Palencia wins DOST-NAST G.Y. Zara Award
Date Posted: July 19, 2019 at 04:22 PM
Prof. Merlinda A. Palencia, PhD, a full professor in the Chemical Engineering Department, was awarded the Dr. Gregorio Y. Zara Medal for Outstanding Technology Commercialization during the opening of the 2019 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) Awards held last July 17.
Dr. Palencia, who is known for her research of the Vigormin substance, a blend of natural biogenic materials that significantly improve the characteristics of wastewater effluent, was cited as the first researcher in the country to successfully commercialize a new technology.
Vigormin currently has at least 54 technology adoptors and 10 regional distributors, and has done significant contributions in the development of natural water treatment technology.
The said product also has its roots planted in the university with a spin-off company called Envigor Natural Products Manufacturing Inc. which is also headed by Dr. Palencia.
Other awardees of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)- Philippines-led event include Dragonpay Corporation chief Robertson Chiang and University of the Philippines (UP)-Los Baños Professor Emeritus and Soil Scientist Erlinda Paterno, PhD who also got the Gregorio Y. Zara Medal.
UP-Diliman Professors Mary Donnabelle Balela, PhD and Alonzo Gabriel, PhD were also awarded the Julian A. Banzon Medal for Outstanding Research and Development (Applied Resarch) and Eduardo A. Quisumbing Medal for Resarch and Development(Basic Research), respectively.
UP-Visayas Chancellor Ricardo Babaran, PhD was given the Dioscoro L. Umali Medal for Outstanding Science Administrator.
The NSTW is an annual event held to raise discourse on science and technology and inform the Filipino of S&T’s role and contributions to national development. This year’s NSTW featured the theme Science for the People: Enabling Technologies for Sustainable Development.
