The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Bicol regional, through DOST Catanduanes, successfully launched the third year of Abacanobasyon—a flagship initiative that blends “abaca” and “inobasyon” (innovation)—with the goal of empowering Catanduanes’ abaca industry through science, technology, and innovation.
The opening day at the San Miguel multi-purpose building featured a series of impactful activities that underscored the program’s commitment to local development.
Ceremonial highlights included a collective commitment signing and the ribbon cutting of exhibits showcasing Catanduanes’ abaca heritage and innovations.
Technical sessions introduced new agricultural technologies and recognized exceptional local researchers through the Search for the Noblest Catandunganon Researcher.
Key technology transfer activities also took place, including the turnover of equipment under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program and the distribution of portable spindle machines to improve abaca fiber extraction and support community livelihoods.
As Abacanobasyon enters its third year, it continues to pave the way for a future-ready abaca sector. More activities are set to follow, including workshops, competitions, and dialogues designed to further empower local communities and foster a culture of innovation in Catanduanes.
Four (4) winners were declared in the Search For Noblest Catandunganon Researcher- Year 4.
Ruling the event as champion is the research of Christian Paul T. Tawat, Wally I. Tapas, and Estrella T. Tribiana: “Abaca (Musa Textilis) Pseudostem as an antimicrobial wound dressing integrated with Squid (Sepioteuthis Lessoniana) Gladius derived Chitosan.”
The other winners are: “Biopolymer-based Hydrogel derived from Abaca (Musa Textilis) Waste Fiber: Synthesis and Optimization” by Allan Frank B. Olalo, 1st runner-up; and “Spatiotemporal Analysis of Flood Risk in Virac, Catanduanes using GIS and Predictive Modeling” by Javine M. Tolledo, 2nd runner-up.
On the other hand, judges selected as most liked poster the “ABACAROY: Assessing the Absorption Capacity of Abaca Fiber and Rice Husk for Methane Capture- a potential solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Philippines” by Dondon R. Manlangit.