PBBM appoints Fereira as new CITEM Executive Director

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export trade promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), mandated in promoting the Philippines as a reliable source of quality export 

products and services in the global market, announced that Dr. Edward L. Fereira, Ph.D. has been recently appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as its Executive Director. Fereira took his oath of office before DTI Secretary Fred Pascual at the DTI Main office. 

He enters the country’s trade promotions industry bringing with him three decades of experience in the fields of science, business management, marketing, diplomacy, and now government service. 

In 2018, Fereira was appointed as the Special Envoy of the President of 

the Philippines to the Republic of Kazakhstan. He also served as the First Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Philippines from 2004 to 2011.

The new executive director was also a former President of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), the country’s biggest business and management organization composed of top business luminaries. His stint in MAP became his springboard to diplomacy as he led and chaired various private and government trade missions to different countries. 

Fereira’s government career includes leadership roles at the National 

Development Corporation (NDC), Philippine International Trading 

Corporation (PITC), First Cavite Industrial Estate (FCIE), Manila Gas, and Land Bank Realty Development Corporation (LBRDC) among others. 

Fereira was conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Technology 

Management by the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP). He also holds an MBA degree from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Master of Science (MS) in Marketing Management Development from Syracuse University in New York. He graduated from the University of the Philippines with a bachelor's degree in microbiology. 

After completing his post-graduate studies in lunar microbiology, Fereira 

worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 

under the Apollo 11 “First Man Moon Landing” project, as the first Filipino 

Lunar Microbiologist who examined the moon rocks brought back by Neil 

Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins.

Before Fereira’s appointment, CITEM Deputy Executive Director Ma. 

Lourdes D. Mediran served as the agency’s officer-in-charge (OIC).

Philippine Blockchain Week to Offset 500 Tonnes of Carbon FootprintThrough KlimaDAO

Manila, Philippines -- Philippine Blockchain Week aims to be a carbon-neutral event by partnering with KlimaDAO to offset its carbon footprint.KlimaDAO will facilitate the retirement of 500 tonnes of carbon for the seven-day event. It has been calculated that the event itself will have a carbon footprint of 228 tonnes of carbon dioxide, factoring in the emissions derived from the event, including food, event activities, as well as flights and hotel stays.

KlimaDAO is a decentralized autonomous organization that is driving the development of the Voluntary Carbon Market by building infrastructure that makes the market more transparent and accessible. By utilizing carbon credits, which are hosted on the Polygon blockchain, users can offset their emissions in just a few clicks using the KlimaDAO Retirement Aggregator. “KlimaDAO is building public, open infrastructure, that anybody can use to manage their carbonfootprint. Given that the carbon markets are here to support investment into the planet, we think the transparency and efficiency of our technology is a significant and important step forward. Fundamentally, this technology will maximize investment into the planet, by prioritizing market transparency and accessibility for customers and carbon project developers alike.” Alex Taylor of KlimaDAO said.In

 participating in PBW2022, Taylor said they would like to demonstrate how easy blockchain technology is to use, and showcase some of the most innovative and impactful Web3 technology that has been developed to-date.

Dr. Donald Lim, the lead convenor of the Philippine Blockchain Week, said that KlimaDAO is just one of the many examples of how blockchain can improve lives.

“KlimaDAO is an important partner of this event. This partnership is a reminder that we can achieve progress but not at the expense of the environment. We must always take into consideration the impact of our business to nature and how we can help ease the problem of climate change,” he said.

Dr. Lim reiterated that the Philippines could benefit a lot from blockchain and has the edge among its Southeast Asian neighbors to be the capital of Web3 technology. The country has 73 million plus internet users and has the most crypto wallet downloads in the world in 2021.

“There are many things to learn about blockchain and how it can be used in banking, arts and culture, the environment, and such. And what’s great about this technology is its transparency. Blockchain may be difficult to define, but it’s easy to get into. With the Philippine Blockchain Week, we hope to immerse Filipinos in this technology to see its benefits, including how we can use it to address the impact of climate change” Dr. Lim said.

The Philippine Blockchain Week is powered by the following major sponsors 1inch, Tetrix, NChain, GCash, Coins.ph, DVCode, Ark of Dream, iPay88, and Maya.

