PSME 59th NatCon notes (#3)

17 November 2011

There was obviously a determined effort, during the recently concluded convention, to expand the outlook of the members of the mechanical engineering profession with the inclusion of Technopreneurship as one of the plenary talk topics. As mentioned in my previous article, we had a very qualified speaker in the person of the “Society’s” immediate past national president, Engr. Renato Florencio. He has had 32 years of exceptional employment experience, capping it with being General Manager and President (during his last 13 years of employment) of Conell Brothers Philippines, Inc., an American multinational company. He has also been a successful entrepreneur since he retired from employment 15 years ago.

Engr. Florencio, who currently is into the jewelry manufacturing and distribution business, was able (just like the other speaker featured in my last article) to capture the continuous attention of the delegates, despite speaking in a time slot where the audience would be prone to drowsiness. He shared his experience, both the good and the bad things that happened to him, as well as the wrong things he did, so that the prospective entrepreneurs in the audience may be spared from repeating them. He also gave some tips on what concerns to address, to improve the mechanical engineer’s chances of succeeding once he goes into business.

According to him, anyone who wants to be a businessman should first do a self assessment because not everyone can be a businessman. Going into business means shifting one’s attitude and mentality from that of a safe (or employee) mode, to that of being resolute, and a risk taker. Unlike employment, where one has fixed work hours and assured of regular pay, going into business means that one has to take risks, and do what’s needed to sustain his business and generate income for himself as well as his employees. He has to therefore be prepared to depend on himself for generating not only his own sustenance, but also that of his dependents.

When one goes into business, one has to maximize his opportunities. It requires one’s mind to be always alert and active in considering opportunities or solutions to problems of his business. It’s a different mind-set that’s needed and one that would require effort to achieve; but there are rewards if one is willing to pay the price for being a businessman.

One requirement of business is capital. And for mechanical engineers this can come by way of not only money. Their training makes them a very systematic person, which in itself alone gives them an advantage. Given a situation, they practically can automatically identify the problem, establish the givens and formulate a solution, while others are still pondering on what to do. This is an asset that can be used as an advantage, and used as a means of convincing others with cash resources to provide the needed money for capital, or, even to be a partner.

Engr. Florencio believes that one should not go into business alone, and that one must talk to people who know about the business from the very beginning. He learned this lesson when he went into farming about 18 years ago. He made the mistake of planting mango trees mainly on the advice of a seedling supplier, only to find out that he had to chop down about 50 percent of them after 10 years for being too close to each other. The cost of getting a mango expert to advise him would have been a lot less than the losses he incurred.

It is also necessary to make an assessment of what are needed and what should be learned for a business. Mechanical engineers are already proficient in math, problem solving as well as processes, but most probably are not knowledgeable with accounting and financial management. How is product costed? How much profit can be made? What taxes are supposed to be paid? Deficiencies in information and knowledge such as these need to be filled and learned.

One goes into business to make money, no ifs and buts about it. It is therefore important that one understands what money is all about. This means that one should be knowledgeable of the reasonable source of loans needed for capital as well as the cost of money or interest rates. He explained that loans can currently be obtained for about 12-14 percent per year, and he related how shocked he was when a student in one of his earlier lectures approached him about a concern regarding the business of the student’s family. They were paying P30k per month on a loan of P500k, which is equivalent to an interest rate of 6% per month or 72% p.a. He referred the student to a source where he can avail of another loan at 12 % p.a. to pay off the current loan.

One has to protect credit reputation especially when going into business. Engr. Florencio related how shocked he was when a Chinese businessman friend told him that the best time to borrow for business is when one does not really need the money. In this manner one would be liquid enough to be in a position to meet his payment obligations regularly, and in the process boost his credibility as a borrower. This would improve his chances of getting the loan when the time comes that he really needs one. In relation to this, he advises everyone to develop truthful and friendly relationships with business people, as aside from being a source of valuable business advise, they could be a source of solid support if or when one finds his business in a tight fix.

You can not be an introvert when you go into business. Unfortunately mechanical engineers typically are silent and tend to be loners. This is brought about by their training and their work environment when already practising their profession. In school they have their heads down most of the time trying to solve math and engineering problems, and once out in the field already, they (more often than not) face machines that do not talk. These conditions deprive them of the opportunity to regularly interact with people and improve on their skills in communicating. It is not unusual for them ending up treating others (including their wives and children) like the machines and equipment they work with. So they usually end up staying in the background, or taking the seats farthest from the front in any gathering.

