AMCen, MEIC, and Food Processing Equipment Among STI for Sustainability Technologies Featured at the DOST RSTIW 2023 Celebration in Sultan Kudarat
By Kai H. Negado
September 20, 2023
In the pursuit of its mandate of supporting the local metals and engineering (M&E) industry, the Department of Science and Technology-Metals Industry Research and Development Center’s (DOST-MIRDC) services reach even beyond the M&E industry - these services are relevant to end users such as businesses, the academe, and the end users as a whole.
At the request of DOST Region XII, DOST-MIRDC has brought its array of science, technology, and innovation (STI) outputs to Sultan Kudarat to showcase solutions for sustainability. These technologies address critical areas such as food security, digital transformation, and human development, aligning with DOST's current priority programs.
Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen)
“Together, let’s go beyond the conventional,” Engr. Alvin M. Buison, Senior Science Research Specialist (Sr. SRS) of the DOST-MIRDC and a project member of the AMCen, encouraged the audience to go beyond conventional ways of manufacturing products by utilizing one of the pioneering Industry 4.0 technologies - additive manufacturing (AM). Since its establishment in 2021, the DOST-MIRDC’s AMCen has manufactured AM products and engaged in collaborative research with partners from the academe, health sector, defense sector, government, and private institutions.
Engr. Alvin Buison describes AM and its advantages over conventional manufacturing.
Engr. Buison offered AMCen’s services to the people of Region XII, highlighting the fact that AMCen extends its assistance to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME), with AM’s
economically viable services for low-volume production, its ability to streamline production process, and accelerated product design iterations.
Metals and Engineering Innovation Center (MEIC)
“A country’s capacity to generate new knowledge is dependent on STI human resource,” Engr. Mervin Gorospe, Sr. SRS of the DOST-MIRDC, during the TeknoMETALino forum on STI for Sustainability.
Engr. Mervin Gorospe explains MEIC to the forum attendees.
As part of its commitment to fostering development in rural areas through STI, DOST-MIRDC has established innovation hubs in various regions, known as MEIC, now in its second phase of expansion, including Region XII.
Engr. Gorospe simplified to the forum attendees the concept of establishing a MEIC - it is a small metalworking laboratory, designed to replicate a scaled-down DOST-MIRDC in regional settings. The MEIC is seen to strengthen the region’s capabilities through equipment acquisition, human resource development, industry immersion, benchmarking activities, and product innovation.
Communities in the region may now look forward to having their own mini DOST-MIRDCs. In closing his presentation, Engr. Gorospe reiterated that the DOST-MIRDC, through the MEIC, looks forward to “transforming (your) ideas into innovation.”
Food Processing Equipment
“May demand for food processing,” Engr. Ulysses B. Ante, Sr. SRS of the DOST-MIRDC and a project member of the development of food processing equipment, highlighted the growing demand for food processing solutions. Citing a 2019 study by the Asian Development Bank, he noted that agriculture and food manufacturing contribute 126.7 billion US dollars to the Philippine’s GDP, accounting for 43% of the country's employment.
Engr. Ulysses Ante shows data on the country’s agriculture and F&B industry
The DOST-MIRDC has developed food processing technologies, namely: water retort, freeze dryer, spray dryer, and vacuum fryer. These food processing equipment, Engr. Ante explained, makes food edible, ensures food safety, preserves food that increases its shelf life, retains nutritional quality, offers convenience, and lowers the price of food especially when it is mass produced. It was also developed by the Center to lower the cost of acquiring equipment for our local MSMEs, as it is locally produced.
Engr. Ante encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs in the food and beverage sector to consider incorporating these equipment solutions into their ventures, given the expanding domestic market and the ever-growing demand for healthy and convenient food products, including opportunities in the export market.
This forum was part of the DOST Region XII's RSTIW 2023 celebration held from September 13 to 15, 2023, at the Sultan Kudarat Gym and Cultural Center in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
More RSTIW events in various regions are coming very soon! For updates on DOST-MIRDC and AMCen’s participation in the upcoming RSTIWs, stay tuned to the DOST-MIRDC and AMCen’s official FB pages dostmirdc and AMCenPH, and DOST-MIRDC’s official website mirdc.dost.gov.ph.
Enhancing Opportunities: Launch of the Advanced Welding Training Center (AWTC) to Empower Future Welders
By Kai H. Negado
“Kailangan makapag-produce tayo ng higher paying jobs… at least makapag-tayo ng business yung makaka-graduate dito sa ating training program,” Engr. Gerald Gallardo, a driving force behind this visionary project and Rotary Club of Mandaluyong Central (RCMC) Project Head, gives us a glimpse of how the Advanced Welding Training Center (AWTC) will help chart the future of workers highly skilled in the field of advanced welding and entice professional welders to become successful entrepreneurs as well.
