Dr. Erwin Awitan, a technical consultant and a former assistant professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine in the University of the Philippines Los Baños, conducted a seminar titled, “Feed Sanitation and Hygiene” in the Animal Science Lecture Hall on August 2 as part of the Animal Science 299 Graduate Seminar Series. The seminar discussed about the problems associated with poultry management and the ways for proper feed handling.

Dr. Awitan talked about the experienced difficulties of farmers in poultry management which lower the performance of broiler chickens. Farmers complain that something is wrong with the feeds.  However, Dr. Awitan explained that the feeds do have complete nutritional requirements. The real problem is that farmers and other animal scientists fail to provide the right environment for the chickens.

Discussing heat stress among chicks, Dr. Awitan emphasized that high temperature maximizes water consumption of the chicks which causes wet droppings. Heat is also related with other problems in poultry management such as in feed handling as high temperature causes grain damages.

“They [farmers] don’t understand how to play humidity inside the building,” Dr. Awitan explained.

According to him, the temperature requirement is not satisfied because farmers don’t apply the concept of heat index. They often misread the poultry’s behaviour. As a result, the chicks are more vulnerable to infections and metabolic diseases.

Further, based on Dr. Awitan’s cited findings, the biggest problem that poultry farmers experience today is the disease among chickens called Necrotic Enteritis. It is the inflammation of the small intestine caused by pathogens which is usually acquired from contaminated feeds.  He shared that this could also be due to poor husbandry practices among poultry farmers.

“Just imagine the already stressed broilers ingest feeds with high bacterial content…” he explained.

Dr. Awitan also shared that to reduce the inefficiency and mortality rate among broilers, farmers should reduce heat, avoid feed contamination, provide force ventilation, and improve husbandry and animal health. He also added that custom fit nutrition, energy balance, and digestibility should be considered by farmers to have a higher efficiency and production rate in their poultries. (Christine Mae B. Santos)

Knowledge at your fingertips.

The Department of Science and Technology’s Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) introduced its project STARBOOKS during the SyenSaya 2013 at the Copeland Gymnasium of the University of the Philippines Los Baños on July 31-August 2.

The Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Stations (STARBOOKS) is a digital integrated library that can permanently store and regularly update information. It is DOST’s strategy in making Science and Technology information accessible to the public. It is a stand-alone kiosk that operates offline and provides free access to information mainly for public libraries in the country.

According to Annie Lynn Bacani, administrative coordinator of the project, it has offline database that holds 500,000 titles of digitalized journal, reference materials, annual reports, serial publications, technical and group reports, theses and dissertations, and directories of DOST-STII’s library materials. It also contains almost 170 videos of other DOST projects.

Using STARBOOKS, students can now get Science and Technology (S&T) information, save it on their USB flash drives or even print them out.

The first recipients of the STARBOOKS project are the towns from Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Masbate, Romblon, and Negros Oriental. These regions are included in the top 20 poorest provinces in the country based on the National Statistical Coordination Board (NCSB).

Installation of STARBOOKS is free. Interested local government units, non-government agencies, companies and educational institutions just need to provide their own computer units and request installation at their regional DOST office.

The project STARBOOKS is one of DOST’s initiatives in promoting Science and Technology to the general public and for the students to be interested in taking courses related to S&T. It aims to aid students in their research and increase their interest and chances of getting scholarships in Science and Technology schools. (Noli A. Magsambol III)

The Los Baños Science Community Foundation Inc. (LBSCFI) held “Talakayan: A Technology Forum on Food Quality and Safety for Los Baños Entrepreneurs” at the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) auditorium on August 1.

Ms. Jane Agnes U. Olivares, Senior Science Research Specialist of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region IV-A, opened the technology forum with her lecture titled “Farm-to-Table Food Safety: An Overview.” She discussed the importance of safe food handling and how food borne diseases are acquired. According to her, food safety should be practiced from the beginning of food production up until the food reaches the consumer’s table. In addition, she gave emphasis on the benefits of food safety stating that its practices contribute to the good image and reputation of the business.

Meanwhile, Ms. Grace D. Noceja, Senior Science Research Specialist of DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), discussed on food packaging.  Ms. Noceja explained that it has several kinds depending on the type of food and that packaging materials used in storing and transporting raw materials in food production are very important. She explained that packaging is not just a container but a way to protect food to extend its life. Packaging materials should also give consumers proper information about the food – its ingredients, expiration date, etc.

The latter part of the techno forum focused on the food business establishments and entrepreneurs. Dr. Alvin A. Isidoro, Los Baños Municipal Health Officer, gave reminders about the existing municipal health ordinances to monitor the food safety practices of store owners and entrepreneurs in Los Baños. He also talked about the implementing rules in the conduct and etiquette of sellers in producing, handling and serving foods to the consumers. Proper food selling etiquette encompasses the following: over-all structural design and location of the food establishment; health, sanitation and hygiene practices of the sellers; and proper attire that the seller should wear.

According to Dr. Isidoro, the Municipal Health Office (MHO), together with the Department of Health (DOH), has the authority to inspect food establishments. He also discussed that aspiring food entrepreneurs should first obtain sanitary permit from MHO before operating.

Lastly, Ms. Laura E. Jaraplasan, a Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Laguna gave a lecture on the marketing strategy and promotion of food business. Ms. Jaraplasan gave some ideas on how to widen distribution channels or networks for food business. She shared that food establishment owners could set up their store in school canteens, supermarkets, hospitals, and malls depending on the nature of food they want to sell. She also gave tips on marketing strategies and how to cope with competition. Since many food businesses are alike nowadays in terms of the products they sell, she said that it depends on the sellers on how they would sell, put price and promote their products.

