PHL lists first PhD holder in Measurement Science

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Dr. Maryness I. Salazar (inset), head of the Pressure and Force Standards Section at the National Metrology Division of the Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI), leads the country in maintaining a community guided by the science of measurement.

The Philippines lists its first doctorate holder in Measurement Science.

Dr. Maryness I. Salazar, Supervising Science Research Specialist and Head of the Pressure and Force Standards Section at the National Metrology Division of the Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI), leads the country in maintaining a community guided by the science of measurement.

The new doctor explains that “In a measureless world, there can be no science for in a world in which no measurement tools exist, there can neither be modern medicine, healthcare, surgery, pharmacology, radiology, dentistry, optometry, and audiology, nor manufacturing, transportation or communication. Everything that provides for people to live relies on Measurement Science.” Dr. Salazar's academic feat will go down in the country's history as a first not only in Measurement Science but also for women doctors of philosophy in the field.

According to a report by Science Education International, a quarterly journal of the International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE), global science research is currently male-dominated, with 3.8 million male researchers as compared to 2 million female researchers. 

Hence, Dr. Salazar has accomplished twin peaks of professional and personal achievements. 

Maryness, or Nhet, as friends call her, graduated in February 2024 with a doctorate in Measurement Science from the University of Science and Technology (UST) in South Korea. She received her Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and her Master of Science in Measurement Science from UST in South Korea.

Her doctoral study, "Exploring a New Capillary-Type Standard Leak Using Polymicro Tube for Leak Measurement and Microflow Applications,” aims to improve accuracy, efficiency, and reliability in leak measurement and microflow control across multiple industries.

Dr. Nhet explains, "Leak detection prevents significant damage in equipment and devices from occurring, which can lead to substantial financial losses in manufacturing and or loss of lives in health care industries."

She added, "It is crucial not only to prevent extensive property damage but also to address several other potential problems that may arise from it." As DOST-ITDI celebrates Dr. Nhet’s success, it not only applauds her academic achievement but also recognizes the collective strides of women toward closing the gender gap in science research. Her journey serves as a reminder that breaching the gender gap in the pursuit of knowledge is attainable. (MVAtienza; AMGuevarra\\TSD)

(Photo credits: UST; MISalazar)

SUDAN: Bomb puts El Fasher pediatric hospital out of action amid intense escalation in fighting between SAF and RSF

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Two children killed – Doctors Without Borders urges warring parties to ensure protection of civilians and health structures.

On the evening of Saturday 11 May, an airstrike carried out by the SAF landed 50 meters from Babiker Nahar Paediatric Hospital, which is supported by Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in El Fasher, North Darfur. This led to the collapse of the roof above the intensive care unit (ICU) and the death of two children who remained receiving treatment there, as well as the death of at least one caregiver. This hospital was one of the few specializing in the treatment of sick children that had managed to remain operational since the start of the war. It received referrals from across the Darfur region because so many others had been forced to close. 

Now, one additional health facility has been put out of action. 

Saturday’s incident came after heavy fighting between the RSF and SAF/Joint Forces in North Darfur on Friday 10 May, when 160 wounded people – including 31 women and 19 children – arrived at the Doctors Without Borders-supported South Hospital in El Fasher. 25 of these wounded were in a terminal condition upon arrival and passed away. Friday’s fighting took place close to Babiker Nahar, and led to almost all patients fleeing in search of safety – many arrived at South Hospital. Of the 115 children receiving treatment in Babiker Nahar, 10 remained on Saturday when the bomb dropped – including the two children who were killed. Currently, the hospital is closed. 

Doctors Without Borders is making an urgent call to all warring parties to protect civilians and ensure the protection of health structures, as they are obligated to do under International Humanitarian Law, and the Jeddah declaration – signed exactly one year ago on the day that the hospital was damaged and the children and caregiver were killed. 

Michel-Olivier Lacharité, head of Doctors Without Borders emergency operations, said:

“Two children who were receiving treatment in our intensive care unit at the pediatric hospital, as well as one care giver, have been killed as a result of collateral damage following an airstrike by the Sudanese Armed Forces. 115 children were receiving treatment in this hospital – now no one is. Already, there was far too little health care available in Sudan due to the conflict. The original pediatric hospital was looted at the start of the war. The children were evacuated to a small health clinic that we rehabilitated and expanded in May and June last year. Upgrading a small health clinic into a functioning hospital is not an easy task – especially during an active conflict. It was one of the very few children’s hospitals remaining in the whole Darfur region. We received referrals from across Darfur because of the lack of facilities elsewhere. Now we are one additional hospital down, just as we were trying to scale-up our response in El Fasher and Zamzam camp in response to the catastrophic malnutrition crisis there.