This detrimental characteristic should be recognized and corrected by the mechanical engineers, especially those that are intending to be entrepreneurs. As it is, it is already a deficiency for practitioners. In business it would be a fatal liability. Engr.  Florencio encourages everyone to get out of their shell by being active in joining groups that will improve in their ability to talk and interact with people. He shared how he developed his social skill by joining various groups, among them the Jaycees, Toastmaster’s Club, Rotary Club, Free Masons of the Philippines, PCCI, MAP, and of course the PSME. In relation to this, he advised the practitioners to make it a point to always develop new acquaintances when attending meetings and other gatherings by always being ready to give out his calling card which should be properly encased in a decent card holder.

Mechanical engineers, especially those with already a certain amount of practice (in the huge and diverse areas of the profession) would probably have acquired sufficient special knowledge and skills to start them out in business. Engr. Florencio, in closing, reiterated his availability for consultation (pro bono, for the sake of PSME) to all of those who may be inclined to jump in. Any member of the profession interested with the offer may course their communication through this writer at sl3.mekaniko@gmail.com or through my blog at mekaniko-sl3.blogspot.com.

PSME 59th NatCon notes (#2)

10 November 2011

Technical lectures and speeches from personalities that matter would be routine elements of an engineering national convention such as the 59^th PSME Natcon, recently held last October 25-28 at the SMX  Convention Center. There were however two activities that did not follow the mold, but were to me quite interesting, and must have enhanced the outlook of a lot of mechanical engineering delegates. These were the plenary talks of Mr. Wilson Lee, Columnist of Philippine Star and Engr. Renato Florencio, the “Society’s” Immediate Past National President.

Mr. Lee, who also has an economics background, spoke during the second day of the convention to share his ideas about the merits of engineers, and was able to capture continuous attention despite the fact that the audience would be prone to drowsiness during his time slot. He said that he was excited to speak before the assembly of mechanical engineers because he believes that the engineers are most important for the country. He feels sorry however that, because of the not so great economic condition, many of them are abroad. He thinks that we should continue to produce more engineers to compensate for the talent drain.

According to him, he feels that even engineers don’t realize that in most of the developed countries in Asia, almost all of their leaders are engineers. He mentioned the likes of Korea, Taiwan, and particularly China which he said, based on his Google research,  is, for the last 30 years, the fastest rising economy in the world (at 8-12 % per year). Researching on and analyzing China, he came to a conclusion that the country progressed because engineers are running that country. In a convention related article that he wrote recently, he mentioned some of the past, present and even future national leaders of China during the last 30 years that have engineering degrees, namely: former Premiers Zhu Rongji and Li Peng, former President Hu Jintao, President Jiang Zemin, Premier Wen Jiabao, National Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo and incoming President Xi Jinping.

In an effort to understand the success of these engineer national leaders, Mr. Lee made it a point to discuss with successful local engineers each time he encounters them. He had opportunity to interact with at least two of them, who opined that engineers can become successful as political leaders because they are usually more systematic and are usually problem solvers.

Because of his observation regarding the involvement of engineer leaders in the economic success and progress of some Asian nations, Mr. Lee came up with the radical idea of encouraging the delegates to get interested in, and join politics. He even declared that if the Security Guards and the Balut Vendors can qualify for a party list accreditation, he thinks that PSME with its seventy plus chapters nationwide can also form their own party and get it accredited. He feels strongly about the idea because, according to him, by joining politics, the mechanical engineers will be improving the quality of the individuals that enters politics, and this would give the country a wider choice from which it can elect its local and national leaders. In addition, their technical and analytical skills, as well as innovativeness, among their traits, can help bring about the technological advancement that can help propel our country to being world class.

