DOST pushes locally made diesel engine for farming

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has given its full support  to the production of the first-ever diesel engine in the country.

This was confirmed by DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña during the opening day of the 2019 Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE).

The development of the diesel engine came after the DOST’s Metal Industry Research and Development Center partnered with Supercast Foundry and Machinery Corp. in collaboration with the Bacolod City-based R.U. Foundry and Machine Shop Corp. (RUFMSC).

Because of this development, the Philippines will be able to manufacture its own diesel engine without relying on the importation of machines made by other countries.

 Ramon Uy Sr. of RUFMSC told The STAR that the “first” locally-made diesel engine is a 12-horsepower single-cylinder type – strong and reliable enough to provide power to different agricultural machineries being used by local farmers.

Initially, the prototype of the diesel engine is mounted on the RU Shredder which was manufactured by RUFMSC and is currently being tested for the engine’s capacity, endurance, and power output.

It is expected to be mass produced and commercially available by the end of 2020 with variant horsepower to meet the demand of the agriculture sector, Uy said.

The engine is the output of the Filipinos’ ingenuity which can directly benefit the Filipino farmers.

The four-day event, mandated under Presidential Proclamation 285 of 1993, encourages the local inventors to showcase their corresponding unique and marketable inventions which are intended for the Filipinos.