The techno forum aimed to increase the level of awareness and knowledge of the people, especially food entrepreneurs, regarding food safety, and also to increase the quality of the products they sell. About 95 food entrepreneurs and businesspersons from 62 establishments and stores in Los Baños attended the event.  (Don Q. Castillo)

The National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Biotech) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) wins the Outstanding Technology Commercialization Award during the National Science and Technology Week on July 23 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Five representatives from Biotech namely Reynaldo V. Ebora, Susan A. Sedano, Arsenia B. Sapin, Maria Teresa M. Perez, and Teresita J. Ramirez, received the medal and cash prize of one hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000) for the successful commercialization of Salmonella DAS .

One of Biotech’s patented products, Salmonella DAS is a PCR-based indicator kit which detects salmonella in food and feeds. PCR or Polymerase chain reaction, is a biochemical technology which allows a single DNA copy to multiply to billions of copies, through heating and cooling of the reaction which is called thermal cycling.  Ramirez started its commercialization from 2004-2005 with funds from the Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD).  It is now being distributed to potential clients like the Lipa Quality Control Center in Lipa City, Batangas.

Two other awards were also given out: the Outstanding Research and Development Award for Basic Research which was given to Dr. Waren N. Baticados, a UPLB scientist, for his research on livestock and companion animals’ diseases; and the Outstanding Science Administrator Award which was given to Dr. Amelia W. Tejada, executive director of the Food Development Center, for her large contribution in the Centralized Contaminants Laboratory at the Food Development Center-National Food Authority (FDC-NFA).

The Outstanding Technology Commercialization Award, also known as the Gregorio Y. Zara award, is given in recognition of the efforts of technology generators and developers to commercialize technologies. (Rae Marrie L. de Mesa)

The Los Baños Philippine National Police (PNP) captured a robbery suspect identified as Renato P. Madrid on August 5 along Lopez Avenue of Brgy. Batong Malake.  Madrid, a native and resident of Brgy Pagsawitan, Sta Cruz, Laguna, is being linked to a series of robbery incidents in Los Baños.

On July 26 at about 12:30pm, a couple residing at the Pepito Torres Propriety Apartment in El Danda Street, Batong Malake was robbed while they were using their comfort room.  When Rovelyn Mina went to their room which they left locked, she noticed that the door was closed but with the padlock destroyed.  She shouted for help when she saw the suspect inside their room.  The suspect immediately fled on foot towards El Danda subdivision.  Bystanders tried to chase down the suspect but were not successful.

The robber got one 11.6” acer aspire laptop worth Php 15,000.00 and Php 1,200.00 cash money from the victims. The couple went to their barangay hall to report the incident and reviewed the footages captured in their barangay’s CCTV. Rovelyn was able to pinpoint the suspect who was seen roaming around before the incident and running away from their apartment after the robbery.

The victims were then invited to Los Baños PNP to check the station’s rogues gallery.  The suspect was then identified as a former detainee named Renato Madrid y Paderog, 30 years old, single and jobless who was previously arrested by elements of the same station last February 3, 2012 for robbery. Appropriate criminal charge against Madrid was again filed before the Provincial Prosecutors Office on July 29, 2013.

On August 5, the station received a report from Intel PNCO SPO3 Elmer Joseph B. Gibe sighting a suspicious male along Lopez Avenue heading UPLB campus on board of a Public Utility Jeepney.  Operatives immediately conducted monitoring and verification and chanced upon the suspect at the corner of Umali Subdivision.  The suspect was then brought to the barangay hall of Batong Malake.  Two heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing dried leaves or suspected marijuana were confiscated from the suspect.  Recovered substances were brought to the region crime laboratory at Camp Vicente Lim, Canlubang, Laguna for laboratory examination. The suspect was positively identified as the same person caught in the CCTV.  Other robbery victims from several dormitories in the same barangay also identified the suspect.  Madrid was subjected to drug test and medical examination prior to his inquest.

The suspect was criminally charged before the Provincial Prosecutors Office in Calamba City for Trespassing and Violation of Sec 11 Art II RA 9165 with bail recommended of Php 200,000.00.  Madrid is now detained at the Los Baños PNP’s detention cell while waiting for his commitment order and transfer to Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Los Baños. (With reports from PNP Los Baños)

by  Ann Gielou M. Posedio

CANDELARIA, QUEZON – The office of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) held a seminar on the new ordinance regarding proliferating cases of crimes and abuses carried out by street children at the municipal’s covered court on August 13.

During the seminar, MSWD warned the parents that there is a new regulation declaring the imprisonment of the minor’s guardian if the minor is proven guilty of a crime. Under the existing law, the minor cannot be jailed.

Headed by Ms. Asuncion Gardon, the chief officer of MSWD, the seminar served as a “consultation meeting” among 25 parents who shared their problems and situation about their children conflicting with the law. Some of the dilemmas mentioned by parents were the unemployment of parents, unsupported education for children, and peer pressure among other street children from the neighboring towns.

In line with this, MSWD also promoted livelihood programs for the parents and free education for the out-of-school youth during the seminar.

According to Ma’am Gardon, the said seminar is part of MSWD’s campaign, “Sagip-Saglit Batang Yagit” which is a strategy they formulated to help eliminate the community’s problem on street children and the possible dangers they can bring to themselves and to the community.

Aside from Ms. Gardon, PO3 Gerkorie Cruzar, the PNP officer of Child and Women’s Desk, and two speakers from the religious sector also talked with the parents during the discussion.

“Nag-serve din siya (seminar) as an in-depth study para malaman kung ano pa yung posibleng…sustainable programs and services to introduce,” Ms. Gardon shared.

Meanwhile, MSWD plans to hold next consultation meeting for both parents and their children this September and conduct it during the Family Week celebration for comprehensive counseling purposes.