The delegates were also encouraged to explore (aside from politics) being an inventor, or, going into business where he/she can aspire to become a tycoon like some of the successful engineer-businessmen in the country. He mentioned four such individuals with mechanical engineering education who have become such, like, Geronimo Velasco of Republic Glass Holdings Corp, Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corporation, Henry Lim Bon Liong of Sterling Paper Group, and, Bayani Fernando of BF Corporation. ,

Mr. Lee also touched on Research and Development, and shared his impressions regarding its importance in the success and progress of not only companies, but also the economic life of nations. This thinking is born out of his interaction with successful business taipans and executives of very successful companies. He related one such encounter with the executive of a multinational company during the launching of a detergent product. When he asked about the chances of a local company in successfully competing with them, the executive said it would not be easy because the multinational company spends millions of dollars every week for research and development in their R&D Center in Beijing. In the center, they do not only continuously improve existing as well as develop new products. They also continuously monitor and study the characteristics and habits of the consumers and make the necessary adjustments to enhance their product’s market acceptability. They have done this to the extent of establishing that Filipinos spend about 1-1/2 hours a day washing, and are probably the cleanest people in the world (dahil ligo ng ligo; laba ng laba).

Mr. Lee feels that the engineers have very significant roles to play in R&D and says that if he were the government of the country, he would not only pump money into R&D, but would also provide enough resources to engineers for their continuous education and training. He mentioned this in reaction to a press release that he earlier received from a government office announcing that the allocation for R&D, for the entire year, in next year’s budget is P322 million, and which to him is meager. He thinks that government and business should invest more in R&D to create he bedrock of true socio-economic progress like the way our successful Asian neighbors  (as well as Germany and Israel) did.

Mr Wilson Lee’s faith in the engineers is very generous; and given that it comes unsolicited, and from someone belonging to another discipline, makes it more gratifying and inspiring. A hefty response to the challenges he posed would be nice to see, but this is easier said than done as there is a maze of underlying factors that needs to be addressed to clear the way. What may be significant though is that the idea has been injected. And just like a seed that is planted, it will have to go through a gestation, the outcome of which would depend on the quality of the seed, the quality of the soil on which the seed would grow, and the conditions that would nurture and shield it to maturity once it sprouts. Never the less, I won’t be surprised if there would be a few avant-gardes who –out of the pack- will take it. If this happens, then I think the profession shall have returned the favour to Mr. Lee, and shall have also done the country a favour.

Engr. Renato Florencio’s talk, shall come next as Part #3 of this series. 

PSME 59th NatCon notes (#1)

04 November 2011

The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers successfully conducted last week its annual national convention, participated in by at least 2,000 delegates and 1,800 students from all over the country and abroad.

This year’s program, as indicated in an earlier article, did, as intended, set new milestones (e.g., 1^st National ME Student’s Conference, Philmach launching, CPE resumption, etc.) that will have its enhancing effect on the profession, and make the members of the organization proud. Despite this, however, it is this writer’s thinking that it was the message of the convention’s third day guest speaker, Atty. Teresita R. Manzala, Chairperson of the Professional Regulations Commission, that had the most profound impact on the “Society’s” ability to successfully pursue its objectives of “…advancing the arts and science of mechanical engineering…for the benefit of the general public…” and to “…participate and contribute in the social, economic, and industrial growth of the country”.

In her message, Chairperson Manzala enlightened the delegates on at least four important topics which are of significant relevance to the profession, namely:  the resolution of the PSME legitimacy issue, the Certificate of Good Standing, the Continuing Professional Education, and Green Energy/Engineering.

As a backgrounder, an election dispute in October 2006 resulted in two contending groups (one based in P. Paredes St., Sampaloc, Manila and the other in Bayoran St., South Triangle, QC) that claimed legitimacy as the leaders of the PSME. Although the conflict was resolved in May 2007 by the PRC (then chaired by Chairperson Leonor Rocero) in favour of the P. Paredes group, the division in the organization still created lingering confusion among the “Society’s” members as to which group they should secure their COGS – a requirement for the renewal of registration of practitioners. Addressing this problem was one of the justifications cited by the PRC (then under Chairman Nicolas Lapena) when they suspended the COGS requirement in July 2009, through their Office Order 2009-285. This decision, for various reasons, impacted negatively on the ability of the leadership of the “Society” to communicate with, and institute supervision over its members, as well as weaken its ability to operate effectively and provide the necessary services that would enhance both the profession and organization.  As a result, the number of active chapters shrunk from 90 to around 70 – its current level.