“The 115 children in the hospital were receiving treatment for conditions such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea and malnutrition. Now, many are receiving no treatment at all. The children who were killed were in a critical condition in our ICU, but their lives could have been saved. This must not happen again. We remind the warring parties with the utmost gravity that hospitals and health facilities must not be targeted, or become collateral damage in a conflict. We also urge them to ensure that they protect civilians – something they completely failed to do this weekend. As well as the two children and the care giver, 25 people wounded in the fighting who arrived at South Hospital on Friday were in a terminal condition and it was not possible to save their lives.”

SSS pushes for social security protection of seafarers

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The Social Security System (SSS) on Friday assured the social security coverage of all Filipino seafarers and maritime professionals as labor groups, manning agencies, ship owners, and government agencies formed the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council (MITC) during a pact signing ceremony in Intramuros, Manila.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet emphasized the collective effort as SSS joined as one of the members of the newly created Maritime Industry Tripartite Council, representing the government sector.

Macasaet lauded the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) led by its newly appointed Secretary, Hans Leo J. Cacdac, for spearheading the creation of the Council.

Macasaet stressed that the Council was a testament to the unified commitment to address maritime employment concerns and advance the protection of Filipino seafarers.

“With this agreement, SSS commits itself to promoting the welfare of Filipino seafarers and their families by providing them with financial assistance during contingencies such as disability, sickness, maternity, unemployment, old age, funeral and death,” Macasaet said.

Macasaet urged all Filipino seafarers to become SSS members, underlining the significant benefits of having social security protection for themselves and their families, which is a crucial step towards ensuring a secure future.

Records showed that around 350,000 seafarers are members of SSS.

SSS benefits for seafarers
Macasaet told seafarers to strive to pay at least 120 monthly SSS contributions so they can receive a lifetime monthly pension once they have retired.

“Contributing to the SSS is one way of investing in their future. Aside from retirement benefits, employed SSS members like seafarers are entitled to sickness, maternity, disability, unemployment, funeral, and death benefits,” he said.

Macasaet added that they can also take advantage of various SSS loan programs, such as salary and calamity, and get additional coverage from the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program for work-related sickness or injury resulting to disability, or death.

“Since seafarers are contributing to the regular SSS program with a Monthly Salary Credit (MSC) that exceeds P20,000, they are automatically enrolled in the Workers’ Investment and Savings Program (WISP),” he said.

Under this compulsory provident fund scheme, he said each contributing member will have an account wherein SSS will place their contributions and investment earnings. Members pay their WISP contributions together with their regular SSS contributions.

He added that seafarers would get their total contributions and investment income at the time of their retirement, which they may opt to receive as a monthly annuity if their WISP savings exceed P100,000.

“Seafarers can receive it as a lump sum if their contributions and investment income are less than P100,000. If it is P100,000 or more, they can receive it as combination of lump sum and monthly pension or a fixed monthly annuity which will be released together with their regular monthly pension,” he said.

Likewise, Macasaet urged seafarers to consider their financial future and save their hard-earned money in WISP Plus, the SSS voluntary retirement savings program. He highlighted this as an additional benefit, giving seafarers the power to choose and plan for their retirement, in addition to the retirement pension from the regular social security program and annuity from the WISP.

Macasaet explained that members can contribute as little as P500 per payment whenever they want to receive this additional layer of social security protection.

He noted the members’ pooled contributions under WISP Plus would generate investment earnings, which would be credited to their individual accounts tax-free.

Members of the Council
The DMW will serve as the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council Chairperson, leading the efforts to ensure the welfare and protection of seafarers. Members from the government sector include SSS, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Members representing the labor sector include the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), the International Seamen’s Mutual Labor Association, the Mariners and Allied Transport Employees Union, Associated Philippine Seafarers Unions, Porty Workers Union of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, and United Filipino Seafarers.

Meanwhile, the management sector is represented by the Conference of Maritime Manning Agencies, Filipino Shipowners Association, Filipino Association for Mariners Employment, Inc., International Maritime Association of the Philippines, International Maritime Employers’ Council Ltd., Philippine Chamber of Arrastre and Stevedoring Operators, Inc., Philippine Interisland Shipping Association, Philippine-Japan Manning Consultative Council, Inc., ALMA Maritime Group, and Ship Manager Association of the Philippines.