DepEd thanks PBBM, DBM for grant of 20K max SRI

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to release the Php 20,000 Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) for teaching and non-teaching personnel — a first for the agency’s staff to receive the maximum grant allowed — starting December 20, 2024.

As instructed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman worked together to provide the full amount of Php 20,000 SRI for 2024.

Following the release of Administrative Order No. 27 by the Office of the President, DepEd has begun processing the necessary requirements for the disbursement of the SRI 2024 — the biggest in history for DepEd.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara reiterated his gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman for ensuring that teachers and non-teaching personnel are given the full SRI allowed for their unwavering commitment in basic education.

“This is a historic moment for DepEd, as we are able to grant the highest SRI ever for our workforce. We are deeply grateful to President Marcos Jr. for his steadfast support in prioritizing the welfare of teachers and staff who serve as the backbone of the education sector,” Secretary Angara said.

“We also thank DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman for working with us to provide this incentive to our personnel. It is a testament to how much we value the dedication and sacrifices of our education frontliners, especially as they continue to ensure learning excellence amidst all challenges,” he added.

Following the release of a DBM Circular Letter and a DepEd Memorandum on FY 2024 SRI, the funding of SRI will be downloaded to Regional Offices (ROs) on December 20, 2024, for immediate disbursement.

Daily Fantasy partners with Molten & UBTG with ‘Project Bola,’ to empower Filipino youth through basketball

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



Daily Fantasy, a fantasy sports platform dedicated to enabling fans to create their dream teams in NBA and MPBL, has launched “Project Bola,” an initiative aimed at inspiring and empowering young basketball players across the Philippines.

In collaboration with world-renowned sports equipment brand Molten and basketball community group UBTG (United By The Game), the project will distribute high-quality sports basketballs to local communities in light of the holiday season spirit of giving.

Basketball holds a special place in Filipino culture, serving as both a passion and a unifying force. Recognizing this, Daily Fantasy’s “Project Bola” seeks to nurture the next generation of basketball enthusiasts by providing them with the tools they need to develop their skills and build a love for the game. The initiative hopes to inspire their love for the game while strengthening the sport’s presence in the Philippines and empowering the youth to believe in their potential both on and off the court.

“Daily Fantasy believes that sports have the power to transform lives. Through this project, we aim to provide children the opportunity to dream big, come together as a community, and grow their passion for basketball. We're proud to contribute to their journey and help grow basketball in local communities,” said Carlos Molina, Brand Marketing Manager of Daily Fantasy.

The initiative, launched in partnership with Molten’s industry-leading sports equipment and UBTG’s grassroots basketball advocacy, goes beyond distributing equipment. By supporting local communities with quality resources, “Project Bola” aims to create avenues for skill development, inspire confidence, and spark aspirations among Filipino youth.

"Our goal is to provide the best possible experience for both our fantasy sports users and the communities we serve. Just as Molten sets the standard for sports equipment and UBTG uplifts the grassroot basketball scene, we at Daily Fantasy are committed to enhancing the overall sports experience by offering exciting, engaging, and rewarding platforms for fans," added Molina.

The basketball distribution activity has visited communities in Tondo, Taguig City, Pasig City, Quezon City, Caloocan City, and Rizal throughout the holiday season, and is set to continue in communities both within and outside Metro Manila, including Pampanga, Bulacan, Quezon Province, and Batangas in the futures. Community events are also planned to promote unity and celebrate basketball as a means to bring people together.

As part of its holiday initiatives, Daily Fantasy is also introducing exclusive promotions for its users. From November 25 to December 31, 2024, players can access a special promo code for free gameplay. Additionally, from December 13 to December 24, 2024, users have the chance to win exciting prizes, including NBA City Edition Jerseys, Nike basketball shoes, and New Era Caps.

For more information about “Project Bola” and Daily Fantasy, you may visit http://www.playdailyfantasy.com.

DOST explores tephra from Taal Volcano as construction admixture

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) explored the potential use of tephra ejected by Taal Volcano in Batangas Province.

Researchers from the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) studied tephra, or rock fragments from the volcanic eruption.

“Research and development are drivers of long-term economic growth and social progress,” said DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr. “This study provides opportunities to the construction industry and local government units to utilize the produced volcanic ashfall in the event of a volcanic eruption. In the study to convert tephra from Taal Volcano to construction materials, we have avenues to support our cement industry such as potentially lowering the production cost.”

The study used volcanic ash collected from Batangas Province, in January 2020. In the volcanic eruption four years ago, the cloud ash covered 10 municipalities with an area of 375.46 km2. These included Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Balete, Cuenca, Laurel, Lemery, Mataas na Kahoy, San Nicolas, Santa Teresita, and Talisay.

DOST-ITDI Director Dr. Annabelle V. Briones said, "The challenge of managing the voluminous tephra deposits prompted us to explore using it as a mineral admixture in construction."

The lead authors of the study, Michael S. Lagmay, Admer Rey C. Dablio, and Ruth L. Damian of STD, said that the characteristics of the samples taken from different areas looked promising and might show great prospects for the construction industry.

Andrés Játiva and his co-authors, in their 2021 article on volcanic ash (VA) or fine tephra, considered VA as a suitable material to replace portland cement clinker for use as a binder in cement production. Further, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard C618-93 for fly ash and natural pozzolan considered VA as a natural pozzolan. Generally, cement contains 35-40% lime, 40-50% alumina, up to 15% iron oxides, and preferably not more than 6% silica. Its principal cementing compound is calcium aluminate.

In the study, Dablio said, "We characterized and compared measurement results of the collected tephra against the nearest relevant Philippine National Standard (PNS) 07:2018 Pozzolan Cement to check for their potential benefits to the country’s construction industry. PHIVOLCS collected four ashfall samples from strategic locations."

Damian explained that the results showed the collected tephra met the standard specifications for silicon dioxide, magnesium oxide, and sulfur trioxide. However, the levels of aluminum oxide, ferric oxide, and other minerals exceeded the threshold limits. High free oxides can decrease the workability of the admixture, but on the other hand, they can decrease the porosity of the cement or concrete mixture.

The June 2020 bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network reported that the 2020 Taal Volcano eruption had a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 4, equivalent to 1,000 km3 or 1 million m3 of erupted tephra volume. With this figure, the prospects for the construction industry significantly increase.

With these results, DOST-ITDI presented the study during the First European Green Conference (EGC) held in Vodice, Croatia, where the Kemija U Industriji, an international publication of the Journal of Chemists and Chemical Engineers in Croatia, released the published study on September 18, 2024.

KUI Journal is indexed in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (Clarivate), Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), DOAJ, and Chemical Abstracts Core (American Chemical Society). (AMGuevarra\\ ITDI S&T Media Service)