Pinoy inventor investigates abaca spacesuits and other nanotech innovations

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Nanotechnology is a bustling field that opens the door to innovation across a wide variety of industries, from fashion and clothing to health and wellness. With this in mind, Dr. Gil Nonato Santos launched the iNano Research Facility in 2006. iNano aims to provide nanotech-related services to academic institutions and industries, from manufacturing nanoparticles to nano-coating materials. Its diverse range of projects includes an abaca fabric coated with nanocomposites that can be used for spacesuits. Another project is focused on detecting lung diseases such as active tuberculosis, which affects 10 million people worldwide.

Dr. Gil Nonato Santos, head of DLSU’s iNano Research Facility, demonstrates a cost-effective tuberculosis test that uses nanotechnology to detect telltale compounds in a patient’s breath. (Photo credit: Dr. Gil Nonato Santos)

Dr. Santos received his doctorate from the University of the Philippines - Diliman National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP). He is currently a full professor at De La Salle University - Laguna (DLSU-Laguna) and a visiting professor at Osaka University.

Based out of DLSU-Laguna, iNano has collaborations with institutions and companies across the globe, including a prestigious partnership with Integrated Microelectronics Inc. (IMI), a global company that manufactures electronics and semiconductor supplies, and support from USAID. 

iNano also has collaborations with the Lung Center of the Philippines and National Taiwan University.

More of iNano’s achievements and goals will be discussed by Dr. Santos at the next iStories session on Monday, November 20, at 4:00 PM. He will give his talk at the CS Admin Auditorium and will also be live streamed on Zoom. To join, you may register through this link: 

https://bit.ly/iStories6

iStories is a series of monthly innovation-themed talks, storytelling, and activities featuring local and international scientists. The initiative aims to ignite the creativity and inventiveness of young scientists not just from UPD-CS but also from other institutes inside and outside of UP.

For inquiries about iStories, please message adride_staff@science.upd.edu.ph

California Technological Care (CTC) Forges Innovative Collaboration for a Healthy Planet and a Thriving Economy

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California Technological Care (CTC) is proud to announce an unprecedented collaboration fostering a healthy planet and a robust economy through partnerships with Philippine-based Voice of the People for a Healthy Planet and Healthy Environment, Inc. (VOP), and Mina De Oro Center for Sustainable Community Economic Development, Inc. (Mina De Oro).

This groundbreaking alliance unites the expertise and resources of CTC, VOP, and Mina De Oro, dedicated to driving positive change in environmental sustainability and community economic development.

CTC, a Philippine Presidential recipient of the prestigious “Kaanib Ng Bayan Award” (Partner in Progress and Development), and a renowned for its commitment to leveraging technology for transformative impact, joins forces with Voice of the People, a dynamic advocacy group promoting sustainable practices and community well-being.  Additionally, the collaboration includes Mina De Oro Center for Sustainable Community Economic Development, Inc., renowned for its dedication to fostering economic growth both in urban and rural communities in the Philippines.

Through this visionary partnership, the organizations envision a future where technological innovation not only enhances lives but also supports the preservation of the environment and stimulates economic growth in local communities.

“Fostering a Healthy Environment and Cultivating a Robust Economy” serves as the guiding principle of this collaboration. Together, these organizations will implement initiatives that promote eco-friendly practices, reduce waste, champion renewable energy solutions, and empower individuals through digital literacy, vocational skills training, and entrepreneurial support.

“Our collaboration with Voice of the People and Mina De Oro represents a pivotal moment in our pursuit of a sustainable and prosperous future. By harnessing our collective strengths, we aim to create tangible, positive impacts on both the environment and local economies,” remarked Demos Punsalan, Executive Director and Co-Founder of CTC.

This partnership stands as a testament to the power of collective action. “We believe that through joint efforts, we can drive transformative change that benefits communities today and for generations to come,” shared Jennifer Reloj, President of Voice of the People.

Margarito Porras, President of Mina De Oro expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “we are excited to combine our efforts and resources with CTC and Voice of the People to promote sustainable economic growth and development within communities.”

About California Technological Care (CTC)

CTC is making a significant impact in the lives of under-resourced communities by giving them the tools they need to succeed in the digital world. Their work is helping to close the digital divide and create a more equitable and inclusive society.

Mga nanay, hinimok ang gobyernong ipagbawal ang nakalalasong kemikal sa mga laruang plastik matapos lumabas ang bagong pag-aaral

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“Hindi natin namamalayang nalalantad ang ating mga anak sa mga laruang plastik na kontaminado ng nakalalasong kemikal na taong 2017 pa ipinagbawal. Walang regulasyon at naglipana sa ating pamilihan ang malalambot na laruang nagtataglay ng kemikal na tinatawag na short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). Ilan dito ang sinasakyang plastik na kabayo, mga plastik na hayop na tumutunog katulad ng shrilling chicken at rubber duckies, at mga plastik na manika,” pahayag ni Thony Dizon, Campaigner for Safe Toys for Kids ng BAN Toxics.

