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) trooped to Davao in the morning of April 23, 2018 for the conduct of the ‘MIRDC Goes to the Countryside,’ a three-day event to be held in Tagum City, the capital of Davao del Norte.
The activity is conducted with the goal of extending technical assistance to the micro, small, and medium enterprises involved in the metals, engineering, and allied industries, as well as to the members of the academe in the countryside. Technical assistance is carried out through the conduct of the four-in-one activities: training, consultancy, technology exhibit, and skills competition. In Tagum City, the event is entitled, ‘S&T Caravan for the Metals and Engineering Industries’ and s held as a joint effort of the DOST-MIRDC, DOST XI (Provincial Science and Technology Centers of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley), the Philippine Welding Society (PWS), LGU-Tagum City, LGU-Kapalong, PLGU-Davao del Norte, PLGU-Compostela Valley, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao del Norte, the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP)-Tagum, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Davao del Norte, Center Industrial Supply Corporation Davao, and the 1st Congressional District Office of Davao del Norte.
Below are some of the major activities that took place during this event.
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| From L to R: Team MIRDC makes a courtesy call to the office of Dr. Anthony C. Sales, Regional Director of DOST XI; MIRDC delegates join the meeting of the Metalworking Industries Association of the Philippines-Davao Chapter (MIAP-Davao); MIRDC and MIAP at Beta Spring, Davao City, on 23 April 2018. | ||
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| MIRDC and PWS delegates hold a meeting with the DOST Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) on 24 April 2018 to go over the program of the three-day event. The PWS is represented by its Executive Director, Mr. Fernando Opeda | |
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| Clockwise from top left: Engr. Reynaldo L. Dela Cruz, Jr., Chief of the Center’s Industrial Training Section and President of the Philippine Welding Society (PWS), presents the rationale of the MIRDC Goes to the Countryside during the Opening Ceremonies; Engr. Dela Cruz is among the resource persons during the Press Conference; Fundamentals of Production Planning and Control is conducted by Mr. Osric Primo Bern Quibot; Shielded Metal Arc Welding training is conducted by Engr. Dela Cruz; and the technology exhibit is handled by the Technlogy Information and Promotion Section (TIPS) led by its Chief, Ms. Lina B. Afable. | ||
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| Engr. Reynaldo L. Dela Cruz Jr. (L) and Engr. Ma. Girlie M. Millo (R) conduct the Metals Identification and Selection Seminar on April 26, 2018. | |
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| Engr. Edilbert M. dela Peňa (L), with technical assistance from Mr. Alfredo B. Anchorez, conducts the Metal Finishing Techniques seminar. | |
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| Ms. Alma C. Dupagan (L) and Dr. Concesa T. Cortez (R) handle the seminar on Fundamentals of Product Costing. | |
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| Mr. Osric Primo Bern Quibot (L) conducts the seminar on Occupational Safety for Metalworking Industry, while the staff from the Technology Information and Promotion Section present MIRDC technologies during the exhibit (R). | |
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| On the third and last day of the event, team MIRDC continues to carry out the remaining activities. Clockwise from top left: Engr. dela Peňa conducts the Heat Treatment of Steels seminar; Engr. Dela Peňa and Engr. Benjamin V. Estrellado, Senior Science Research Specialist, DOST XI, conduct a demonstration; Ms. Jocelyn C. Dime conducts the Value Analysis/Value Engineering I seminar; and Engr. Dela Cruz conducts the Plasma Cutting demonstration. | |
During the brief stay of team MIRDC in Tagum City, the Technology Advisory and Business Development Section (TABDS) led by its Chief, Engr. Ma. Girlie M. Millo, was able to meet with officials of the local government unit of Tagum City, particularly the City Planning and Development Office and the City Agriculture Office to discuss appropriate technologies for the productivity improvement of the agriculture sector, to identify necessary equipment to support the R&D activities, and IP application of their office’s R&D outputs, among others. The TABDS was also able to personally visit some private enterprises for consultancy: Apiary Farm, LYR Marketing and Furniture Center, and Belmerit Welding Shop. The said companies are very proactive in their pursuit of improving the business, and the Center is more than willing to extend technical assistance. Their common requirement is about availing S&T intervention regarding process improvement, technology upgrading, and establishment of QMS. The Center is thankful to have the opportunity to be in direct contact with the M&E industries in Tagum City, and is looking forward to positive outcomes
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| Team MIRDC meets with the City Planning and Development Office of Tagum City (L) and Belmerit Welding Shop (R) for consultancy. | |
The most exciting part of the three-day event is always the Skills Competition where participants are given the opportunity to show off their skills and express their creativity in the field of welding. The Skills Competition was held on April 27, 2018.
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Shortly after all the seminars and the Skills Competition were finished, the three-day event was finally concluded with a brief Closing Program.
The Grand Winner for the female category is Ms. Ruth Cheel B. Tulo, while for the male category the Grand Winner is Mr. John Mar Siodora.
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