Grand Launching and Inauguration of the DOST AMCen

WELCOME REMARKS

Engr. Robert O. Dizon

Executive Director

DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center

Grand Launching and Inauguration of the AMCen

AMCen Building, DOST-MIRDC Compound, Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City

June 14, 2021

Department of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, 

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar, represented by Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, 

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato T. Dela Peña, 

Department of Budget and Management Secretary Wendel E. Avisado,

National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua, represented by Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon,

DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba,

Taguig City Mayor Lino Edgardo S. Cayetano,

AMCen partners; friends from the media; my fellow government employees; ladies and gentlemen; good morning. 

It is my privilege to welcome you all to today’s event.  Today, we are marking history together with the grand launching and inauguration of the Advanced Manufacturing Center, the first of its kind in the Philippines. 

Two years ago, we held the groundbreaking of the AMCen.  

Our dear DOST Secretary led the event.  The groundbreaking ceremony was a celebration and an expression of our gratitude to the people and organizations who joined us and believed in the vision of setting up the AMCen.  It was a ceremony that served as a kickoff to more AMCen milestones to come. 

Today, as we launch and inaugurate the AMCen, we are reminded that this is just the start of many thrilling breakthroughs for all of us.  With the help of our AMCen partners and through the latest additive manufacturing technologies that we have, we can provide solutions to the prototyping needs of the industry, the academe, and even budding entrepreneurs who have so much creativity but are hindered by challenges in conventional manufacturing.  

With all these additive manufacturing technologies and experts within reach, we can take advantage of opportunities for product development.  After all, we have all the solutions and technical expertise at AMCen.  We want to help you turn your ideas into reality.  Let AMCen help you make the impossible possible.  

Before I close, I would like to thank DOST Secretary de la Peña and USec Guevara for your support and unyielding guidance.  Without you backing us up, AMCen would not have been possible.  

I am also taking this opportunity to congratulate the RAPPID-ADMATEC project team led by Engr. Fred P. Liza.  Thank you for your hard work.  

The stage is set.   Our network is getting wider as we see more and more areas for collaboration with various organizations in both the public and private sectors.  We have 3D printers and other additive manufacturing-related technologies.  We are ready to further enhance AM skills – ours, our partners', and those of our future collaborators and clients.  

All that is left for us to do is utilize what we have in the AMCen.  Let us always keep in mind what the AMCen is here for – to serve all our additive manufacturing requirements and support various industries’ need for innovation.  

To all of you, thank you for being with us.  I welcome you all to the grand launching and inauguration of the Advanced Manufacturing Center.  As the AMCen team says, Let’s go beyond the conventional.

Digital Identity and Digital Citizenship in the Philippines

Generational poverty is an ongoing challenge for the development goals of the Philippines. In the social development aspect of communities, people who are living under generational poverty are likely without legal identities as the lack of birth certificates and government issued IDs are barriers to gaining access to basic government services such as healthcare. The lack of identity and the means to prove it is also a hindrance to the economic inclusion agendas of the nation -- as far as having the goal for everyone to have access to basic banking services.

According to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 91% of the Filipino children under the age of 5 or 14 million approximately, are unregistered since birth. It is a growing challenge especially in the rural areas of the country’s most remote provinces that are experiencing an upsurge in birth rates. The United Nations (UN) predicted that the Philippine population will hit the mark of 148 Million by 2030 and with the potential milestone, there are development and sustainable challenges found in economics, sustainability and the quality of life.

PHILSYS: The First Step to an Inclusive Development Framework

The national Philippine Identification System (PHILSYS) is a ground-breaking project that aims to provide a legal, irrevocable, lifetime and verifiable identities to all Filipinos that includes naturalized Filipinos. Mandated by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018 and started as a pilot program in late 2020, PHILSYS registered 9 Million Filipinos by end of 2020. In 2021, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) aims to register over 70 Million Filipinos. It is an ambitious but achievable goal as fast-tracking inclusion, identities and the means for access to basic government services and basic banking is a development goal that the country must prioritize as it aims to achieve new and sustainable development goals after the pandemic has made its economy contract.

In fast tracking the PHILSYS program, the PSA has opened the PHILSYS Pre-Registration process online in the month of May 2021. In just the start of two weeks, Step 1 Registration for PHILSYS have topped over 1 Million online signups.

One of the major goals of PHILSYS is to foster and expand the concept of the local and national inclusive economic development. The program aims to enrol unbanked Filipinos to the local banks to improve the nation’s overall financial literacy and expand the service of banks to more Filipinos. Last year, the Bangko Sentral the Pilipinas (BSP) stated that over 51.2 Million adult Filipinos are unbanked. In working with the PHILSYS program, the BSP in turn would cooperate with state owned banks and rural banks in order for the PHILSYS ID holders to be able to open up savings accounts. Earlier this year, PHILSYS announced that PHILSYS ID holders are able to open up accounts with LandBank. Since then, the PHILSYS registration has added around 2.4 Million LandBank accounts. It is a small landmark but a very encouraging sign for what is to come from the envisioned goal of the PSA and BSP of banking the unbanked Filipino adults.