Nagpahayag ng pagkabahala ang grupong BAN Toxics matapos lumabas ang panibagong pag-aaral na isinagawa ng International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) nitong Oktubre lamang. Pinag-aralan sa isang accredited na laboratory sa Prague, Czechia ang mga laruang plastik galing sa sampung bansa, kabilang ang Pilipinas, na nakitaan ng mataas na antas ng nakalalasong kemikal. Naglalaman ang mga ito ng SCCPs at medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs), na dati nang napatunayang nakalalason (toxic), nagtatagal sa kapaligiran (persistent) at naiipon sa katawan (bioaccumulative in nature).

“Sa kabila ng pagbabawal sa SCCPs at kasalukuyang pagsusuri sa MCCPs sa ilalim ng Stockholm Convention, nagpapatuloy ang paggamit sa delikadong mga kemikal sa iba’t ibang consumer products katulad ng laruang pambata, kurtinang gawa sa PVC, hand kitchen blenders at iba pang elektronikong kagamitan, mga damit at mga pintura. Nakagugulat at nakapag-aalala ito dahil araw-araw nalalantad ang mga bata sa mataas na konsentrasyon ng mga nasabing kemikal. Sumasama ito sa alikabok na maaaring malanghap, dumikit sa balat, at mailipat sa bibig kapag isinubo ang laruan.”

Taong 2017 pa nang Ipinagbawal sa ilalim ng Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)ang paggamit sa SCCPs nang walang pagpapaliban o exemption sa mga laruan. Isang pandaigdigang kasunduan ang Stockholm Convention kung saan nakapirma ang Pilipinas simula pa 2004. Obligasyon ng mga pamahalaang kabilang sa kasunduan na gumawa ng mga hakbang upang alisin, ipagbawal, at bawasan ang produksyon, paggamit at palitan sa pamilihan ng mga nakalistang POPs, kasama ang SCCPs, pati ang pagtitiyak sa stockpile at basura nito. Dahil malawak ang gamit ng industriya sa buong mundo sa kemikal na chlorinated paraffins, marapat lamang bigyang atensyon ito ng mga mambabatas at regulators.

Nananawagan ang BAN Toxics ng agarang aksyon dahil ang SCCPs at iba pang porma ng chlorinated paraffins ay nananatiling nakalista sa Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemicals Substances (PICCS), na nangangahulugang patuloy itong ginagamit, minamanupaktura at inaangkat papasok sa bansa.

“Hinihimok namin ang pamahalaan na kagyat na harapin ang usaping ito, alisin o bawasan ang SCCPs at MCCPs, at bigyang prayoridad ang risk assessments sa buong klase ng chlorinated paraffins ayon sa itinatadhana ng Stockholm Convention. Mahalaga ang regulasyon, limitasyon, gradwal na phase-out o pagbabawal sa nasabing nakalalasong kemikal upang mapangalagaan ang kalusugan ng tao at ng ating kapaligiran,” ani Dizon.

Dagdag pang problema ang kawalan ng sapat at tamang labeling sa mga produkto lalo’t napakalawak ng gamit ng chlorinated paraffins sa pandaigdigang produksyon, ayon sa BAN Toxics. Diniinan ng NGO ang kahalagahan ng “transparency and traceability” sa mga materyales na ginagamit sa mga produktong plastik sa kabuuang value chain nito upang maging batayan ng matalinong pagdedesisyon.

“Napakahalaga ng transparency at traceability sa mga komposisyong kemikal na bumubuo sa mga materyales na gamit sa mga produktong plastik, gayundin ang pagbabahagi ng mga impormasyon sa kabuuan ng value chains. Magbibigay-daan ito sa wastong pagdedesisyon ng mga regulators, manufacturers, importers, retailers, consumer, at mga recyclers kung magpagtuunan ang usapin na ito,” dagdag ng grupo.

“Bilang isang pandaigdigang usapin, napapanahon na ang mga rekomendasyong nailahad ay maisama sa nagaganap na negosasyon para sa isang kasunduan hinggil sa plastics sa Nairobi, Kenya. Nagpupulong sa kasalukuyan ang Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee ng United Nations Environment Assembly (INC-3) hanggang sa Nobyembre 16. Ang civil society groups, kasama ang BAN Toxics, ay aktibong kalahok dito sa pamamagitan ng mismong pagdalo sa pagtitipon,” ayon sa grupo.

Nakikipag-ugnayan ang BAN Toxics sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources at sa Food and Drugs Administration upang ibahagi ang resulta ng pag-aaral, at himukin na iprayoritisa ang pagsiyasat sa mga laruang plastik na posibleng gawa sa nakakalasong chlorinated paraffins.