PULSO Ngayon News Publishing

22/09/2026

VOL IV, NO. 36 SEPTEMBER 16 - 22, 2026

22/09/2026

19/09/2026

DOST formalizes collaboration with DENR, ISPSC; inks pilot implementation of Project 'KALIKASAN in Cervantes during the 2026

andog sa Pangulo in Laoag City.
The Department of Science and Technology Ilocos Region (DOST Ilocos Region), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Ilocos Region, Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), and the Municipality of Cervantes formally forged partnership for nature conservation through the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Project KALIKASAN during the DENR’s Handog ng Pangulo, Luntiang Bukas at SM City Laoag, Ilocos Norte today.
DENR Secretary Atty. Juan Miguel T. Cuna led the activity with DOST Ilocos Region Director Dr. Teresita A. Tabaog, DENR Ilocos Region Director Atty. Ronnel C. Sopsop, and ISPSC President Dr. Mario P. Obrero.
Project KALIKASAN which stands for Kiosk for Advocating and Learning through Innovative Knowledge Advancement of Safeguarding and Appreciating Nature is a DOST-funded project under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program. It aims to bring science-based information on biodiversity and environmental conservation closer to communities and stakeholders. It will be piloted at the Bessang Pass Natural Monument/Landmark in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur. Through an interactive kiosk, the project will provide information on the area’s biodiversity,
natural resources, conservation efforts, amenities, and communities, giving visitors, students, and local residents an accessible learning tool.
With the partnership, DOST contributes its expertise in science, technology, and innovation; DENR provides technical guidance on environmental proteCervantesction and biodiversity conservation data collection and sharing; ISPSC contributes academic and technical support for systems development; and the Municipality of supports local implementation and community engagement.
Through the MOA, the partners commit to making environmental education more accessible and encouraging communities and customers to understand, appreciate, and help protect the protected areas. Upon completion of the project, the kiosks will be stationed in Cervantes municipal hall and in the Bessang Pass Natural Monument Landmark.

19/09/2026

Bringing Learning Closer, Opening Futures: DOST SOCCSKSARGEN Deploys e-Turo Digital Learning System in Berwer.

TANGCAL, Lanao del Norte — For learners in communities where distance, resources, and circumstances can sometimes limit access to opportunities, bringing technology closer can also mean bringing possibilities closer.
This vision took a concrete step forward as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) SOCCSKSARGEN led by Regional Director Engr. Sammy P. Malawan, PhD, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) – Schools Division of Lanao del Norte, formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and deployed the 𝗲-𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗢 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 (𝗲-𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗢 𝗗𝗟𝗦) at Berwar Integrated School, Camp Bilal, Barangay Berwar, Tangcal, Lanao del Norte.
Through the guidance of the entire DOST System headed by Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr., and through DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, the initiative forms part of the Science for Peace Program: Science and Technology Solutions for Peaceful and Productive Communities, implemented by DOST SOCCSKSARGEN in collaboration with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) under the foresight of Secretary Atty. MEL SENEN SARMIENTO, and complemented by the Community Empowerment thru Science&Technology (CEST) Program.
At the heart of the initiative is a simple but far-reaching vision: to make science, technology, and learning opportunities more accessible to communities — and, through them, create greater room for people to learn, participate, and shape their own futures.
Developed by RYR Innovations, e-TURO DLS is designed to support education through digital learning resources, AI-assisted content generation, automated assessment functions, and learning management features that may complement existing curriculum requirements and teaching and learning strategies.
For DOST SOCCSKSARGEN, however, the significance of e-TURO goes beyond the technology itself.
It directly speaks to the agency's Pillar of Well-being — recognizing that well-being also means having opportunities to learn, participate, and imagine a better future. “𝗠𝗮𝘀

19/09/2026

AFE FOOD, BETTER HEALTH: DOST Misamis Occidental Conducts Food Safety Orientation in Ozamiz City.

