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Saturday-Friday | January 23 - 29, 2021
Batanes agripreneur starts production of sweet potato beer TUGUEGARAO CITY – Mass production of the Ivatan Beer, the first and only locally brewed beer in Batanes, has started in the country's northernmost province. According to Dr. Alfonso Simon, Batanes State College (BSC) president, the technology used for producing the beer using sweet potato was developed by the research and development department of the BSC and transferred to a local entrepreneur. The BSC, through Simon, and trader Dennis Lim of Tawsen Agri-Ventures, signed the Technology Licensing Agreement (TLA) of the said beverage. Simon, in an interview, emphasized the significance of the Ivatan Beer to the people of Batanes. "The fact that the Ivatan Beer is made from the locally-grown 'wakay' or sweet potato, which is abundant in the province of Batanes, the product becomes even more interesting and appealing to the locals of Batanes," he told the Philippine News Agency.
TikTok to help promote sci-tech in PH MANILA – Video-sharing platform TikTok will help promote science and technology in the country via a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), an official of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) said on Wednesday. PCIEERD executive director Enrico Paringit told the Philippine News Agency that the two will collaborate to popularize research
Lim, a former college instructor who had turned entrepreneur, said that Ivatan Beer's commercialization will “immensely contribute to the flourishing Batanes' tourism industry.” The Department of Science and Technology-Cagayan Valley through Regional Director Sancho Mabborang has issued the Fairness Opinion Report (FOR) on the licensing agreement's terms and conditions. In September 2020, Tawsen Agri Ventures and BSC signed the term sheet of the licensor and the licensee to agree on the conditions to push through wth the Ivatan Beer's commercialization. BSC received a PHP400,000 fund from the DOST to develop the beverage in 2018. The following year, the native beer made its public debut during the Science and Technology Caravan
in Batanes. In the same year, the product won third place in the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit. (PNA)
BATANES’ PRIDE.
Commercial production of the Ivatan Beer, the first and only locally b r e we d b e e r i n Batanes, has begun in the province. The beverage is produced from sweet potato, which grows abundantly in the northernmost p r ovi n c e of t he c o u n t r y. ( P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f D r. Alfonso Simon/ Batanes State College)
and development through series of training and launching contests. TikTok will also help PCIEERD to promote its Tiktok page, "Pinoy Science", he said. "TikTok looks at this partnership as its contribution in creating a platform for people to learn. The partnership provides them with educational content that can be viewed by their users," Paringit said. He said that TikTok Philippines reached out to the PCIEERD last year, and invited the DOST-attached agency to create a TikTok account for its Pinoy Science Facebook page. The Pinoy Science TikTok account showcases PCIEERD technologies, and the videos were created by in-house staff and researchers. In Dec ember 2020, T i k-
Tok Global reached out to the PCIEERD for a longer and deeper partnership, wherein researchers and the public are trained on how to use the platform in communicating science will be provided, Paringit said. "The new partnership will provide capacity building for researchers and science communicators. Trainings will be done via Zoom meetings and will be facilitated by TikTok content creators," he added. He said he expects a wider reach for PCIEERD through this partnership since TikTok will help the agency promote the page to their followers across different social media platforms. "We hope that through this partnership, our citizens will be aware of our technologies, and
appreciate them," he said. Meanwhile, PCIEERD and TikTok will be launching two contests -- the #PinoyInnovator challenge, and #PinoyScience challenge. #PinoyInnovator would test the ingenuity of Filipinos, as they would have to develop a gadget using household items. This contest will run from February to March, and the winner will be awarded in April. #PinoyScience, on the other hand, is a science communication contest that will require users to explain the science behind PCIEERD technologies or projects. This will run from April to July, and a winner will be announced monthly. More details about these contests will be announced next week.
Europe, US, and developing countries and have laid-off approximately 42,500 workers globally. Moving forward, Nissan plans to further cut its global production capacity by 20% as well as its number of models offered to the market, according to the DTI. With the closure of Nissan’s local assembly plant, Lopez emphasized the need for the provisional safeguard measures on automotives. “The stoppage of Almera’s assembly operations, following closely that of Honda and Isuzu, only highlights that the local auto assembly industry is critically impacted by the surge in imports and will thus
benefit from the time-bound safeguard duty,” he said. “Alongside the modernized incentives being made available under the CREATE Bill, the DTI is undertaking a comprehensive approach to revive the auto industry - employing coherent policy measures while still maintaining fair trade and the contestability of the market for imports. This, together with the major reforms we are doing—such as the Public Service Act, the Rice Tariffication Law, and the Build, Build, Build program, and many more—will bring about a more attractive investment climate moving forward,” the Trade chief added. The DTI said the Philippine
auto market is one of the most open among the larger ASEAN member countries. For instance, it said, Thailand imposes an 80% Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rate on completely built-up units (CBU) originating outside ASEAN. Meanwhile, with various non-tariff measures on motor vehicles in place, Indonesia has effectively discouraged imports and, as a result, imports account for only 7% of Indonesia's domestic market. “This is in stark contrast to the Philippines, where locally assembled light commercial vehicles account for only 7% of the market,” Lopez said.
