DOST XI Energy Audit Team Now Ready to Serve the Region

People get excited about their savings account earning interests. But, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Office XI (Mindanao) has seen a better idea to invest into something that earns three or five times that of bank interests. An "energy audit" is a good first step toward realizing those money savings by making your place more energy efficient.

With today's increasing production cost, it is important to identify areas by which production cost can be significantly reduced. One area identified by DOST is to improve the efficiency of energy utilization among industries. Many industrial establishments are now becoming conscious of their energy usage due to increased energy costs. In response to these needs, the DOST Regional Office XI has a Davao Region Energy Audit & Management (DREAM) Team, which can help the industries in the region.

DREAM Team is a multi-agency group with members from the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers (IIEE), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), the University of Mindanao (UM), and DOST XI. The team is now ready to provide energy audit services to all interested industries in the region. DREAM team will help industries in setting energy conservation goals, identify areas where energy wastes can occur, relate energy consumption to production, improve the process/equipment efficiencies, and recommend energy saving opportunities.

Put simply, an energy audit determines how much energy your company uses and figures out ways to slash consumption. An audit can show how to save electricity, such as by switching to less-energy-hungry bulbs and appliances. An audit can determine the efficiency of your air condition system. You may notice, for the first time, costly gaps around windows and doors, thanks to the audit.

Interested companies may inquire on how to avail of the DREAM Team services and fees at telephone number 082 - 221-5428 and look for Engr. Benjamin V. D. Estrelladao, Jr., the DREAM Team Focal Person. Happy savings!

Strategic Response to the Panama Disease in Davao City

DOST officials led by Secretary Mario G. Montejo, met on December 9, 2011 with banana growers and exporters, researchers and heads of local line agencies to discuss the next steps in the ongoing united response against the Panama Disease or Fusarium Wilt (FW) of banana.

"We acknowledge the urgency of the issue", said Sec. Montejo as he assured the body of department's moves to come up with immediate and long-term S&T-based solutions for the management of the disease. He further shared that the Department is streamlining its process to shorten its response time. For instance, approval for a full project proposal may not be needed for release of funds, as long as the proposed concept is sound. Also, appropriate S&T-based interventions will be implemented simultaneously in affected areas while the more-in-depth R&D will be on-going.

Specifically, the Secretary pushed for the "S&T Intervention in Managing the Fursarium Wilt in Davao". This R&D Program is slated to come up with disease management measures and develop a resistant variety. DOST and the Philippine Council of Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources and Development  will fund and coordinate the conduct of this program.

First among the proposed projects is the use of biological control agents against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, the fungus which causes FW. The physico-chemical characteristics of soils will be studied to determine why some soils seem to suppress the disease.

The project will also work on developing varieties that are resistant, locally-adapted and approximate the fruit quality of the prevailing Cavendish varieties. The Secretary hoped to enlist the assistance of the Taiwanese government in obtaining germ plasma for this purpose. 

For its part, the Department of Agriculture XI organized Task Force Fusarium to push local quarantine ordinances and promote the disease management protocol. Currently several towns have adopted policies to restrict the movement of planting material in infected areas. Together with the Filipino Banana Growers and Exporter Association, they are promoting the disease management protocol through development and distribution of information materials, and through protocol briefings.

NEDA XI Director Ma. Lourdes D. Lim, who chairs the Regional R&D Coordinating Council of the Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources R&D Consortium, welcomed the DOST's proposed moves. As Vice Chair also of the Regional Development Council, she put the full force of the various members behind the common initiative. 

Before 2002, Philippine bananas were largely resistant to the disease. While other countries were reeling from the effects of FW infestation, the country was ex-industry and eventually became the world's second largest banana  exporter.   

Froehliche Weihnachten! Merry Christmas!

EIN GESEGNETES UND FROHES WEIHNACHTSFEST IHNEN ALLEN LIEBE LESERINNEN UND LESER. GOTT SEGNE SIE!

A BLESSED AND VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU MY DEAR READERS. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Karl Amadeus Hartmann - A Figure Unique in German Music

Karl Amadeus Hartmann is indeed a figure unique in German music - the only composer to stay put and defy Adolf Hiter for the duration of the Third Reich...

Check out more here:

www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com 

Lapis at Papel... Kulang pa Project -

The Batch 81 Holy Cross of Mintal LAPIS AT PAPEL...KULANG PA PROJECT is an outreach program and is holding a monthly gift giving of pencils, pad papers and other educational materials for day care center kids in, especially in the remote areas of Davao City.

The communities have been to serve in 2011 in different parts of Davao City and celebrated the first anniversary last December 17, 2011 after the last gift giving for this year 2011.

Barangays Manambulan and Guianga are the next target areas. More people are badly needed to encourage and support the Batch 81 Holy Cross of Mintal.

Please conact President/Coordinator Emma Linda Malacaste Diolola-Ocampo: emsdiolola@yahoo.com.

CONFUSED

(Today's Editorial of Mindanao Daily Mirror - with friendly permission of my publisher and editor-in-chief 'Tita" Marietta Siongco.)

