UPLABS Holds Annual National Biotechnology Summit 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

To continue its mission to raise awareness about biotechnology, the UP League of Agricultural Biotechnology Students (UPLABS), holds its annual National Biotechnology Summit (NBS), a four-day biotechnology awareness program, on March 5-9, 2018 at the University of the Philippines Los Banos.

This 2018, the National Biotechnology Summit, with the theme Turbulence: Treading the Water of Biotechnology, caters college students from different universities offering agriculture related courses to have the opportunity of strengthening their awareness and communication skills about the status of biotechnology in the country. The program will advance the delegates through different sets of activities such as seminars and workshops for better communication skills, community visit, and lab tours.

Seven universities all over the country, consisting of 25 delegates, participated in the program. To clearly introduce the delegates and their roles in the summit, at the same time, establish good relations among the participants, the event will start with two symposia, at the SEARCA Umali Auditorium, discussing “Biotechnology in the Context of the Philippines” and the “Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms”. Before the day ends, the delegates will present their case studies related to the issues on biotechnology in the Philippines.

Different laboratory tours and activities will be presented to the participants the next day, including: artificial insemination in the Animal Science Cluster; wine-making and kimchi making in the Food Science Cluster; and, tour and simple hands-on laboratory experiments facilitated by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) and the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC); to broaden the delegates’ knowledge on the various fields of agriculture.

The last day will cover the Biotech Communications Training, at the IRRI auditorium, which is expected to enhance the participants’ creative approach on tackling ideologies and perspectives about biotechnology, through series of talks and interactive lectures. This will then be followed by a Community Visit, wherein the delegates will be introduced to Trace College, to apply and develop the techniques they acquired from the Biotech Communications Training.

Concluding the program will be the Social’s Night at the Makiling Botanical Garden intended to develop the bonds between the delegates, partner institutions, and the host organization (UPLABS) as to strengthen shared visions and principles towards a national alliance formation.

Having its first successful installment of National Biotechnology Summit last August 2016, this year’s event is expected to keep up with the organization’s mission to further raise awareness about biotechnology, starting with college students, in the most efficient and intimate way possible.

The event is made possible with the help of several institutions namely Biotech Coalition of the Philippines (BCP), Department of Agriculture- Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO), Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCCAARRD), ISAAA, Philippine Seed Industry Association Inc. (PSIA), Universal Robina Corp. (URC), Dupont Pioneer, Fisheries Biotech Center, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources- National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (BFAR-NFFTC), Monsanto Philippines, PhilChema Inc., International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture- Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA-BIC).

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Tips To Save On Car Insurance

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Most people wonder why their car insurance premiums are so high. There are minor issues that you may not be aware of that make car insurance expensive. Here are some tips on how to save on car insurance.

First, avoid putting everyone on your policy. The higher the number of people,  the more it will cost. Name only regular drivers on your policy then add anyone else you want to when necessary.

Two, protect your no-claims bonus because it ends up cutting your car insurance cost in the end. However, the no-claims bonus varies for many people depending on different circumstances. This is why you must make sure you read your policy properly and understand all the percentages involved. Keep in mind that accidents caused by other drivers will most likely affect the no-claims bonus.

Three, you can increase your voluntary excess by agreeing to pay more in case of an accident according to Money Expert. If this is the case, the amount of premium will decrease. The advantage of this is if there is an accident and you are not at fault, the excess can be recovered. This option works best if you have a high-value car. Do not let the excess get too high, though. Know the best limit for the type of car you own.

Four, you can ensure that your car is secure. A car that has a lesser chance of being stolen will have you paying a lower premium. Invest in a good anti-theft tracking device and a state of the art alarm for the car. Your insurance supplier will check these when deciding on insurance rates.

Five, reduce your car's mileage. Your insurance provider will check your mileage when deciding how much premium you should pay. This is also affected by the age of the driver. If you have a lower mileage and you are over 40, then you will likely save on the insurance. Do not cook up numbers that are inaccurate as this can end up being disastrous. If you do not use your car to drive to work then you can choose a cover that is suitable for you and reduce the rate of your premium.

Six, beware of adding young and inexperienced drivers to your policy. This is especially disadvantageous if you have a big car or a higher powered one. A young driver means a higher premium rate. This does not however mean that you should go along and insure your child's vehicle in your name. There can be dire consequences from the insurance company.

Cruise Tourism Initiatives Pay Off as Arrivals Jump More Than a 100 Fold

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Philippine cruise ship arrivals posted unprecedented figures in the last 12 months capped by the simultaneous docking of cruise ships at the Manila’s South Harbor.

On Monday, the Manila South Harbor, managed and operated by Asian Terminals, Inc., registered the biggest number of cruise ships docked at the ports with four, namely, SuperStar Virgo of Star Cruises, Costa Atlantica of Costa Cruises, Amsterdam of Holland America Lines, and Silver Shadow of Silversea Cruises.

According to Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago, the continuous hike in cruise ship arrivals are testaments to the initiatives put into place by different government agencies like the PPA, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Transportation, among others.

“On the part of the PPA, we have been injecting so much effort to improve the cruise facilities of our ports particularly in areas like Puerto Princesa in Palawan, South Harbor and North Harbor in Manila, Bohol in the Visayas, and Currimao in Northern Luzon,” Santiago said.

“The more than 1000% increase in the number of cruise tourism passengers suggest that we are slowly reaping the benefits of those initiatives,” Santiago stressed.

“The direction of the current administration is to further harvest the fruits of global tourism efforts and PPA is continuing its efforts to make port facilities for cruise ships world class,” Santiago added.

Currently, PPA is carrying out several infrastructure projects in key areas to support the booming cruise industry aimed at developing international hubs for cruise liners like Davao, Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Metro Manila, Puerto Princesa, Subic, and Zamboanga. These make up the nation’s major nautical cruise arteries. It has also lined up various port programs for the development of cruise terminals. These include the Ports of Puerto Princesa, Currimao in Ilocos Norte and Catagbacan in Bohol Province.

As of January of this year, cruise tourism arrivals registered  an increase of 1,952.82% to 9,156 passsengers from only 446 in January of last year. Of the total, more than half of the volume or 4,520 was recorded in PMO Northern Luzon in view of the regained interest of Star Cruises at the Port of Currimao as one of its cruise routes. 

The other areas that posted positive cruise tourism arrivals include Coron, Boracay and South Harbor.

“PPA is really bent on equipping major cruise destinations with the minimum requirements to handle cruise ships and slowly put improvements thereon,” Santiago explained.