In line with continuing efforts to enhance the Complementary Food Production Facility and strengthen local food safety practices, DOST Misamis Occidental successfully conducted a Food Safety Orientation on August 26, 2026.
The training took place at the Complementary Food Production Facility Training Hall, IBJT Compound, Carangan, Ozamiz City. It was actively participated in by 9 production staff (6 males and 3 females, including 1 PWD) who are at the forefront of the city's complementary food production.
Ms. Melanie O. Laude served as the resource speaker, guiding them with essential food safety standards. This orientation serves as a step in upgrading the skills of the staff and ensuring that proper food handling protocols are met. More importantly, this activity prepares the facility for its upcoming Food and Drug Administration - License to Operate (FDA-LTO) application.
Through science, technology, and safety standards, DOST and the Ozamiz Complementary Food Production team continue to work hand-in-hand to deliver safe, high-quality, and nutritious food products for the comm

19/09/2026

From Overseas Worker to Successful Entrepreneur: DOST-SETUP Helps Transform Susan’s Bakeshop

CAGAYAN — What began as a small, manually operated bakeshop in Piat, Cagayan has grown into a technology-upgraded food-processing enterprise serving institutional markets and providing employment in the community, with assistance from the Department of Science and Technology’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (DOST-SETUP).
After 22 years of working overseas, Susan T. Pagulayan returned home and established Susan’s Bakeshop in 2015 in Duyagong, Piat. The enterprise initially produced banana cakes, carrot cakes, and chocolate-based products using largely manual production methods.
As demand increased, however, the growing business faced challenges in production capacity, food safety, packaging, and efficiency.
DOST-SETUP became a key intervention in addressing these challenges.
In 2019, Susan’s Bakeshop received its first DOST-SETUP assistance amounting to P103,740, which enabled the enterprise to acquire Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-compliant stainless-steel working tables, aluminum molders, and customized molding racks.
The equipment improved food handling and production processes while reducing contamination risks associated with wood-contact surfaces. The improvements also helped the enterprise strengthen its compliance with food safety requirements, eventually securing a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) License to Operate.
With its improved production and food safety practices, Susan’s Bakeshop also became an official technology adopter of the DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s Enhanced Nutribun, expanding its capacity to participate in institutional food supply opportunities.
As the enterprise entered larger markets, including contracts with the Department of Education, production volume increased and manual packaging became a bottleneck.
A second DOST-SETUP intervention worth P630,000 addressed this challenge through the acquisition of an Automatic Flow Wrap Packaging Machine. The equipment increased packaging capacity from manual operations to approximately 28 to 150 packs per minute, depending on the product and packaging requirements.
The automated system also improved product protection by minimizing exposure to dust, moisture, and other potential contaminants during packaging.
Beyond equipment, DOST provided consultancy services on Cleaner Production Technology and Occupational Safety and Health, helping the enterprise improve resource efficiency, workplace safety, and overall production practices.
Across its two phases of assistance, Susan’s Bakeshop received a total of P733,740 in DOST-SETUP technology-upgrading assistance.
The interventions have contributed to the enterprise’s continued growth. From an initial workforce of three, Susan’s Bakeshop now employs 16 full-time workers and has strengthened its capacity to meet the requirements of institutional clients while exploring opportunities for market expansion.
Pagulayan’s experience demonstrates how appropriate technology and government support can help micro and small enterprises overcome production challenges and become more competitive.
Her journey from overseas employment to entrepreneurship also highlights the potential of returning workers to create livelihoods not only for themselves but for others in their communities.
Through DOST-SETUP, Susan’s Bakeshop has moved beyond its beginnings as a small, manually operated enterprise toward a more efficient, compliant, and technology-driven food-processing business—turning a homecoming into an opportunity for growth and job creation in Cagayan.