What is with us?

We pretend to defend decency in public office, yet we condone abominations like a midnight appointment. We mouth motherhood statements about the blight of corruption, yet we whine about bold measures aimed at weeding out the crooks. We purport allegiance to the Constitution, yet we use, nay misuse, the same sacred instrument to compromise earnest efforts to better our society. We say one thing, yet mean another.

This sums up our pathetic national discourse over the last months. For how explain the rank inanities favoring such a widely discredited figure aas Chief Justice Renato Corona? What must we make for the throng that lapped up his street language late last week, clinging to his post as if he were the High Court itself, and taking the President, no less, to task as a -take note- dictator?

How else explain the public statements of such bodies and individuals like the IBP (which cavalierly invoked the constitutional principle of separation of powers, as if any of those institutional powers were beyond criticism), Sen. Joker Arroyo (who, not unlike, of all people, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, critized the Chief's Justice's impeachment at the House), former Sen. Nene Pimentel (who said he wasn't happy with the swift impeachment process), and confessed GMA friend Fr. Eliseo Mercado (Mindanao's very own peace advocate who painfully noted that Gloria Arroyo was being "demonized as if she were the personification of evil.")

Are we missing something?

... .

We're a confused people - unworthy of, or desperate for, principled, modern leadership.

Natural Disaster in Mindanao

 The tropical storm Washi (Sendong) struck the northern coast of Mindanao with very heavy rain in a region not accustomed to typhoons, causing rivers to burst their banks, sweeping many residents out to the sea.

The cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro were transformed into mud-filled waterways choked with vehicles and downed trees.

Also Davao City, where I am residing was placed under unusual Storm Signal One. Heavy down pours followed. Storms are indeed rare this far south of the country, and Davaoenos have always boasted that the city is free of storms and typhoons...

Climate changes?!

German Christmas Party 2011 in Davao City/Deutsche Weihnachtsfeier 2011 in Davao City

Ein Bild sagt mehr als Worte. A pixture says more then words...

Trotzdem sind hier einige Worte: Ein grosser Teil der Deutschen Gemeinde in Davao traf sich zu einer wunderbaren Weihnachtsfeier mit Besinnlichkeit, Spass und einem excellenten europaeischen Buffet (kreiert von Freund und General Manager Wolfgang Pfuner) im Apo View Hotel, Davao City.

Members of the German Community gathered together during a wonderful Christmas Party with joy and fun and a wonderful European Buffet (a creation of friend and General Manager Wolfgang Pfuner) in Apo View Hotel in Davao City.

Wann geht's denn endlich los? When shall we start? 

 Spiele und Spass - hier mit den beiden MC's Susie Rexrodt und Rossana Balcom-Doring und einigen weiblichen Kandidaten... 

Games and fun - here with MC's Susie Rexrodt and Rossana Balcom-Doring and some female candidates...

 

 Merry Christmas to all of you. Ein Frohes und Gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest   Ihnen allen!

Season of Homesickness

(A repost of my column "IN MY OPINION" from MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR - December 16, 2011).

+++++

Much could be written or told about all the wonderful places worldwide. A lifetime would not be enough to discover the whole world. Millions of Filipinos migrants are still working and living in many countries all over the world. But those Filipinos are so occupied and tired with work, that in a half-day of not working, they don't even have the energy to go out anymore.

They prefer to rest instead. they work until dawn. There's even no more time for letters or send emails anymore. They get up early next day to do the same activities. Again and again... . They fail to appear on dates or appointments even schedules were already set. On the last minute going out on a free half-day, but suddenly guests arrive who need to be served for example. All these and more make it very diffcult for the OFWs to find time even for themselves.

Christmas time should let uns remember and remind us of our beloved ones somewhere out there. Being "there" is something like being in a garden of roses. Everybody is free to pick up flowers, but surely everybody will not find that easy because the roses are on top of the thorns. being abroad is even more complicated then that.

Indeed, much has been written and talked about homesickness of mind and heart - especially during Christmas season and the time between yesterday and tomorrow.

Many Filipinos stay in countries, where deep winter is reigning right now. Wearing three jackets a day, warm winter clothes and, from the start one must be always on top form, but not only lively but also egantly.

Homesickness usually attacks, when 'your people abroad" receive unpleasant notes from home, as I heard many saying before: "Problema at magpadala ka ng pera!"

The loved ones overseas even try to save  a little amount for airfares just in case they need to  come immediately to their families in the Philippines. many times they consider the difficulty and complication in sending money home. Many imes they even can't afford to visit the Philippines for a long time... .

Homesickness comes, when we hear that one of the boys at home doesn't want to go to school anymore. Homesickness comes when misunderstandings between husband and wife or closed friends arise... .

How about me? Sure, homesickness comes along also for me, especially during this time. Even living in the Philippines as an expatriate for good since 1999, I still do miss my home country Germany and many people there. Season of homesickness... .

Mr. and Miss Photogenitic Grand Finals in Davao City