The PSME (P. Paredes) leadership, seeing the havoc being caused by the split in the organization, has, during the past four years pursued various initiatives geared to unify the contending groups and to stop the demoralization of its members and the deterioration of its chapters. But after experiencing only frustration after frustration from its efforts, it was forced to go to court to settle the legitimacy issue. This move resulted in a Writ of Preliminary Injunction issued very recently by the Manila RTC, Branch 24, enjoining the Bayoran St. based group (and its affiliates) from committing and performing the act of issuing a Certificate of Good Standing to mechanical engineers for the purpose of obtaining PRC licenses. On the strength of this Writ of Preliminary Injunction, the PRC issued Office Order #2011-375, dated October 27, 2011, directing (for immediate compliance) all Regional Directors and the Chief, Registration Division, to “…strictly implement the BME Resolution #5, S2003, and admit the COGS issued by the PSME holding office at Don Lorenzo Bldg., in P. Paredes, Manila and its duly accredited regional chapters”.

This positive development regarding the COGS, together with the resolution of the legitimacy issue (which was addressed earlier in favor of the P. Paredes group when it was granted on August 10, 2011 the Certificate of Accreditation No. I-APO-004, as the duly accredited professional organization for mechanical engineers) bodes well for the organization as it can now focus on “growing” the organization, as well as, rely on a more stable infrastructure for support, as it pursues its objectives.

In line with what she considers as an important function of PSME – that of educating its members - Chairperson Manzala  also formally announced that the CPE Council for mechanical engineering has already been constituted, and that the council is already empowered to approve CPE units of the seminars and trainings offered by the PSME. She further added that the attendance in the 59^th Natcon would earn the delegate 20 units, provided he/she attends all seminars and lectures (and as a reminder all mechanical engineering professionals will now have to earn CPE units each year – at least 20 for PME/ME and 10 for CPM - to be able to renew their licenses). The convention, according to her, has reflected PSME’s support for PRC’s own advocacy for CPE, especially with the timely focus on Green Energy, whereby members of the profession were given the opportunity to keep abreast of the most recent developments in green energy and green engineering. This exposure, according to her, fulfils the purpose of providing education that would make mechanical engineers competitive; and since the current mechanical engineering curriculum does not yet incorporate subjects on green energy/engineering, it is now still within the realm of CPE to provide this education.

Chairperson Manzala touched on using the engineering report (or thesis) required of Professional Mechanical Engineering applicants (more on this later) as PRC’s vehicle for promoting awareness of Green Energy. She envisions that knowledge on it can be acquired through the incorporation in the report of the design of energy efficient as well as environmentally sustainable machinery and equipment.  She also opined that the mechanical engineer has a direct stake in the development as well as the efficient utilization of green energy (from sustainable sources) as it impacts on the competitiveness of business and industry.

In buildings, which according to the Philippine Green Building Council is a sector that accounts for about 30-40% of global energy use, the expertise of the profession could play a key role especially in the area of refrigeration and air conditioning design and installation. It is important , according to Chairperson Manzala that practitioners in this area keep abreast of the Montreal Protocol (the international agreement on the reduction and phase out of ozone depleting substances) where  the Philippines is one of the 196 ratifying countries. This is relevant in the sense that the HCFCs that are being used in the refrigeration and air conditioning systems as refrigerants (as well as solvents, fire extinguishers, blowing agents for plastic foam production, etc.) are just transitional CFC replacements. As the production and use of these substances are due to be frozen starting 2013, and reduced starting 2015, the services of the mechanical engineer will be needed in the conversion of the equipment to the new refrigerant.

The PSME was commended for putting its members in the right track by raising their awareness of green energy, and in effect promoting their global competitiveness. This awareness is expected to lead to the adoption of efficient energy utilization and energy conservation practices. The members were encouraged to benchmark their knowledge with the worldwide movement towards green building and to be pro-active and responsive to the challenges in our environment. Finally, the PRC Chairperson expressed hope that there would be a continuing momentum towards the greening of the Philippine mechanical engineer.

Early in her talk, Chairperson Manzala informed the delegates that she is the commissioner who has a direct oversight over the mechanical engineering profession (the only engineering profession under the PRC chair), and that this deep awareness and involvement has given her intimate views of its issues and concerns. This, according to her, gives the profession a special place mong the roster of regulated professions, and has made, as well, the upliftment of the mechanical engineers of special significance in the PRC. This was heart warming to hear, and it is this writer’s personal hope (as a mechanical engineering professional) that with her involvement, she would be a partner in addressing a lot of other matters that need correction or improvement in the profession, and bring about the significant upliftment of the Philippine mechanical engineering profession.