16/09/2026

Volume 4 No 35. September 9-15, 2026

15/09/2026

10/09/2026

Tech Upgrade Helps Sampaguita Twin’s Maximize Rice Resources
Technology is helping a growing rice enterprise in Cagayan turn post-harvest by-products into useful resources, demonstrating how innovation can improve productivity while supporting a more sustainable agricultural cycle.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), led by Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., together with Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang and DOST Region 2 Regional Director Dr. Virginia Belgeria, visited Sampaguita Twin’s Buying Station and Rice Mill Co. in Cagayan as part of the 2026 Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Week (RSTW).
Managed by Eduardo Santos Carpio, the enterprise provides rice milling, grain trading, and post-harvest storage services to farmers and grain suppliers in Solana, Tuao, Sto. Niño, and Piat.
With technology upgrading support, the rice mill has strengthened its post-harvest operations, allowing faster processing, improved grain quality, better storage, and reduced dependence on weather conditions. These improvements contribute to higher productivity and income while helping the enterprise remain competitive.
More importantly, the rice milling operation demonstrates how agricultural by-products can be put to productive use.
Rice hulls generated during milling, for instance, can serve as biomass fuel for the mechanical dryer, providing an alternative energy source while reducing the amount of waste from processing. Rice bran, locally known as darak, can likewise be utilized as an ingredient in animal feed, particularly for hogs.
Other agricultural materials may also be processed into organic soil inputs, such as compost combined with animal manure, which can eventually be used to support crop production.
Through these practices, materials generated from rice processing gain value beyond their original purpose. What begins as palay from the farm can become rice for consumers, bran for animal feed, and rice hulls for energy, while properly processed organic materials can return nutrients to agricultural land.
This creates a cycle that gives deeper meaning to the concept “From the Farm, Back to the Farm”—maximizing the value of agricultural resources, reducing waste, and creating additional opportunities from every harvest.
The experience of Sampaguita Twin’s Buying Station and Rice Mill Co. highlights how government technology interventions, coupled with the initiative of local enterprises, can generate benefits beyond improved milling operations. By strengthening post-harvest systems and making better use of available resources, technology can help build more resilient, productive, and sustainable agricultural communities.(Nelson Santos)

10/09/2026

Cagayan Valley RSTW Highlights Push to Bring STI Closer to Communities

Bringing science, technology, and innovation closer to communities took center stage as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) opened the 2026 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) in Tuguegarao City on September 9, 2026.
Anchored on the theme “Siyensya, Teknolohiya at Inobasyon: Kabalikat sa Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Kinabukasan,” the three-day celebration brought together government leaders, researchers, academe, industry, enterprises, and communities to showcase how STI can address local development needs.
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. called for science to move beyond laboratories and prototypes and into communities where it can create tangible impact. He emphasized stronger cooperation among researchers, government, industries, and communities to turn innovations into solutions that improve productivity, strengthen resilience, and create opportunities.
DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho A. Mabborang likewise emphasized that STI must reach every Filipino, particularly at the grassroots. He highlighted the importance of nurturing innovation and imagination within communities so that people can access technology and develop solutions responsive to their own needs.
Cagayan Province Governor Edgardo B. Aglipay stressed that innovation becomes more meaningful when governors, academics, industries, and communities combine their expertise and resources. Such partnerships, he said, can help transform innovative ideas into opportunities while addressing pressing societal concerns.
These messages were reflected in the technologies and programs featured during the RSTW, which highlighted STI applications in agriculture, education, enterprise development, sustainable transportation, and disaster resilience across Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino.
Among the featured initiatives were the eTuro Project, which supports learning through technology; the Isabela Natural Dyes Hub, which promotes locally sourced materials; and DOST programs such as the Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP), Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST), and Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP).
Research capabilities in the region were also showcased through electric mobility solutions developed by Cagayan State University (CSU), including e-Trikes and C-Trikes, demonstrating the potential of local research and engineering to support cleaner transportation.
Disaster preparedness and response also formed part of the celebration through HANDA sa Bagong Pilipinas: Building a Disaster Resilient and Future Ready Nation. A highlight was the turnover and operational demonstration of the Mobile Command and Control Vehicle (MoCCoV) for Tuguegarao City, alongside capacity-building activities and the MoCCoV Skills and Operations Olympics.
The activities underscored that the value of innovation lies not only in developing new technologies but in ensuring that these are effectively adopted and used to address real challenges.
Through the 2026 Cagayan Valley RSTW, DOST and its partners provided a platform for sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and expanding opportunities for technology adoption across the region.
Ultimately, the celebration reinforced the vision of “Agham na Ramdam” — science and technology that move from research and ideas into solutions that make a real difference in the lives of Filipino communities.