DOST Highlights Initiatives on Health, Shelter, as Relief Post-Pandemic and Disaster

Capping off the second day of HANDA Pilipinas Expo 2022, technology innovations addressing the country’s concerns on safe and reliable shelter, especially during pandemics and hazards, were displayed and demonstrated by various local tech-innovators assisted by the Department of Science and Technology.

Under these local technologies include the DOST Forest Products Research and Development Institute’s (FPRDI) Structural Jointing System for Connecting Bamboo Poles. As discussed by Engr. Christian Camacho of DOST-FPRDI, the bamboo structural jointing systems can be a reliable structural support in housing facilities for displaced communities after disasters.

Several innovations were also highlighted by Mr. Dennis Abella, owner of Metro Asia Exchange and Creations Company. These include the Mobile Command Post and Triaging Trailer Tent, Fire Blanket, and Xboat. Generally, these technologies entail the improvement of both disaster response and crisis management of people in certain communities.

Meanwhile, author, innovator, and owner of Filgenius Enterprise, Mr. Edgardo “Garry” Vasquez proudly presented his inventions such as Turbo Misting Cannon, Mobile Home, Pop-up Home, and Sanitation Misting Tunnel which were utilized during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Particularly, the Turbo Misting Cannon was used as disinfecting equipment in facilities used for isolation and recovery of COVID patients, while the Sanitation Misting Tunnels were used in the implementation of minimum health and safety protocols for buildings and establishments.

The natural components of “Coconut” served its own spotlight among the invented products of Mr. Denver Chicano, the CocoPatch and CocoGel. As discussed, the CocoPatch is a natural wound dressing product made using coco-cellulose technology. On the other hand, CocoGel is a wound spray gel which aids minor wounds, skin breaks, or irritation.

Ms. Maria Carmen Y. Ocampo of the Manila HealthTek Inc. discussed the MTek-developed Biotek-M Dengue Aqua Kit, a diagnostic test designed to detect dengue infections in serum/plasma samples. The company was also the developer of the first ever GenAmplify Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) RT-PCR test kit and the GenAmplify African Swine Fever PCR Detection Kit in the country.

All these locally developed scientific and technological innovations can be adopted by the local government units and other public and private sectors to help achieve a safer, secured, and more resilient Filipino communities especially at times of disaster and danger.

By: Shaira P. Rapisora, SCCU