Phl solar car Sikat II in World Solar Challenge

17 October 2011

As I write this article, the Team Solar Philippines (TSP) from De la Salle University would now be in Australia pitting its Sikat II solar car against 37 other cars, also built by engineering students, from 20 nations. The race, a good part of it probably covered already by the time this article hits the press, started yesterday, October 16 and will last up to the 23rd. Participating cars will traverse a little more than 3,000 kilometers of highways, from Darwin, through the Australian outback, and into Adelaide, utilizing only the energy from the sun – gathered through photovoltaic cells – as their source of power.

TSP is a group composed of students and professors from the Mechanical Engineering, and Communications and Electronics Engineering Departments of DLSU, who designed and built the car themselves. Sikat II is a third generation car, the earlier ones being Sinag and Sikat I, which were only the other two solar car prototypes built over the last four and a half years since the project was started. It is worth noting that when Sinag, the first ever locally made solar car competed, it placed 11^th among 40 participants. This was gratifying given that the team started from scratch and had only a year to build the car to participate in a race that has been participated in by others since 1987.

Needless to say, the current car, Sikat II, is a better unit, having benefited from the experience gained from the first two earlier prototypes; it is said to be faster, being capable of a top speed of 110 kph with its 2 kw motor that draws power from its 4kwh capacity Lithium-ion batteries. At 180 kgs, it is lighter than Sinag by 110 kgs , or about 38%, and the sleek and more aerodynamically designed body, made of carbon fiber composite, is equipped on the top side with Filipino made solar panels from the Laguna based Sunpower Philippines – currently considered as the producer of the most efficient photovoltaic, or solar, cells in the world. Given these improvements, the team hopes to improve on the 11^th place performance of Sinag. They aspire to land in at least the top five positions in this 2011 race.

The accomplishments of the TSP was made possible through the financial and logistical support given by the Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society, Inc. headed by Mr. Federico Lopez (Chairman) and Mr. Ramon Agustines (President), and composed of First Gen Corp., its sister company First Philec Solar Corp, Energy Development Corp., and Sunpower Corporation, all of which are involved in the development and production of clean energy. Ford Philippines, Motolite and Shell likewise also participated as corporate sponsors.

It seems that the TSP is the only participating team from a developing country, which should somehow make us proud as it shows that our country, despite being bunched with the third world, is also capable of making inroads with respect to renewable energy, given our accomplishments with geothermals (being the 2^nd biggest producer worldwide), and now with this “solar car” development. A lot more developments along this area can be expected as this pioneering accomplishment can make the others realize its possibilities, and recognize the attached opportunities. This, hopefully, will spur those with technical as well as those with financial capabilities to set their sights on tapping solar energy, given that the country (according to the Department of Energy) receives a daily average of 5.1 kw-hrs of solar radiation per sq.m. of land.

The Sikat II Project is headed by Dr. Pag-Asa Gaspillo, while the TSP/Sikat II team leader, as well as electrical head, is Jack Catalan. When interviewed as to what drives them regarding this project, the members of the group mentioned the following: to generate pride for the Philippines and raise awareness for the vehicle-technology skill and potential in the country; demonstrate , and interest the youth in, technology; inspire other young people to become engineers; push Filipino engineers to work towards more ecologically friendly technology and to develop technological solutions to abet the further deterioration of the environment.

Well, regardless of what the outcome of the race would be for the TSP/Sikat II, for me, they already deserve congratulations as they have definitely already gained valuable points for the country. Just by being able to go back and and participate in the WSC race again, and with a much improved car, I think that they have demonstrated the technical mettle of the Filipinos. And unquestionably, they have caused the Philippines to be included in the exclusive list of 20 countries that have the intellectual and craft skills to produce (and implement an improvement program for) a solar car. With this, as a Filipino, I salute and thank the DLSU TSP/Sikat team for their accomplishment and what to me is the honor that they gained for the country. Therefore, ANIMO LA SALLE! --- coming from a Mapuan Mechanical Engineer.