(PNA)
NISSAN... from Page 1 domestic industry from further serious injury,” Lopez said. Nevertheless, Nissan assured the DTI that the 133 workers will be provided reasonable compensation packages and that only assembly workers are affected, as operations of their marketing and distribution network will continue – selling units imported mainly from Thailand and Japan. Moreover, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the DTI regional offices will collaborate in providing affected workers with manufacturing jobs. Since 2019, Nissan has already closed plants across
(MNS)
DUTERTE... from Page 1 Trump through a phone conversation on Dec. 3, 2016, or even before the inauguration of Biden’s predecessor. Malacañang, nevertheless, has expressed confidence that Duterte will gain friendship with Biden. Roque said Biden’s inauguration is proof that the US has “deep” roots in democracy. “And today, it has reassured the world that its people remain committed to peaceful electoral transitions and the noble principles of representative democracy,” he said. Keeping the ‘long-standing’ partnership’ The Philippines is one of the US’ oldest Asian partners. It is also the oldest security ally of the US in Southeast Asia. Biden’s presidency came amid the uncertain status of the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US. The Philippines formally notified the US about its intent to revoke the VFA in February 2020. However, the VFA remains in effect after Duterte ordered on June 1 last year the suspension of VFA termination “in light of political and other developments in the region.” The VFA, a 1998 military pact between Manila and the Washington, authorized American troops who are participating in joint military drills to visit the Philippines sans passport and visa. Roque was optimistic that Us and Philippines’ long-standing partnership will be maintained under the Biden administration. “We in the Philippines look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with the United States, in working together for a freer, more peaceful world,” he said. Roque also expressed confidence that Biden “will wear his new mantle of leadership with pride and with due regard for the hopes and aspirations of the rest of the world.” Protecting national interests While the Philippines expects warm ties with Biden, it would continue protecting its national interests as part of Duterte’s independent foreign policy, Roque said. “Ang Presidente po ay sinusulong ang independiyenteng panlabas na relasyon na ang inuuna po ay interes ng ating bayan at ng mga sambayanang Pilipino (The President is pursuing an independent foreign policy to protect the interests of the country and its citizenry),” he said. Roque said the Philippines also expects the US to do the same. “Ganoon din po ang mga Amerikano. Isusulong nila ang kanilang pang-national na interes. (Americans will do that as well. They are will also protect their national interests,” he said. (MNS)
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN... from Page 1 Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement on the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris: “Our country is rooted in our democratic ideals and the peaceful transfer of power, despite headwinds suggesting otherwise. With the historic inauguration of President Joe Biden and California’s very own Vice President Kamala Harris, we look forward to coming together and becoming the America we know we can be.” “Today is a hopeful and inspiring day in America. I stand with the President in his clarion call for unity and healing, to once again listen to and respect our fellow Americans, to ‘end this uncivil war.” “California stands ready to be a full
partner to the Biden-Harris administration as they tackle some of the most challenging crises of the generation: restoring our nation’s promise and reasserting our leadership on the global stage – all while working to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end, advance our economic recovery and build back better.” For his part, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti twitted the following in celebration of the swearing in of President Biden and Vice President Harris: “A path to citizenship. A return to dignity. A renewed commitment to immigrant rights.” @POTUS Biden's plan to put 11 million immigrants –– family members, neighbors, Dreamers, TPS holders, and
essential workers –– on a path to citizenship is a portrait of American values.” The mayor also praised young poet and Los Angeles resident Amanda Gorman for delivering an inspiring poem during the inauguration ceremony. The 22-year-old Gorman was a Harvard graduate. She made history for herself and as well as for the City of Los Angeles when she read her poem during the ceremony. The poem is titled: The Hill We Climb. The concluding lines of the poem read: “So let us leave behind a country better than one we were left with. Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.
We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the West. We will rise from the windswept Northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution. We will rise from the Lake Rim cities of the Midwestern states. We will rise from the sun-baked South. We will rebuild, reconcile and recover in every known nook of our nation, in every corner called our country our people diverse and beautiful will emerge battered and beautiful. When day comes, we step out of the shade aflame and unafraid. The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