For more information, visit www.PhilBlockchainWeek.com

Manila is set to Welcome the World to Inaugural Philippine Blockchain Week 2022!

November 28-December 4, 2022 at Newport World Resorts

New York, NY, November 1, 2022 -- Philippine Blockchain Week is proud to welcome international and local thought leaders from the digital and blockchain industries from 

November 28 to December 4, 2022, at the Newport World Resorts in Manila. Early Bird tickets are now available www.PhilBlockchainWeek.com.

With a population of 110 million people that has a median age of 25, and the highest internet and NFT penetration rate of a digital population, the Philippines is at the intersection of innovation, early adoption, and job creation for the global digital sector.Philippine Blockchain Week was created by a group of the country's cutting edge thought leaders from web2 and web3 to facilitate this education, opportunity, and growth in the 

Philippines. Spearheaded by Donald Lim, who is considered the Father of Digital Marketing in the Philippines, and Chezka Gonzales, a pilot and Founder of Women of Substance NFT, they have assembled an all-star team of partner organizations including Fintech Alliance.Ph, Institute of Corporate Directors, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), International Council of Small Business PH (ICSB), JCI Manila, Rotary District 3830, NFT 

Philippines, Women in Blockchain Philippines, Women in Blockchain Asia, IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), and the Internet & Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP), as well event sponsors Newport World Resorts and Philippine Airlines. 

Producer Donald Lim shared “Philippine Blockchain Week has two goals: to fortify Filipinos with cutting-edge skills and knowledge to be competitive on a global scale in industries of the future; and to showcase the Philippines as the “Blockchain Capital of Asia”. 

Among the planned activities for Philippine Blockchain Week include featured sessions with renowned experts about blockchain, fintech, the metaverse, VC-startup matchmaking, an NFT & Gaming expo, multiple after-parties, and networking events.

Producer Chezka Gonzales, added “We are proud to facilitate space where global business opportunities will be created. Now that the world has opened up again, it is a prime time to connect, collaborate and launch successful ventures.”

Other key partners in Philippine Blockchain Week include Rico Pang, Group CEO, Sanctum Global Ventures; Kate Hancock, Founder, Metaverse XYZ; Daniel Robbins, CEO IBH Media; Oscar Tan Abing, Jr., Founder & CEO, Anotoys Collectiverse; Jay Ha, Co-founder, IP3; James Lim, CEO, 

Meta Persona; Tara Kwon, Co-founder, Hyped Collective and Janelle Barretto, CEO, JB7 

Consulting.

Early bird tickets are available in a limited quantity at www.PhilBlockchainWeek.com For more information or for interview requests please contact: media@49GlobalMedia.com

Join the action!

https://twitter.com/philblockchain

https://instagram.com/philippineblockchainweek2022

https://facebook.com/philblockchainweek

#PhilippineBlockchainWeek, #PBW, #web3, #crypto, #NFTCollection, #NFTs, #NFTCommunity

Hybrid Electric Road Train Technology of the DOST Eyed to be Adopted by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA)

In the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority’s (CEZA) pursuit to become a self-sustaining industrial and commercial investment area, the support and use of local technologies are at the forefront. This may be exactly what the CEZA Secretary Jaime R. Escaño had in mind when he envisioned a more efficient means of transporting goods in and around CEZA. 

The HERT was originally developed as an alternative mass transport system in areas experiencing heavy traffic congestion. The Filipino-designed and developed HERT has locally available parts.  It is powered by a combination of diesel fuel and a battery generator, has rubber wheels, and runs on existing roads. It features a regenerative brake system and does not emit smoke, making it environmentally friendly. The HERT offers the best solution to the transportation requirements presently faced by CEZA.

Engr. Robert O. Dizon, Executive Director of the DOST-MIRDC met with Sec. Escaño and other officials of the CEZA on November 14-15, 2022, to look into possible areas of collaboration to address CEZA’s transportation requirements.  

The DOST-MIRDC team’s inspection and visits to various sites in Sta. Ana, Cagayan yielded fruitful results.  The local government of Sta. Ana and CEZA envisioned the Port of Irene and the Port of San Vicente as the prime ports of the country due to their strategic location on the Eastern side of the Philippines. CEZA is looking for ways to boost the current transport system in anticipation of the escalation of economic activities within the port area.