PSME’s 59th Annual National Convention

10 October 2011

The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers will hold its 59^th Annual National Convention or NatCon on October 25-28, 2011 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

About 2,000 delegates from the 73 local and international chapters are expected to attend this year’s event themed “Go Green Energy”, and which will focus on the various facets of mechanical engineering, particularly the care of the environment and the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydro-electric, OTEC and bio-fuels. Prominent speakers and highly regarded practitioners have been lined up to interact with the delegates on the latest green technologies, environment protection, and energy conservation during the Plenary Sessions and Technical Paper Presentations. In addition, also up for discussion are subject matters relevant to the practice of the profession, such as the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Law (RA 8495) and updates on the status of its implementation, and the Continuing Professional Education (or CPE) program which will be officially in effect for the ME profession starting this month.

As has been traditionally practiced, the learning sessions shall be spiced with the fun and camaraderie activities such as the Golf Tournament (at the Villamor Golf Club), the Candidates’ and Members’ Fellowship Night, the Awards Night and others. These light activities shall also provide the enrichment that can enhance not only the delegates’ learning effectiveness but also their networking opportunities.

This year’s four day convention shall have a special significance in that it would usher in the launching of two new consequent activities, namely, the First PSME National Student Conference, and the First Philippine Machineries Exhibition or Philmach 2011. It will also signal the start of the implementation of the CPE program for the mechanical engineering profession.

The student conference which shall run during the first two days of the convention is expected to be attended by at least a thousand mechanical engineering student delegates from leading universities and collages nationwide. Here, aside from being able to field teams representing their schools in the mechanical engineering oriented Quiz Bee and the design contest, the students would also have the opportunity to interact with leading experts in their chosen field of specialization.

Meanwhile, the Philmach 2011, which will be open to the public for free, will have about 100 booths in the SMX Convention Center manned by exhibitors that will showcase products relevant to at least eight mechanical engineering concerns, namely: heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC); boilers, pumps, valves and pipes (BPVO); fire protection, safety and security; green energy technology; metal works; maintenance and reliability excellence; processing and packaging; and, food and beverage.

As for the CPE program for the ME profession (which was just recently approved for implementation by the Professional Regulations Commission upon the recommendation of the Board of Mechanical Engineering), it requires that any Registered  or Professional Mechanical  Engineer would need to earn 60 CPE units over three years (or 20 units per year) to qualify for the renewal of his/her professional license. For Certified Plant Mechanicss, the requirement is 30 CPE units over 3 years (or 10 units per year). Therefore, all practitioners will have to start earning CPE credits already to meet this pre-requisite for license renewal three years from now. The PSME National, which is currently the accredited CPE provider, will credit the convention delegates with 20 CPE units so this would already satisfy the CPE units required for this year.

The PSME, which has just, very recently, been granted by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), its renewal as the Accredited Professional Organization (or APO) for the mechanical engineering profession for the next three years, is currently headed by Engr. Liberato S. Virata as its National President. The 59^th Natcon meanwhile is chaired by Engr. Rudy J. Sultan (who is also the “Society’s”current Executive Vice President) with Engr. Pablito C. Ocampo as Co-Chair. The Philmach 2011 is chaired by Engr. Roger Reyes, while the First National Student Conference is spearheaded by Ms Loraine Ann Barbacina of PUP Manila as Student Chairperson and Ms Angeline Uy of PLM as Student Co-Chair.

Further information regarding the event may be obtained from the PSME official website (http://psmenow.org), or from the National Office at Room 401, Don Lorenzo Building, P. Paredes Street, Sampaloc, Manila , and which may be reached trough its landlines (7362043, 3930347, 2168133),  fax (4934268 ), cell phones (0917-5500002  or 0917-8681700 ) and by email (psmenatcon@yahoo.com or psmenatcon@psmenow.org).

Amazing observations in Vietnam – Rice Hulls (Part 2)

16 September 2011

We spent a whole day travelling around the Vietnamese countryside south of Ho Chi Minh City to observe facilities that convert rice hulls, or ipa, (the waste by-product of rice milling) into bio fuel. Vietnam is the fifth largest producer of rice worldwide, after China, India, Indonesia and Bangladesh, and accounts for about 34.5 million tons or 6.8% of world supply in 2009-2010 (http://www.rice-trade.com). What I witnessed was that they seem to have already made a head way in creating a business out of processing rice hulls into bio fuel. As claimed, they also have developed a market for this product in Europe (particularly Germany), in addition to the domestic demand where the bio fuel is blended with coal used as fuel for boilers. This development has also benefited the rice farmers since what used to be treated as a worthless by-product of rice milling was turned into something of value that gives them additional income.

