In Phl, it’s ozone kits and fiberglass boats

MANILA, Philippines - For a country that has felt the brunt of extreme weather, local agencies have stepped up to institute climate mitigation measures.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently distributed ozone awareness kits to high school students, while the Department of Science and Technology invented a fiberglass boat, highlighting the need to be tech-savvy to cope with disaster.

The DENR distributed information kits on ozone protection to selected high schools in Metro Manila to raise their awareness about the ozone layer.

DENR Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh said the move was part of the global celebration of International Ozone Day last Sept. 16.

 “Strengthening the participation of the youth in protecting the ozone layer can be achieved by providing them readily available information. This continued partnership with the schools will help us develop not just green consumers but ecological citizens fighting their right to a healthy environment,” Teh said.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer is an environmental agreement among 196 countries which committed to reduce and eventually eliminate their production and consumptions of ODS (ozone-depleting substances) such as chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC).

Teh said that HCFCs have always been considered as an interim solution to Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) Phaseout, because of their lower Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) which is between 5-10 percent when compared to CFCs. Both are used as cooling agent for refrigerators and air-conditioners, as blowing agent for foam, and as solvent. Both groups of chemicals are greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. HCFC is also used as fire extinguishing agent.

“Unfortunately, HCFC’s Global Warming Potential (GWP) is high (600-2,200 CO2-equivalent). That is why global efforts are being undertaken to phase it out,” she added.

The Montreal Protocol is considered as the most successful international agreement to date because it is the only one that is ratified by all 196 countries of the world. The Protocol has been responsible for the 100-percent phaseout of CFC production and consumption in the world. The Philippines signed the Protocol on Sept. 14, 1988 and ratified it on March 21, 1991.

The DOST meanwhile has developed a safer, more efficient, and user-friendly rescue boat that could be counted on during times of disasters.

Alexander Madrigal, DOST Region 4-A or Southern Luzon regional director, said the fiberglass boat has features designed by DOST researchers and technologists for easy maneuverability.

The Fiberglass Rescue Boat (FRB), he said, was made to prevent the usual problem of rubber rescue boats that get punctured in previous rescue operations of prior years’ calamities.

In 2011, the DOST Region 4-A, which covers the Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) provinces started work on a fiberglass rescue boat for evacuations and rescue operations.

After four years of research and development, the DOST Region 4-A said the FRB was a “modified and improved” version.

Engineer Eric Bautista, chief of DOST Region 4-A’s Technical Services Unit said that the initial model has gone through changes based on feedback and observation of actual users.

Currently, DOST fiberglass boats are used in Benguet, Infanta (Quezon), General Nakar (Quezon), Gapan (Nueva Ecija), San Mateo (Rizal) and Barangay Tumana (Marikina).

“Technology is out there, but we should have mastery over these technologies for us to continue and come up with appropriate programs that can directly benefit our people,” Assistant Secretary Raymund Liboro said in an earlier interview.