Philippine Robotics Team Bags SILVER at “Down Under” Australia

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Robotics National Team claimed victory for the Philippines at the FIRST Lego League (FLL) Asia Pacific Open Championship held on 4-7 July 2019 in Sydney, Australia.

The national team, represented this time by Grace Christian College’s “Gracean Whiz”, received the SILVER Award for Gracious Professionalism in the competition that engaged 43 teams (over 400 students) from 21 countries. Gracean Whiz is composed of students Alexis Diane Ngo, Heart Bernice Tan, Gen Bernardine Dy, Denzell Robyn Dy, Ethan Russell Uy, Zoe Angeli Uy, Arabelle Galupe, Ziyang Zhang, Kylie Danielle Sy, and Chrysylle Grace So with coaches Arlyn Jordan and Warren John Ong Pe.

Gracious Professionalism originated in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science & Technology), which is the ethos of encouraging high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others and respects individuals and community. With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate, thereby improving both competitors. 

Grace Christian College also Ranked Top 7 in the Robot Game and received high accolade for their project, the INFINITY BOARD, an innovative solution that brings recreational activities in space to a whole new level by introducing a portable tabletop board game system that incorporates augmented reality and classical board games with microgravity to its advantage. This project aims to eliminate the monotony of astronaut’s routines during their free time. The theme of First LEGO League is INTO ORBIT.

Livingstone International School from Angeles City also represented the Philippine Robotics National Team and received Top 3 in Teamwork - Core Values for their Project Spirulina, which focuses on the cultivation of Spirulina, a Bioluminescent bacteria and Kilo power for the production of energy in space.

Dr. Josette Biyo, Director of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), congratulated the participants and thanked the national organizer, Felta Multi-Media, for another hard-earned and deserving victory in international robotics arena. “These are truly impressive wins and indicative of Filipinos’ growing interest and talent in robotics. But more than that, we thank the team for exemplifying the values we hope all our young scientists would possess,” Dr. Biyo said.

The SILVER Award won by Grace Christian College at FLL Asia Pacific Open Championship 2019 in Sydney, Australia marks the end of the FLL Season 2019. Other awards won by the Philippines were the Championship Award (Finalist) by Dr. Yanga’s Colleges Inc. at FLL World Championship 2019 Houston, Texas, USA (April 2019) and Gold Award – Project Presentation by Dr. Yanga’s Colleges Inc. at FLL European Open Invitational Turkey 2019, Izmir, Turkey (May 2019).

Duterte Signs EO 84 Institutionalizing IMSAS Council

Wazzup Pilipinas!

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte recently signed Executive Order No. 84 institutionalizing the Inter-agency Council on the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS).

This milestone further strengthens the Philippine maritime administration’s performance of its obligations and commitments as a Member State to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The IMSAS Council is composed of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary as Chairperson and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator as Vice-Chairperson. Representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and Cebu Port Authority (CPA) act as members. 

EO 84 serves as the legal framework of the IMSAS Council to fulfill its functions relative to the adoption of the provisions of applicable international instruments and conventions, as well as mechanisms to certify that the Philippines fully satisfies its responsibilities as a flag, port, and coastal State. Above all, the IMSAS Council shall ensure that its member agencies fully and effectively implement and enforce the IMO Instruments in an integrated manner.

Moreover, the Council is assisted by a Technical Working Group (TWG) responsible for providing support on specific matters concerning the IMSAS. The group consists of representatives from the DOTr, MARINA, DFA, PCG, PPA, CPA, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Office for Transportation Security (OTS), and Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group.

Meanwhile, as part of its preparation for the IMSAS in 2021, the Council convened on 15 May 2019 to discuss the draft Philippine IMO Strategy which contains the measures that the country will adopt to fully comply with its obligations and commitments as a responsible IMO member state.

The IMSAS seeks to assess the level of implementation and enforcement of the provisions of mandatory IMO instruments pertaining to safety of life at sea, prevention of pollution from ships, standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers, load lines, tonnage, as well as regulations for preventing collisions at sea.

PAL, CebuPac Flight OTP Improve in Just 2 Weeks After Signing Pledge of Commitment

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The On-Time Performance (OTP) of flights of Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific have significantly improved in just two weeks after airlines signed a Pledge of Commitment to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Aviation and Airports Sector.

PAL Vice President for Flight Operations Captain Stanley Ng reported that PAL’s monthly average OTP improved from below 60% in April 2019 to nearly 80% in June. For the month of July, the running average OTP for PAL sits at 82%.

For Cebu Pacific, Chief Operations Officer (COO) Michael Ivan Shau noted that from 60% in June, their flight OTP improved to 77% in July, with peak days reaching 80%.

OTP rating for airports is measured by the number of departures and arrivals that take place in less than 15 minutes after scheduled departure / arrival times, including cancellations.

Both airlines stated that the improvements came on the heels of the signing of the Pledge of Commitment on 26 June 2019, wherein top officials of five local airlines inked their support for initiatives on air sector improvements with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

Under the commitment, airlines pledged to aid in the decongestion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) through improved on-time flight performance, support the development of other gateways including Sangley Airport in Cavite, and improve the travel experience of air passengers.

“I can confirm that our participation in the Pledge of Commitment really helped improve our OTP. At the same time, we will continue to improve our internal processes and collaborate with CAAP, MIAA and CAB to make sure that our passengers will have a better experience when traveling to the Philippines,” PAL’s Ng said.

“Coordinated and concerted efforts from all stakeholders resulted in OTP improvement at the NAIA, and we will remain in cooperation with the government under the Pledge of Commitment to ease the travel of the public,” Shau of CebuPac expressed.

Airline officials added that the daily publication of OTP, which commenced in mid-May as ordered by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, has been helpful in pushing for improved performance and promoting the airlines’ accountability to the air-riding public.

Noting the swift progress, Secretary Tugade commended the airline operators and encouraged them to improve further for the comfort and convenience of travelers.

“I thank PAL and Cebu Pacific for their efforts to improve OTP. It is my hope that this be increased, and that more and more airlines follow suit,” Secretary Tugade said.

For his part, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal welcomed the upward trend of airline OTPs as a sign of effective collaboration and cooperation between the government and the private sector to improve aviation services for the Filipino people.

“I laud the airline operators for doing their part to give Filipinos a comfortable life through improved on-time flight performance. We shall continue in this direction as we work on a number of solutions to decongest the NAIA,” GM Monreal said.