First stop was the Ben Luc District, in Long An province, an hour and a half drive from HCM City, where we visited Vina Star, a Taiwanese owned company that started their bio fuel business only two years ago. They have a facility composed of 15 briquetting machines (built by them using parts sourced from Japan and China) with 300 tons per day capacity. The machines discharge the roughly 1.5 x 3 inch briquettes into a centralized belt conveying system that feeds them to a vibrating screen (to separate the broken pieces and fine powder), and eventually to the packaging station where they are manually placed in polybags. The plant looks well kept, with systems visibly installed. I was given a tour of the facility by the VP, Mr. Roy Chen where I also observed their machine shop, their raw material loading dock located by the waterway, and their main control/power room which was air conditioned and kept immaculately clean.

As explained by the company’s officials, they do mostly only briquetting operations. The raw material they use is actually powdered rice hulls, delivered to them from the rice farms where they (Vina Star) provide machines, called pulverisers, as well as the buildings needed both for pulverizing operations and material storage. An actual model of the machine, complete with dust collector, and which I had the opportunity to scrutinize, is set up for display in their administration building. The pulverisers, which cost about US$ 1,000.00 each, are operated by the farmers themselves, and who are organized into groups. The farmers pay for the power consumed by the 30 hp motor of the pulveriser as well as the repair and maintenance requirements, usually provided by the company’s personnel. One machine can produce 750 kg/hr, with the pulverizing blades lasting usually for 6 months. The farmers can earn an additional 2,000 Vietnamese Dong per kilogram of pulverized rice hull sold, which is substantial as an added income, given that they sell their rice at only 4,000 Dong/kg. As I was made to understand, Vina Star, while still expanding this project, has currently more than 30 units installed in Long An province where the farmers can conveniently use the river to deliver their products using boats and barges. Their customers on the other hand blend the briquettes (Gross Calorific Value= 4149 Kcal/kg.) with coal on a 50/50% basis with good results, while allowing them also to earn carbon credits.

Next stop, about an hour’s drive further south, was a small machine shop (also owned and operated by a Taiwanese) in Vin Binh District, Tien Giang province, where they amazingly fabricate a local version of a small extruder that can produce compressed and partly carbonized rice hulls in cylindrical form. The shop, which at the most occupies 30 sq.m. of narrow twisting space, has only two small engine lathes and welding machines in addition to small tools; but they seem to be making all components (including electric heaters), except the electric motor. The extruder has an approximately 5 inch diameter screw with a barrel that is 18 inches long at most, and the entire machine must have a footprint of about 2 feet x 6 feet. The machine shop, however, seem to have their own concept of what organized means, because despite the disarray that I observed, they seem to be busy enough and are actually turning out the machines. From my point of view, the system they have, is contrary to what I know is the effective way of running that kind of operation. Housekeeping for example is nowhere to be seen, as one has to be careful not to step on machine components and other metal pieces while navigating to the other parts of the shop; and if just for this alone, productivity must be suffering. The operating environment, to my mind, puts the quality of their products in question.

From Vin Binh, we continued southward for about 1-1/2 hours to My Phouc district, also in Tien Giang province where we visited the Anh Ngok Company, a Vietnamese owned firm that produces rice husk pellets. They have a huge and massive machine that is roughly 12 feet high and a base of about 12 feet x 12 feet. It can produce 1.5 tons/hr of pellets and we were told that it was locally designed and built by the owner, who seems to have adopted the operating principle of the pelletiser used to produce hog feeds. Unlike Vina Star, the first firm we visited, rice hulls are fed directly through an inclined belt conveyor to Anh Ngok’s machine, which is run by a 200 HP electric motor to produce the roughly 3/8 inch diameter x 3/4 inch long pellets. According to them, they sell their produce directly to the domestic boiler operators who feed the pellets directly to their boilers on a 100 percent basis. Unfortunately we were not able to see the machine operating as it was currently undergoing renovation. The current die was being replaced with another one with bigger die-holes, geared to increase the machine’s throughput significantly, and effect an increase in the plant’s productivity, as well as a decrease in its specific power consumption.

