Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

PHilMech wins DOST-TAPI and CLAARRDEC awards
by Noel S. Mariano Jr. (December 1, 2021)
PHilMech researchers bagged awards at the DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute 2021 Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) and CLAARRDEC 32nd Regional Symposium on R&D Highlights conducted virtually via zoom and Facebook live on November 26, 2021.

In the 2021 RICE, the Greenhouse-Type Solar Dryer System Retrofitted with Biomass Furnace triumphed first place under the Tuklas Award for Outstanding Invention category. Engr. Robelyn E. Daquila, Maria Elizabeth V. Ramos, and Dr. Romualdo C. Martinez of the Agricultural Mechanization Division are the technology researchers.

Meanwhile, Computer Vision System (CVS) for Mango Sorting and Grading developed by Engr. Arlene C. Joaquin, Engr. Richard P. Avila, Ma. Elizabeth V. Ramos, and Dr. Romualdo C. Martinez of the same division, granted first place under the Likha Award for Outstanding Creative Research category.

Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operation commended the participants for the innovations that will help improve the country’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index (GII).

“You are the best and brightest minds from all over the region. Through you, we will continue to celebrate scientific and technological breakthroughs for the years to come. Our agency is motivated more than ever to create linkages with fresh and innovative minds. Thank you for being part of this event,” he said.

Two papers also received recognition as the best papers in the Central Luzon Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLAARRDEC) 32nd Regional Symposium on R&D Highlights.

The paper “Augmentation Releases of Predator Xylocorisflavipes (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) for the Control of Residual Infestation of Insect Pests in Storage” authored by Mia V. Dela Cruz, Vicky G. Mesa, PJ De Vera, Miriam A. Acda, and Don David T. Julian of the Food Protection Division placed second under the research category.

For the development category, “Corn Grits Processing Enterprise Showcasing PHilMech Corn Mill Technologies” by Dr. Michael A. Gragasin, Earl Rafael Labitad, and Genaro M. Tolentino of the Enterprise Development Division was awarded first place.

The regional symposium is an annual undertaking of the consortium to showcase excellent R&D outputs generated by its member-agencies that are responsive to regional and national needs. Primarily, it serves as a venue to present and evaluate the technologies, significant research results and innovations that are ready for promotion and/or commercialization.