Held at the DOST Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) on August 11, 2023, the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the establishment of the AWTC between the RCMC, the Philippine Welding Society (PWS), Inc., and the DOST-MIRDC, marks the beginning of another science, technology, and innovation-based intervention that will address the need for more training offerings on advanced welding processes.
Standing (from L to R): Ms. Irene Gallardo, President, RCMC; Engr. Jonathan Q. Puerto, Deputy Exec. Dir. for Technical Services, DOST-MIRDC; and Engr. Isidro Millo, Interim President, PWS Inc. Seated (from L to R): Engr. Gerald S. Gallardo, RCMC Project Head; Engr. Robert O. Dizon, Exec. Dir., DOST-MIRDC; and Mr. Dominador C. Eleazar, Jr, Exec. Dir., PWS, Inc.
During his congratulatory message, Atty. Clefford Pascual, Chief, Partnership and Incentives Assistance Division, who attended as a representative of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), underlined the AWTC's pivotal role in shaping both our workforce and the economy. Pascual aptly stated, “the establishment of the AWTC is not just an investment in education and training, but an investment for the industry and in the future of our Filipino brothers and sisters who will benefit from this collaboration.”
The AWTC is poised to amplify the welding proficiency of the Filipino workforce, catering to the increasing demands for skilled welders both within the country and abroad.
Engr. Reynaldo L. Dela Cruz, Chief, Industrial Training Section of DOST-MIRDC and Board Member of the PWS, Inc. emphasized on how the welding sector contributes to various industries, “kahit ospital, basta may maintenance, may welding.” He also enumerated the different major industries where welding is a crucial metalworking process, such as manufacturing, power generation, refinery, transportation, aerospace, food, agriculture, construction, and mining.
The DOST-MIRDC will house the facility in its compound, design its training programs, and manage its operations along with PWS, Inc. The completion of the AWTC facilities is anticipated by the end of 2023.
Proposed layout of the Advanced Welding Training Center (AWTC).
For updates and comprehensive insights into the AWTC's establishment and other services provided by the DOST-MIRDC, please visit the official DOST-MIRDC Facebook page and website at www.mirdc.dost.gov.ph.
Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen) Encourages Businesses and Academe in Region IX to Innovate Using Additive Manufacturing
Kai H. Negado
“Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a bridge between imagination and reality,” was how AM was described by Mr. Aris Mortalla of DOST Region IX. As a 3D printing hobbyist, Mr. Mortalla shared his personal view on AM or 3D printing, and how it may be utilized by their stakeholders in the Zamboanga Peninsula region.
AM stands as one of the pioneering Industry 4.0 technologies offered by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC). The establishment of the Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen) has seen outputs from various collaborative research and has already manufactured AM products that are being used by its partners. AMCen extends its services not only to domestic manufacturers but also to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across diverse sectors and educational institutions alike.
Driven to make this technology hub and its services known to the public in different regions of the country, DOST-MIRDC features AMCen as one of its offerings in the celebration of the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTIW) 2023.
DOST-MIRDC is currently participating in DOST IX’s RSTIW celebration in Zamboanga Peninsula.
Engr. Alvin Buison, Senior Science Research Specialist at DOST-MIRDC and a key member of the AMCen project, emphasized during his presentation that AM can be seamlessly integrated into traditional manufacturing processes, “AM is a tool para makatulong sa conventional manufacturing - incorporate it (AM), to help.” He underscored that AM serves as a supplementary tool to enhance conventional manufacturing practices. Its unique capabilities, such as lightweighting features – lattices and topology-optimized geometries, address the needs of industries such as aerospace and automotive, as well as capitalize on the use of fewer materials without sacrificing a product’s quality.
Engr. Alvin Buison of AMCen, DOST-MIRDC during the forum on AM at Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.
AM is poised to become a catalyst for innovation and community development in Zamboanga. Engr. Buison encouraged attendees to explore innovative applications of AM in their daily lives and local communities.
For businesses, AM technologies offer a cost-effective means of product development. This translates to reduced capital investments and accelerated prototype development, enabling businesses to iterate their products swiftly. Educational institutions benefit as well, with AMCen offering a range of training programs focused on AM technologies and design. This equips the next generation of engineers with essential knowledge of AM technologies.
The forum conducted by the AMCen on Sept. 7, 2023, at the Amphitheater, Dapitan City Hall, Dapitan City, opened opportunities for possible future collaborations between the DOST Regional Offices, academe, and industry. This is also part of AMCen’s efforts in bringing Industry 4.0 technologies closer to communities in the regions.
Watch out for more DOST-MIRDC activities in the regions, including exhibits and fora in the upcoming RSTIW celebrations around the country.
For more information on the Center’s available technologies and services, interested parties may contact the DOST-MIRDC through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For updates, follow our official Facebook page dostmirdc, and visit our website at mirdc.dost.gov.ph.
Title: Mold Wizard Design Process
Date: September 12-14, 2023
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Reservation Link: https://bit.ly/Res_Mold_Wiz_Des_Process_Sept12-14_9-4pm
