- Details
By Jules Philip Tillay
The Philippines is home to 347 million coconut trees and yields an average of 14 million tons of coconut fruits a year. Aside from its succulent meat and refreshing juice, the coconut fruit also has fibrous husks which are often converted as geotextile and used in creating bags, rags, ropes, and other products.
Consequently, tons of fibrous coconut husks are improperly disposed of or burned in fields. During an episode of Pa-Siyensya Na, Kenno Michael Uy, the founder and CEO of Lesstics, Inc., recalled that these waste coconut husks can also be a potential source of vector-borne risks.
“Sa Lanao Del Norte, nag-ikot kami at nakita namin na nakatambak coconut husks or ‘bunot’ in Bisaya, after harvest season ng copra. Since nakatambak siya, tinitirhan ng mga lamok at daga. Naisip namin na kung matanggal ang mga ito, maso-solve ang problem for farming communities.” he said.
- Details
By Jules Philip Tillay
Frequent on-site clinic visits can be exhausting and time-consuming especially for a working parent like software developer Noel Gary Del Castillo. During an episode of Pa-Siyensya Na, the newest podcast of DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), he recalled a brief yet pivotal encounter.
“Kapag dinadala namin ang mga kids for check ups–in my experience–naghihintay talaga kami for two hours. Hindi kami sure kung nando’n ang doctor. ” Del Castillo said.
At that point, he realized that his struggle is only a part of a bigger picture, as only 50 percent of Filipinos nationwide have timely access to healthcare. Many of them lack the opportunity for primary care services such as checkups, vaccinations, and minor injury treatments.
-
1 of 2
-
2 of 2