This collaboration may also possibly tap the involvement of the academe.  In another project, the DOST-MIRDC, in collaboration with DOST Regional Offices and state universities, has established Metals and Engineering Innovation Centers (MEICs) that are specially designed to cater to the peculiar metalworking needs of the regions.  MEICs are located inside the campus of a state university recommended by the DOST Regional Offices.  In the case of Region II, the site of the MEIC is inside the Cagayan State University campus.  MEICs can also contribute to the success of the HERT project with the CEZA as these facilities may be used in the development of the HERT. 

With major stakeholders on board, the benefits of using locally developed technologies such as the DOST’s HERT will not only bring out the innovativeness of our best engineers and technicians but will also prove that our Filipino experts and local capabilities are able to address pressing challenges that are specific to the needs of the community.

by Kai H. Negado

Technology Information and Promotion Section

Technology Diffusion Division

Local 463

Direct Line: 8837-0479

Metals Industry Research and Development Center

General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City 1631

Telephone Numbers: 837-0431 to 38

www.mirdc.dost.gov.ph                          https://facebook.com/dostmirdc

DOST introduces 2023 call to R&D programs and scholarship opportunities co-funded with international partners

FRIDAY, November 25, 2022 - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - International Cooperation launched through a webinar today the timeline of the call for proposals for the year 2023 - 2024 for research projects and scholarship opportunities co-funded by China, Taiwan, Japan, India and France.  The event entitled “R&D Initiatives and International Call for Opportunities Webinar,” is held virtually on the third day of the DOST National Science and Technology Week.

Led by DOST Undersecretary for R&D Leah J. Buendia, the webinar focused on the joint research initiatives of the DOST with its bilateral partners and scholarship opportunities.

“Through strategic collaborations, we were able to tread new heights of scientific breakthroughs and innovations,” says Undersecretary Buendia.  “We need to strengthen our international collaboration for science, technology, and innovation across fields and disciplines. The Philippines has a pool of talented and globally-competitive students, scientists, and technical experts that with ample support they can unravel their utmost potential.  To continue maximizing our opportunities, we must be efficient in navigating our bilateral and multilateral partnerships, to further develop a strong S&T Human Resource and R&D landscape in the country.” 

One of the funding opportunities is the DOST-Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Joint Research Program.  Identified priority areas are Health, Agriculture, and Renewable Energy.  To date, DOST has supported 8 projects since its inaugural offering in 2020.

Another funding program is the DOST-Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Joint Research Program.  This is a bilateral exchange program jointly conducted by Filipino and Japanese researchers in accordance with their mutual agreement on international scientific collaboration. It aims to 1) contribute to scientific advancement by conducting bilateral research (including seminars) in a specific research field and 2) provide opportunities for young researchers of Japan and the Philippines to meet, interact, and exchange ideas to build a robust S&T community in the region.  Since 2018, 6 projects have been completed and 4 ongoing. 

The Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO) and Taiwan Economic Cultural Office (TECO) Joint Research Project is an avenue for collaboration between Filipino and Taiwanese scientist and researchers on Virology, Nutritional Genomics, Artificial Intelligence, Green Technology, Nanotechnology, Materials Informatics, and among others. A maximum funding allocation of Php 10 million is set for the whole duration of the project (2-3 years).  Since the Program began in 2011, the DOST and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Taiwan have supported the implementation of 46 joint projects. 

One of the active programs of DOST with France is the French-Philippine Hubert Curien Partnership “Science for the People” (PHC-SFTP) Researchers’ Mobility Program.  The PHC-SFTP is a Hubert Curien French-Filipino Partnership which aims to support the scientific mobility of Filipino and French researchers, and facilitate the establishment of joint research projects between the two countries.  Three (3) projects are being currently implemented by both countries set to be completed in December of this year.

