Who is Renato Solidum Jr., new science and technology secretary?
Who is Renato Solidum Jr., new science and technology secretary?
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By Laurice Angeles
August 20, 2022
In the science world last week:
Who is Renato Solidum Jr., new science and technology secretary?
Metro Cebu experiences flood again
State of public health emergency extended until end of year
Other interesting stuff:
Free microchips for pets!
Endangered Irrawaddy dolphin found dead in Camarines Sur
Photo from Rappler
“He is a man of science and is a good pick.”
“He is a man of science and is a good pick.”
In a report by Rappler, the newly appointed secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Renato Solidum Jr. was described “a good pick” by executive director of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute Mahar Lagmay.
Former DOST chief Fortunato dela Peña also said he is a “model public servant,” and it was a “well-deserved” appointment. But wait, who is Renato Solidum Jr.?
From Odiongan, Romblon, Solidum is a geologist, a graduate of BS Geology in the University of the Philippines Diliman. He also holds a master’s degree on Geological Sciences from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and a doctorate degree on Earth Sciences from the University of California, San Diego.
A public servant
Solidum spent decades working for the government starting as a science research specialist I, an entry-level position in the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) as a fresh graduate from UP Diliman in 1984.
He worked his way up in the bureau and became supervisor and division chief. He was Phivolcs director by 2003 and held position for 14 years.
In 2017, he became undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, and officer-in-charge of Phivolcs. In 2019, he became undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services.
A mix of bureaucratic experience and technical knowledge
“He has the needed technical, intellectual, managerial, and people skills for the responsibilities and tasks laid before him,” Rappler quoted Dela Peña.
Here is a sneak peek on Solidum’s goals and priorities as DOST chief, according to the same report by Rappler:
Facilitate and market the country’s advocacies and products
Advance further digitalization of disaster information
Launch an automated planning tool to “revolutionize planning on disaster risk reduction”
Support human development for “fine tuning” work processes inside and outside of the agency
Solidum’s job in general as DOST secretary will be to promote research and development, innovate products and services, and formulate policies in the field of science and technology.
Metro Cebu experiences flood again
Metro Cebu experiences flood again
‘TOO MUCH WATER Children wade through the flooded street in downtown Cebu City on Thursday night, August 4, 2022, following hours of heavy rain. The city and many areas in Metro Cebu experienced its worst flooding since Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) battered the Visayas in December 2021. —Cebu City Public Information Office’ (Photo via Inquirer)
After a short downpour Friday last week, several areas in Metro Cebu were flooded again.
In a video posted by ABS-CBN News from Leoj Onirac, floods were waist-deep where motorcycles were going through and many children were wading the waters.
In a video posted by ABS-CBN News from Leoj Onirac, floods were waist-deep where motorcycles were going through and many children were wading the waters.
The floods subsided after an hour but caused heavy traffic in the area. Also, a road in Sitio Laya Upper Kalunsan was impassable after a landslide.
Last August 4, downtown Cebu City’s streets were flooded after hours of heavy rain. It was the city's worst flood experience after Typhoon Odette in December 2021.
State of public health emergency extended until end of year
State of public health emergency extended until end of year
‘People wearing face masks as protection against the COVID-19 while inside the market in Marikina City.’ (Philippine STAR/Walter Bollozos)
Declared in March 2020 and has not been lifted since, the state of public health emergency will be extended until end of 2022, according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The purpose of the extension is to leave the emergency use authorizations on vaccines and medicines for COVID-19 unaffected, including benefits of healthcare workers.
The state of public health emergency is different from the state of calamity. Declared also in March 2020, the state of calamity will expire by September 12, 2022.
Other interesting stuff:
Photo via Quezon City Government Official Website
Free microchips for pets!
Free microchips for pets!
Are you from Quezon City? If so, you might want to get a microchip for your pet!
Quezon City government offers free microchipping for pets. The microchip, which is a size of a grain of rice, will be implanted under your pet’s skin. It has a serial number that refers to your pet’s identity, making it easier to track them when lost.
‘An Irrawaddy dolphin was found dead after being entangled in a crab net in waters off Calabanga town in Camarines Sur province on Tuesday. Photo by Nonie Enolva’ (Photo via Inquirer)
Endangered Irrawaddy dolphin found dead in Camarines Sur
Endangered Irrawaddy dolphin found dead in Camarines Sur
An Irrawaddy dolphin, an endangered species, was entangled in a crab net and found dead on Tuesday in the waters off Calabanga town, Camarines Sur province.
The species was confirmed by Dr. Lem Aragones, President of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network and professor marine mammal science at the University of the Philipines (UP) Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology.
According to UP Diliman College of Science, this is Bicol’s first sighting of an Irrawaddy dolphin by a stranding event.
The Faraday
The Faraday
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