By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

THE PHILIPPINE Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is set to receive at least P1.6 billion in budget allocation and grants to upgrade its weather and climate forecasting capabilities.

The biggest grant came from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which put in P1.08 billion, followed by the Korean International Agency, providing P50 million.

The Australian Center for International Agriculture Research gave P5 million while the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Thailand provided P1 million.

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By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

THE SINAG solar car has traveled 633 kilometers as of the second day of the Panasonic World Solar Challenge in Australia. This would be the longest distance yet traveled by the first Philippine-made solar car.

According to the Sinag Team website, Sinag is in 29th place out of 37 cars after they passed the stop at Dunmarra, which is the second stop during the 3,021-kilometer race.

Team Sinag has also avoided failing along the race, despite 10 other vehicles being towed.

The team’s next stop is Alice Springs, which is another 600 kilometers from Dunmarra. They would reach Alice Springs by October 24 where they will be displayed for a while.

The event, which started last October 21, will end in October 28. It will run from Darwin to Adelaide.

Team Sinag is composed of 15 students from the De La Salle University. This would be the first time that the Philippines will join the World Solar Challenge. It joined under the Challenge category.

By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna–Members of the media that cover weather and those interested in the science of weather forecasting went to a field workshop by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA), the country’s lead agency on weather preparedness and forecasting.

The workshop was held at the Splash Mountain Resort in Los Banos, Laguna and was attended by around 30 journalists from print, TV, radio and online. The three-day event aims to provide media all the information on weather forecasting, the technical details on data interpretation and planning on public information dissemination. It also conducted an astronomical study, particularly stargazing, one aspect that is not commonly known by most people.

Assistant Science Secretary Carol Yorobe said the workshop is one of several activities that aim to get members of the media and scientists to understand each other and form a better system of data collection, interpretation and delivery. “We also want to make scientists out of you,” as Yorobe simply put it.

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By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna–If there is one field that the Philippine media should focus on, it should be in bringing science and technology to the people and making them understand its effects on the country.

This was the message delivered by Philippine Science Journalists (SciJourn) president Angelo Palmones during a workshop on weather forecasting conducted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Palmones, who is also the station manager of radio DZMM, said one of the key problems of the media is lack of understanding of the various aspects of science, which makes it difficult for them to explain concepts to ordinary readers.

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By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) is planning to expand the local herbal products industry to reduce dependence on imported drugs.

In a press conference Wednesday, DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Jaime Montoya said building the local herbal industry was aimed at reducing the cost of more expensive drugs and dependence on foreign imports

The use of herbal products for functional foods and personal care are major markets for the agency, Montoya said.

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