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 engineers among the PSAE’s best
by Vladimir B. Caliguiran (May 16, 2013)

Two PHilMech engineers Dr. Michael A. Gragasin and Engr. Andres M. Tuates Jr. were named as this year’s Outstanding Agricultural Engineer of the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE). Meanwhile four RD&E projects won in the paper and poster presentation during the 63rd PSAE Annual Convention held at Cagayan State University, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan on April 22-26.



Dr. Michael A. Gragasin of the Agricultural Mechanization Division of PHilMech is this year’s Outstanding Agricultural Engineer in the field of Postharvest Technology and Food Engineering. He is currently a Supervising Science Research Specialist of PHilMech and his recent researches inlcude ex-ante analysis of just in time brown rice hulling technology, design and development of village type cornmill, design and development of impeller type ricemill in the Philippines, among others.


Engr. Andres M. Tuates Jr. of the Bio-process Engineering Division of PHilMech received the Outstanding Agricultural Engineer in the field of Agricultural Machinery. He is one of the project implementers on the Development of a computer vision system for brown rice and on the design and development of pneumatic corn planter.


The project 'Promotion of Biomass- fed Furnace Retrofitted to Mechanical Dryers' of Engr. Darius G. Ramos, Mr. Roderic O. Vereña, Engr. Aldrin E. Badua, Engr. Aileen R. Ligisan, and Dr. Eduardo T. Cayabyab won the 1st place in both paper and poster presentation for the Energy and Power Technologies Category.


The research paper of Dr. Gragasin on ex-ante analysis of just in time brown rice hulling technology also won 1st place under the Agricultural Processing and Structures Category.


For the Agricultural Waste Utilization Category, the paper 'Alternative Biomass Furnace Wall Material from Biomass Furnace Refuse' of Engr. Reynaldo P. Gregorio, Engr. Edgar D. Flores, Engr. Aldrin E. Badua and the poster on 'Development of Biomass Furnace By- products Based Fuel Briquettes' of Engr. Andres M. Tuates Jr., Engr. Aileen R. Ligisan, Dr. Ofero A. Capariño placed third.


Engr. Aldrin E. Badua of the Agri-Infra Coordinating Unit of PHilMech was also elected as one of the new members of the PSAE Board of Trustees. He will share his expertise for two years.


During the convention, PHilMech Director Rex L. Bingabing discussed the rice mechanization program of the Department of Agriculture.


The 63rd PSAE convention with the theme 'Agricultural Engineers: Catalyst towards Sustainable Food Sufficiency and Global Competitiveness' coincided with the 10th International Agricultural Engineering Conference and Exhibition and the celebration of the 24th Agricultural Engineering Week.


Agricultural engineers are one of the front runners of PHilMech in achieving its vision and mission. Yearly, they receive recognitions from the PSAE.