As more of the unbanked are able to transact with banks, this boosts the local circulation of currency and bolsters the local banks’ reserves for them to be able to service more commercial infrastructure deals as a way to further stimulate the economy through loan approvals and earning strong domestic interest rates.

Digital Citizenship in the Digital Economy

During the pandemic, the shift to digital banking and online commerce proved to be a strong upstream for businesses in the Philippines as a means for survival and business continuity:

• Signups to Online and Digital Banking were at an uptrend

• Filipinos were able to maintain services such as electricity, water and internet through online

payments

• Local Digital Wallets such as Paymaya and GCash have experienced a strong upsurge in users and

earnings

• Online / App delivery for food experienced a boom during the pandemic

• E-Commerce and Mobile Shopping were also gaining new markets

The silver lining of the pandemic has given us a glimpse of the emerging Philippine Digital Economy as income earners from the middle-class and above formed a strong consumer movement in the digital front. With PHILSYS and its ID being a basis for identity KYC where we count LandBank ATM and Debit Card issues, it greatly expands the coverage of the emerging Philippine digital economy to PHILSYS enrolees as their PHILSYS ID and their issued ATM can allow them to purchase, earn and partake across digital storefronts.

The four pillars of Digital Economies are:

• Digital Citizenship – Identity and User Information Management through technologies such as Self Sovereign Identity and Digital Identity allow users to securely manage their identity and set of credentials in signing up with providers such as email, online stores, services and others

• ICT – A strong Internet and Communications Technology framework is the core pillar of the digital economy. It fosters governance models, infrastructure and interoperability of platforms to allow the circulation of trade, commerce and economics under the digital economy.

• Fintech – The basis for transactions for the purchase of goods, line of credit and digital asset exchange. Interoperability of payment allows to connect these economies.

• Governance – Governance and Administration of the Digital Economy to ensure privacy, security, fairness and ethics under the Digital Economy.

As the nation explores new growth frontiers as it aims to get back on track for its economic recovery, the Digital and Frontier Technology are multi-billion industries in their own right. Through Digital ID, McKinsey & Company estimates that Digital ID can unlock 3-13% of GDP by 2030. 65% of its value could accrue to individuals in emerging economies as a powerful inclusive force in harnessing the potential of individuals as economic participants.

In the case of the Philippines, unlocking the banking potential of over 51.2 Million Filipinos who were once unbanked is a sustainable and inclusive force for development. Giving access to banking allows more participants in strengthening the Philippine Digital Economy. With PHILSYS, it gives inclusion at a personal and societal level. In turn, it unlocks economic opportunities and growth drivers from the once unbanked.

DynaQuest: Award-Winning Digital ID Solutions

DynaQuest, an award-winning Identity and Access Management solutions provider for Digital IDs, from use cases of SSI, Digital Wallets and Digital Economic Frameworks. To learn more, visit: 

Asia Leaders Awards to honour Mernels at Embassy of Singapore

Asia Leaders Awards in the past honours companies and individuals in the countryside who excels in their fields. For this year, two women leaders; Merle Mendoza Balicao of Mernels in Los Baños  and Liza Carlos Timbol of Guagua Rural Bank., Inc will be hailed in two different categories. 

Award winning entrepreneur, Merle Mendoza Balicao is into giving. She’s focused on their CSR, helping the indigents and poor even during this Pandemic, sharing their blessings and coordinating with different NGOs for their projects by providing sacks of rice, cakes and financial support.

Merle started Mer-Nel’s Cake House and Variety Shop in 1996. Mer-Nel is a combination of her name and that of supportive husband, Nelson. With the lofty objective to make Mer-Nel’s known nationwide and to become part of every Filipino occasion and celebration, Merle focused on her mission to provide fine customer service with consistency and affordability and put emphasis on offering high quality and delicious products while providing more job opportunities as their business continues to grow. Now, you’ll see thousands of resellers and branches at SM and people are lining up just to taste the goodness of their products. 

According to one of the awards committee, Grace Bondad Nicolas., “A multi awarded businesswoman who received the SME Company of the Year award at Asia Leaders Awards 2020, among other accolades from her community. The CEO of Mernels, Merle Mendoza Balicao is with one of those rags to riches story that you like to read and be inspired over and over again. You’ll find the determination, challenges and success because of those. What we need right now, hope and optimistic behaviour.” 

