After the catastrophic Taal Volcano eruption in 2020 which affected thousands of lives in Batangas province, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) CALABARZON through its Provincial Science and Technology Center in Batangas continues to spinoff technology-based applications aimed at helping communities rebuild their socio-economic repute through the project entitled “Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) for Disaster-Stricken Areas in Batangas Province”.
As one of the municipalities affected, LGU Laurel continuously receives various S&T-based interventions such as livelihood projects, capacity building activities for communities, establishment of community enterprises, and layered maps generation among others. On November 04, 2021, a training on plastic bricks production using the plastic densifying technology developed by the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) was conducted in support to the establishment of a plastic bricks production enterprise for Molinete Ecobricks and Blocks Producers Association.
Experts from DOST-ITDI, Engr. Joannalene T. Tuazon, Senior Science Research Specialist and Mr. Benjamin A. Santos, Science Research Technician III, and from L. Angeles Machineries Corporation (LAMACO) Plastic Densifier Fabricator, Mr. Dennis Pedroso and Ms. Mary Joy Engino, spearheaded the training. Meanwhile, DOST Batangas’ staff, Mr. Jovell I. Castillo and Ms. Angelica D. De Sagun together with LGU Laurel’s staff, Mr.Joel Gardiola (Municipal Environment & Natural Resources Officer – LGU Laurel), Ms. Laarni Gabales, and Mr. Chester B. Guevarra, (LGU-Laurel Municipal Social Welfare & Development Office’s staff) assisted the experts during the activity.
The training was segmented into lecture, actual demonstration and post-training examination. lectures and overview of the Styro/Plastic Densifier. Engr. Tuazon led the discussions on the styro/plastic densifier technology, styro/densifier facility requirements, and safety measures and maintenance. Mr. Santos, on the other hand, covered topics on the pre-operating procedures and the recycling process using the Styro/Plastic Densifier equipment. The demonstration on the use, safety measures carried out before production, plastic densifier operation, and the recycling process proceeded after. Plastic bricks produced during the training were in good quality yet further improvements were also enumerated by the experts to enhance the output.