For foreign co-funded scholarships, DOST offers the University of Alberta in Canada and the DOST- Science Education Institute (SEI) agreed to implement a graduate scholarship program in priority S&T fields. This scholarship program aims to create a mechanism for master’s and doctoral students from the Philippines to study and conduct research at Alberta with support provided jointly by the DOST-SEI scholarships and UAlberta. SEI provides for the tuition fee, monthly living allowance, round-trip airfare, relocation allowance, and pre-travel expenses. On the other hand, the university grants the international student differential tuition fee. Ongoing foreign scholarships co-sponsored by DOST include the (i) MECO-TECO Sandwich Scholarship Program, (ii) DOST-Newton PhD Scholarships, (iii) PhilFrance-DOST Fellowship, as well as (iv) PhD Program in Molecular Biomedicine in Italy.

For further inquiries of the funding programs and scholarships, interested applicants may reach out to the DOST-Office of the Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation at the 2nd Floor ADMATEL Bldg. DOST Compound, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig.  Applicants may also send an email at itcu-mail@dost.gov.ph; oasis.ic@dost.gov.ph or call at (02) 8837 2943/8837 2930.  

Philippine Blockchain Week is here!

The first-ever Philippine Blockchain Week – a week-long event that aims to put the Philippines at the forefront of Blockchain innovation in the region. Taking place at Newport World Resorts, Manila from November 28-December 4, 2022, Philippine Blockchain Week represents a major collaboration of the private sector with the support of the national government, driving collaboration and innovation to solidify the Philippines’ position as the region’s fastest-growing Web3 market.

The 3-day conference (November 29 to December 1) boasts an all-star lineup of innovators from multiple industries who will lend their insights, including TRON DAO founder Justin Sun, E! Entertainment Co-Founder Larry Namer, 1inch Network co-founder Sergej Kunz, NFT.NYC Co-Producer Ian Utile, The Web3 Show’s Chris Snook, IP3 Co-Founder David Uslan, Miami NFT’s Erik Lapaglia, ZenAcademy founder Zeneca, Marvel’s Anthony Francisco, and Tier One’s Blacklist International. 

In addition to the keynotes, talks, panel discussions, and fireside chats, there will also be multiple Side Events, an NFT & Gaming Expo & tournament, multiple After-Parties, and exclusive Networking Events. Aspiring disruptors will even have the chance to join John Aguilar’s The Final Pitch! The winner of the event will be invited to join the show on CNN Philippines. We will also have a pop-up store of the number 1 burger according to Good Morning America called Bored & Hungry. Live NFT drawing and drawing workshop by Marvel artist Anthony Francisco. 

As spearheaded by Donald Lim, known as the Father of Philippine Digital Marketing, and Filipina Pilot Chezka Gonzales, Founder of Women of Substance NFT, Philippine Blockchain Week is being supported by a who’s who of partner organizations, including Fintech Alliance. Ph, Institute of Corporate Directors, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), International Council of Small Business PH (ICSB), JCI Manila, Rotary District 3830, NFT Philippines, Women in Blockchain Philippines, Women in Blockchain Asia, IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), the Internet & Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP), and the Department of Tourism, in addition to the event, sponsors Newport World Resorts, Gcash, Maya, Coins.ph and Philippine Airlines and schools and universities.

Meet the Level Zero Artists Live at their Concert this December 11!

Happening on December 11, 2022, at Amoranto Sports Complex – Filed Oval Featuring Al James, Pricetagg, Jp Bacallan, the Maneuvers/Street Boys /UMD Selection, DJ Jennifer Lee, Urban Crew, V2 sisters, King Murph with 1008 With 100 Models and Influencers Plus Surprise Guests. VIP productions will provide the car and bike show.

Tickets for the raffle is PHp 100.00 and 2 tickets can already get you in at the venue with 2 raffle tickets already that you can buy using Yogo.ph. Part of the proceeds of the concert is for the benefit of “the gift 6, #alaykapuspalad2022” to purchase basic needs for the less fortunate families and indigent communities all over the Philippines in cooperation with the Fraternal Order of Eagles Philippines. Eagles is the first-born fraternal socio-civic organization in our country. Raffle prizes to be won are brand new sedan car, 30 motorcycles, more than 100 units of smart watches, phones, laptops, and other gadgets,

200 JVE device with pods , and 10 winners of 5,000.00 cash.

Level zero is set to be nationwide event with 20 key cities already signed up including a grand celebration in March 2023 at the Philippine arena

Presented by LZ Media and produced by Master J. For more information about the Level Zero event: https://www.facebook.com/levelzero.II