GOVPH

The Department of Science and Technology - National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP) Annual Scientific Conference (ASC) and 87^th General Membership Assembly (GMA) with the theme “Research for Public Good” is virtually conducted via Zoom on June 30, 2020, Tuesday, from 9:30 AM to 12:00 NN. The events were scheduled last March 9 at the Philippine International Convention Center but were put on hold when the Department of Health (DOH) raised Red Code Alert on COVID-19 on that Saturday, 7 March 2020, in view of the already escalating curve of COVID-19 transmission globally.

The virtual conference will proceed in three (3) parts: Opening Ceremonies with the Scientific Session; Business Meeting, exclusive for NRCP Members; and the Awards and Recognition – Achievements on Basic Research and Service.

This conference will share valuable insights and perspectives in view of the pressing issues during the health crisis.

Five (5) topics were originally prepared for the Scientific Session: Challenges in R&D Governance: Procurement Processes, Impacts of R&D Public Investments, Communicating Science to the People, National Border Security, and Global Health Risks.

This June 30, the conference focuses on a very timely topic on Global Health Risks to be presented by Dr. Raul V. Destura, DOST-NRCP Vice President, Infectious Disease Expert, and Director, National Training Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity, University of the Philippines. Dr. Destura, in collaboration with the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) and with funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), led the team that locally developed the first PCR-based COVID-19 test kit approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The agenda of the Business Meeting that follows the scientific session will highlight the report of the NRCP President, Dr. Ramon A. Razal, the report of Treasurer Dr. Maricar S. Prudente, and the confirmation of the amendment on the online nomination and election process for Division Chairs, Members-at-Large, and the election for regular members.

The last part of the program is the giving of awards and recognitions to the following: 2019 NRCP Outstanding Institutions; 2019 Achievement Awardees; the Service Awardees; and Posthumous Recognition for National Scientist Edgardo Gomez, former DOST-NRCP President, and Dr. Jovencio G. Apostol, former Governing Board member.

This will be followed by the announcement of the newly-elected seven (7) Division Chairs and one (1) Member-at-Large, the fifty-nine (59) Regular Members, and the winners of the scientific poster competition.

Prof. Fortunato T. de la Peña, DOST Secretary, and former President of the DOST-NRCP (2002-2007), will share his message to the participants. Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, DOST Undersecretary for R&D and DOST Representative to the Governing Board will likewise deliver her message.

The other activities included in the original program slated last March 9 are: launching of monographs, parallel scientific sessions, and the oath-taking of new NRCP associates and regular members. These will be conducted separately in 2020 NRCP events, while the oath-taking of new members will be conducted during the Divisional Meetings.

Livestreaming of the opening ceremony and awards and recognitions will be available at 9:30 AM in Research Pod at https://www.facebook.com/nrcpresearchpod/

The payments of those who registered for the March 9 event will be credited to the next scheduled (on-site) General Membership Assembly. Refund option shall only be accommodated by then if the registrant is unable to attend and upon his/her request. (Jenny Leigh A. Daquioag)