Leading the cutting of the ribbon ceremony were Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, Executive Director of Philippine Council for Health Research & Development (PCHRD), Dr.Maria Lourdes K. Otayza,Chair of Region 1 Health Research & Development Consortium (R1HRDC), Dr. Jose B. Orosa III, Chair of R1HRDC-Research & Development Commi- ttee, Dr. Vicente Y. Belizario, Jr., Executive Director of the National Institute of Health(NIH), and Dr. Amelia Guevara, Undersecretaryfor Research and Development, Department of Science & Technology (RD-DOST).
Around 500 participants from the 17 regional health research organizations arrived on Wednesday morning at Plaza Del Norte Hotel & Convention Center in Barangay Balacad, Laoag City and attended the 7th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week Celebration.
Hosted by the Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC), the theme of the event was: “People at the Center of Health and Health Research”.
The event served as a platform for various stakeholders to come-up with health solutions by way of research and discussion.
R1HRDC Chair, Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, said that, “the celebration paves way to the different stakeholders in health to interact and share information and experiences in providing a research-based solutions to health problems.”
“Let us take this opportunity to come together and learn from each other as we pursue a common goal of making a difference in the lives of our people” she added.
The PNHRS's core agencies namely the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Council for Health Research & Development – Department of Science & Technology (PCHRD-DOST), Commission on Higher Education (CHED-1), and National Institutes of Health (NIH) – University of the Philippines Manila joined the said event.
Each region from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were well-represented by health research organizations and various students from the different medical and nursing schools.
7th PNHRS COMPETITION
The conference staged a three-day activity from August 7-9, 2013 which includes fora for the health specialist, students and professionals research presentation competitions and poster exhibits organized by the consortia.
The competition were classified into two, these were the poster-making exhibit and oral presentation.
Participants were from the category of students, professionals and consortia from the 14 participating regions whose research papers were pre-judged by the evaluation/ review panel.
From a total of 28 papers from each category of students and professionals, there were ten qualifiers for the oral presentation and ten for the poster exhibit, all for student category.
In professional category, six were admitted for the oral presentation and eight for the poster exhibit.
For the consortia category, the poster-making contest was undertaken in line with this year’s theme “People at the Center of Health and Health Research” showcasing their activities.
Meanwhile, the DOST-PCHRD GRUPPO MEDICA conferred award for outstanding undergraduate thesis in herbal medicine to wit: (1) Neutrotonic Effect of the Alkaloid Extract Capsule of Kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk) on the Treatment of Alzheimer ’s Disease (San Pedro College, Davao City); (2) Antiangiogenic Activity and Toxicity of Crescentia cujete Linn. (Calabash) (Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, General Santos City); (3) Antibacterial, Toxicological and Mutagenic Evaluation of Formulated Ointment of Knobweed (Hyptis capitata Jacq, Lamiaceae) Leaf Extract Against Methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (University of Immaculate Conception, Davao City)
TECHNO-BAZAAR SHOWCASED ILOCANO PRODUCTS
Technology-driven products through the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) were showcased during the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week on August 7-9.
The DOST organized a techno-bazaar for Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) which are beneficiaries of their assistance program to introduce Ilocano products among visiting regions here.
Jonathan Viernes, Provincial Director of the DOST in Ilocos Norte said, “the products were assisted by the DOST to improve its packaging by the use of technological equipment mainly to boost its marketability.”
Among the native Ilocano products seen at the fair were the mouth-watering ‘bagnet and longganisa’, chichacorn, banana chips, rice coffee, and the famous ‘inabel’ cloth of Ilocos.
“This might also generate employment because the SMEs will get to hire additional workers for their booth” Viernes added.
The DOST, together with the Department of Health (DOH) has established the PNHRS on 2003 and have been working for a bill that will institutionalize the PNHRS as well as the establishment of a subsidy funding for its projects.
The DOST and DOH established the PNHRS through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on March 2003.
The celebration of PNHRS Week every second week of August is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 1309 in 2007.