Our last stop, about 30 minutes away, was at Le Quoc Cuong, a company that uses the small locally made extruders earlier described. They have 10 units of these machines running side by side, all of which are discharging their roughly 16 inch compressed, coreless, cylindrical and partly charred bio fuel on to a flat belt conveyor. The conveyor moves the cylinders to the operator at the end of the line who sorts and stacks them on pallets prior to being manually packaged. Like in Anh Ngok, rice hulls are also directly fed to the extruders of Le Quoc Cuong, but this time from bins installed overhead. The cylinders are formed through the compressive and heating action imparted on the rice hulls as they are pushed by the rotating screw through the heated cylinder and the die. Each of the extruders are driven by a 30 kw electric motor and the barrel heated by a roughly 4 kw heater. The maintenance requirements of the machines, however, seems tedious if the information we received (i.e., that for a 24 hour operation the life of the barrel is just 1 week and that of the screw 3 days) is accurate.

After the tour, I felt so envious for the Philippines. This envy, although initially driven by earlier observations, was made more intense by the information gained that day about the boon to the Vietnamese farmers of the successful rice hull bio-fuel project. My curiosity as to how a country ravaged by 116 years of war (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War), can successfully create and implement projects that would bring about the uplifting of its masses (e.g., the farmers) in a matter of 35 years made me to do a small research.

I learned that the country and its people had undergone unthinkable trials and horror brought about firstly, by their almost 100 years of fighting against their colonizer, and soon after driving their colonizer out in 1954, the atrocities of the 21 year Vietnam War. Not surprising to see is the strong existence of corruption and factionalism as significant elements that caused the defeat of the losing faction in the war, and the strong presence of discipline and nationalism amongst the members of the faction that won.

I also learned the following (mostly from https://www.cia.gov/library): a) that the Phl and Vietnam have more or less the same population at 90 million; b) that both countries have almost the same land mass: Phl-300k sq km; Vietnam-329k sq km; c) labor force comparison: Phl approx 39 million; Vietnam approx 47 million; d) % labor force in agriculture: Phl-33%; Vietnam-54%; e) share of agriculture in GDP: Phl-13.9%; Vietnam-20.6%; f) unemployment rate: Phl-7.3%; Vietnam-4.4%; and, g) % population below poverty line: Phl-32.9%; Vietnam-10.6%. The preceding statistics clearly shows that the country’s leadership has succeeded significantly in bringing down the level of “deep poverty” as well as in creating the environment that generated jobs for its workforce which reportedly grows by more than one million every year. The cruel experience from the 116 years of war must have instilled in them the importance of addressing the needs of the population, as well as the value of unity, honesty, discipline and nationalism in pushing the country towards progress, and keeping it intact.

Perhaps, we should take a cue from Vietnam, and learn from (and hopefully not undergo) their experience, with respect to our effort to bring progress to our country. Perhaps it is providential that we now have a President who is hell-bent on curbing corruption and has a team that supports him. It would be to the country’s good if our government officials support the President’s efforts by avoiding selfish factionalism. It would also to the best interest of the nation if the citizenry themselves reinforce the Presidents effort by deepening their sense of discipline and nationalism and show it through simple actions.

Perhaps it is also high time that the government officials who have a say in the future of the country come up with honest to goodness programs that first address the simple burdens that the population encounters everyday (e.g., traffic and transport, health and medication concerns, corrupt peace officers and enforcers, food and dwellings, etc.) and show through results that government really really cares. Maybe our economist and law makers should put more emphasis on the creation of jobs, rather than on what the government should gain in taxes, when formulating laws that would impact on the economy. Maybe an effort that can be immediately started is to replicate Vietnam’s rice hull bio-fuel success and develop our own Philippine version of the project. The engineers could get together with business to design a machine and develop a system/scheme that would fit Philippine conditions, and the government could get their act together so the investors will be encouraged to come in and support the project. Perhaps those who are in power can craft less grandiose economic programs that would enable the participation of not just the big foreign and domestic investors but also the small local investors. They, after all, account for the bulk of the economic activity and should be given the opportunity to participate in job generation. A nation can be genuinely strong and stable economically, if the strength comes from a broad range of the population and not just from large but few organizations. And perhaps, we can also in the near future amaze others by showing them how we, Filipinos, can improve ourselves and our country, and bring about prosperity to the bulk of our citizenry.