Grace Bondad Nicolas is currently the first woman President of American Association of the Philippines since its establishment 73 years ago, a notable first according to AAPs Chairman Emeritus. She’s also the current Vice President of Makati Tourism Foundation and Lieutenant Governor Elect of Kiwanis Club, Division 3A which composed of clubs under Manila, Pasay, Makati and Taguig. 

Some of the honourees at Asia Leaders Awards includes the CEO and President of Jollibee Group, Ernesto Tanmantiong, Senator Manny Pacquiao, Grab Philippines, Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, Frontrow Enterprise, VI Group of Companies, Alfamart Trading and Bounty Agro Ventures Inc among others. 

Awarding on November 11, 2021 at Embassy of Singapore. To nominate at Asia Leaders Awards, please check www.asialeadersawards.asia

Asia Leaders Awards honouree for the environment to combat Climate Change

 Randy Salamat of Alfonso, Cavite is not just taking care of his constituents but also the environment. Just recently he managed to join a team in planting seedlings and to influence this generation to do the same. 

In his Facebook account, the award winning and millennial mayor published his support in these kind of activities. 

“Kamusta po ang Sabado ninyo? 

Ngayong araw po kami ni VM Madona Mojica - Pel ay patikad na sa Balidbirin River, Brgy. Matagbak 1 upang makiisa sa pagtatanim ng apat na daan na puno.  Maraming Salamat po sa proyektong ito: 

COMMUNITY ANTI-CRIME GROUP

PDEG- PHIL. DRUG ENFORCEMENT GROUP

PBGEN. REMUS B. MEDINA- Director PNPDEG

ENGR. ELMER P. BERNARDO- National  President, CACG

HON. ATHENA D. TOLENTINO- Councilor, Tagaytay City

HON. ERIBERTO MARJES- Brgy. Captain at sa kanyang mga kasama sa barangay. 

CACG ALFONSO

PNP ALFONSO 

PMAJ Jay Caparas

Alfonso Triskelion Municipal Council

Joaquin Burdado

“Kami po sa Alfonso ay bukas sa mga ganitong proyekto. Tuloy po kayo.”

-Mayor Randy Salamat 

Climate Change is real and experts are telling us to plant trees, recycle and to take care of our only environment. It is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth's local, regional and global climates. These human-produced temperature increases are commonly referred to as global warming. Trees help to combat global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide, removing and storing carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air. They also reduce wind speeds and cool the air as they lose moisture and reflect heat upwards from their leaves.

Mayor Randy Salamat is one of the honourees under Asia Leaders Awards 2021 with an objective to promote hope and optimism due to this global health crisis. Other honourees from the government includes Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, Congressman Michael Romero and Senator Manny Pacquiao. 

To nominate. Please check www.asialeadersawards.asia

Jollibee Group CEO & President to honour at Asia Leaders Awards 2021

Asia Leaders Awards, the largest business and public servants awards giving event in Asia will honour leaders in this generation who are showing hope and optimism as the organisers would like to inspire, be determined to survive and to promote the Philippines not just the premier business hub in Asia but to be the top of mind for destinations. Because of the global health crisis, these leaders reaches not just their organisation but also helping out indigents. These are the leaders who are shining more even in times of crisis. 

Jollibee Group Corporation, Chief Executive Officer and President Ernesto Tanmantiong with its worldwide branches of the most popular brand and chain of restaurants in the Philippines exactly the epitome of a real leader that in spite of challenges caused by this pandemic is still branching out globally sharing joys to everyone. 

As of May 2021, JFC gave out to Frontliners and Indigent families affected by this crisis, more than 6.4 Million meals that’s already been distributed. 

Some of the initiatives also includes giving rice to families in partnership with KASAGANA-KA Development Center, Inc., JFC were able to provide 125 sacks of rice benefitting 1,198 families in Metro Manila, Cavite, and Bulacan.   This is part of ongoing efforts to help families cope with the ongoing community quarantine.

You’ll see more of JFC initiatives in their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/JollibeeGroupFoundationInc/

Ernesto Tanmantiong is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), one of the world's largest and fastest growing Asian food service companies with over 4,500 stores in 21 countries. Tanmantiong has been leading Jollibee as president and CEO since 2014, and has sat on the board since 1987. The brother of Jollibee founder Tony Tan Caktiong, Tanmantiong has been with Jollibee since its inception in 1978, steadily moving up the chain of command from store manager to COO and now CEO.

To nominate, please check www.asialeadersawards.asia

Mix and Match of Vaccines DOST USec Rowena Cristina L. Guevara Chairperson, Task Group on Vaccine Evaluation and Selection

Which vaccine brands will be used for the clinical trial or study on mix and match of vaccines?

