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Coastal Cleanup Day 2022

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

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The University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) co-organized a coastal cleanup with the Rizal Memorial College School of Law Paralegal Volunteers Organization at the Pawikan Sanctuary at Matina Aplaya, Davao City, on September 17, 2022, in line with the International Coastal Cleanup Day. UPMin's participation was coordinated by proponents of the UP Mindanao in-house project entitled "Determining spatial distribution of marine litter using drone captured images in selected Davao Oriental coastal areas: Application to assess spatial overlap between beached litter and marine turtle nesting sites," led by Prof. Vladimer Kobayashi and Prof Ruth Gamboa of the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM).

Farmers incomes increase with LIFE model, 2022

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

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Farmers in conflict-vulnerable areas in Mindanao experienced increased incomes after the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin), along with partners Landcare Foundation of the Philippines (LFPI) and ACIAR Mindanao Agricultural Extension Project (AMAEP), implemented the Livelihood Improvement through Facilitated Extension (LIFE) model, an alternative agricultural extension delivery strategy, from December 2017 to April 2021. The program had the support of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology(PCAARRD-DOST).

“Incomes increased from 31% to 89%, and their vegetable gardens and other livelihoods provided a steady source of income,” said UPMin professor Emma Ruth Bayogan, program leader of the “Enhancing Livelihood Opportunities in Conflict-Vulnerable Area in Mindanao through the Livelihood Improvement through Facilitated Extension (LIFE) Model,” at the 7th National Research & Development Conference organized by the DOST on September 15 to 16, 2022, at the PICC Complex.

F2F University Convocation for first-year students

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

The University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) welcomed first-year students for the academic year 2022-2023 through a face-to-face convocation on September 5, 2022, at the Administration Building Atrium. The program was held to acquaint the first-year students with the UP Mindanao community, including its history, mission, and vision, the faculty, staff, and other department committees and activities. The students also received helpful information on the UP Mindanao curriculum, policies, and student affairs.

Chancellor Lyre Anni E. Murao pledged that "the University will be a safe and enabling environment for learning and development" through the blended learning system. "The university will be your space for the free exchange of ideas, inspiring creativity and innovation, celebrating your uniqueness, and building relationships with peers, mentors, and coaches," Murao added. The convocation featured alumna Atty. Janis Louis Esparcia as the guest speaker who shared her reflections on her personal journey at the university.

Research in food and health in 35th SMAARRDEC anniversary

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums


The UPMin team at SMAARRDEC 35th anniversary


Prof. Calumba explains her beer research poster	Angela Urquiola explains the mango research

Researchers from the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao presented industrial and practical solutions to food and related sectors at the 35th-anniversary celebration of the Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC) on August 17, 2022.

Dr. Melvin Pasaporte’s pitch in the Technology and Industry Forum focused on convincing investors to invest in the UP Mindanao lactic acid technology, which promised a more cost-efficient process of producing lactic acid locally. Lactic acid, he said, has applications in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and polymer industries, and the technology presented an opportunity for investors to invest in potentially the first commercial lactic acid production plant in the country.

In fisheries, Mr. Remie Aurelio’s pitch in the same forum focused on minimizing the deterioration of coral reef ecosystems that would affect fishing and livelihoods in the Davao region. He said that wastewater discharge from industrial and agricultural activities causes this deterioration. Therefore, he advised local government units to minimize such discharges or to propagate helophyte plants and reeds which can filter wastewater before they reach the sea.

In the research category for the oral presentation, Assistant Professor Kriza Faye Calumba described a recent study on the production of a probiotic beverage from marang, an abundant but underutilized fruit. Mixing a Lactobacillus strain previously isolated from nipa into the raw marang juice produced a non-dairy probiotic drink that has potential health benefits, she said.

Davao Startup Week: Davao-Israel Night

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

Mr. Balzam, Israel Embassy's deputy chief of mission, speaks at the Davao Israel Night

IDEAS Davao’s Davao Startup Week was celebrated in August, with the Davao-Israel Innovation Night held on August 12, 2022, as the highlight event. IDEAS Davao lead and UP Mindanao assistant professor Miguel Carlo Guillermo welcomed the participants and guests.

That evening, a number of entrepreneurs pitched their startup ideas for agriculture and construction efficiency, coffee and food for social benefit, education in rural areas, and employment for disabled persons. UP Mindanao alumnus Adrian Bernardino pitched “Hayahay,” an app for unifying business needs and processes into “one screen, one platform, one tool.”

Mr. Nir Balzam, deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of Israel in Manila, Mr. Itamar Gero of the Israeli Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, and Dr. Enrico Paringit, executive director of DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) listened to the pitches.

Participants, guests, and organizers of Davao-Israel Night

“Israel and the Philippines share common issues," said Mr. Gero in his keynote talk. "A pressing problem and chutzpa or courage to overcome the fear of failure are what startups need to make things happen.”

“We want to share Israel’s experience as a startup nation," said Mr. Balzam. "We look forward to those joint proposals that will build bridges of innovation between our two countries.”

Dir. Paringit, in his closing remarks, said, "We really need an ecosystem to support our startups delivering support, encouragement, guidance, direction, inspiration, motivation, to make this all possible."

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