The study will evaluate interchanging vaccine brands to complete the vaccination series, with 

Sinovac as the first dose. Sinovac was chosen as it is considered to be the most stable vaccine 

supply in the country. All of the vaccines to be mixed and matched with Sinovac are vaccines that have already been given an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval by the Philippine FDA, specifically: AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Pfizer, and Moderna.

How will the vaccines be matched?

The study will have three (3) groups with a total of 12 study arms. Group A will study the same 

vaccines under the same platform. Group B will study the vaccines to be interchanged, and Group C will study the special high-risk group to be given a booster dose.

Under Group A, the completion of the Sinovac-Sinovac and AstraZeneca-AstraZeneca vaccination series will be studied to act as the control of the study. Meanwhile for Group B, the vaccines to be combined after the first Sinovac dose are vaccines that have already been given an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval by the Philippine FDA, which are specifically: AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Pfizer, and Moderna. 

Group C will match the same set of vaccines but as a third dose. This means that after the 

completion of the vaccination series of Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Pfizer, and Moderna will 

be administered to act as a booster dose.

What about the study on booster doses, is this part of this study?

Aside from determining the safety and immunogenicity of interchanging vaccine brands to complete COVID-19 vaccine series, the study also aims to determine if the high-risk population who already completed the dosing regimen of the Sinovac vaccine would elicit a better immune response after the immunization of a booster dose from a different vaccine platform or brand.

What are the objectives of this study on mixing and matching vaccine brands?

The study is a multi-site, convenience sampling, unblinded trial which will be spearheaded by Dr. 

Michelle De Vera of the Philippine Society for Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (PSAAI). 

Primarily, the study aims to determine the safety and immunogenicity of completing the vaccination series with available COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines in those given Sinovac as the first do. As mentioned earlier, the trial will also analyze whether those who already completed the dosing regimen for Sinovac will have a better immune response after the immunization of a booster dose from a different vaccine platform or brand.

How many participants are needed and who can participate in the Clinical Trial for Mix and 

Match?

A total of 3,000 participants will be recruited from 8 proposed study sites nationwide. Eligible 

participants are those included in the A1 - A4 vaccination priority group in line with the DOH rollout and COVAX facility guidelines. Participants will also be screened based on the inclusion and 

exclusion criteria of the study.

Will the Mix and Match Clinical Trial include participants ages 17 and below?

No, the clinical trial will only include participants aged 18 years old and above. 

*The VEP would also like to enroll those 70 years old and above

Will the clinical trial affect the limited supply of vaccines in the country?

Local clinical data to be generated from the Filipino people on the interchanging of available COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines can serve as the basis for deciding which vaccines/vaccine platforms can be mixed, which may be applied by the Department of Health (DOH) for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The relevant data generated may provide basis for the guidelines/policies of the DOH on the vaccination rollout especially during situations of limited vaccine supplies or vaccine shortage.

When will the clinical trial commence?

The study is expected to run for 18 months, which is expected to start in June 2021 to November 

2022, as soon as approval from the Ethics Boards and FDA has been sought

LAWRENCE LI TAN three consecutive win in a row at Asia Leaders Awards

The Asia Leaders Awards 2021 just had a public launch recently in Manila House Private Club with selected honourees and awards committee to promote hope and optimism and to acknowledge the leaders who are making a difference even during this global health crisis. These leaders came from around the country from different kinds of industries that promotes the Philippines as a top-tier business hub and reaching out the indigents and marginalised. These are business leaders, those from academe and public servants who are shining more in times of pandemic for helping others unconditionally. 

One of the honourees for this year is Lawrence Li Tan. Honoured as the Young Leader Awardee of 2018, 2019 and 2020, Mr. Lawrence Li Tan was again nominated in 3 categories. Tan is the young CEO and President of Lakbay Museo which is known to be the First Ever Interactive Millennial Museum. In his age, he was able to open over 17 hotels around the country. He is currently the 2021 JCI Makati President. 

Influenced by his Mom, family, and friends, Tan is always admired as someone who strived not only for himself, but for his team. Conquer was not a word to describe him, but rather create is a much fitting word to describe his goals. He always gives back and acknowledges his team as part of his success.

Produced by Tag Media Group with an advocacy to promote the Philippines as the premier business hub in Asia and beyond headed by it’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Troy Escobar Nicolas. The previous events was the largest in Asia and so successful with numerous VIPs and government officials in attendance such as Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Jollibee CEO and President Ernesto Tanmantiong among others. 

This year’s event is supported by the Embassy of Singapore, Embassy of Poland, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Korea, Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and American Association of the Philippines among others. 

Awarding will be on November 11, 2021 at Embassy of Singapore. 

For more information and to nominate at Asia Leaders Awards, please check www.asialeadersawards.asia