By NG Seruela
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) emphasized the importance of research and development (R&D), especially in the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In today’s (Sep. 7) Laging Handa public briefing, DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara pointed out that the COVID-19 proved the use of R&D following a question on skipping research and development due to limited budget and time.
“Huwag na huwag po nating gagawin ‘yan (ipagpaliban ang R&D), kasi po napatunayan natin ngayong nagkapandemya tayo kung ano po ang gamit ng RND. Tulad po kunyari noong aming tinayo na Philippine Genome Center kasama ng UP noon pong 2012 at 2013; kung wala po ‘yang tinayo nating Philippine Genome Center, wala pong mag-a-analyze nitong mga COVID-19 variants.”
She added that many important developments that can help the public will not be produced if they did not fund the research.
“Kung hindi po natin pinondohan iyong research nila Dr. Raul Destura, hindi po sila makaka-produce noong tinatawag na gen amplified COVID-19 test kit. Iyon naman pong research ng Ateneo de Manila na Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance using Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler for early detection of diseases o FASSSTER ay siya na po ang ginagamit ng Department of Health para sa COVID-19 Philippines LGU monitoring platform,” she said.
Guevara emphasized that if they did not invest in R&D, the country might have a hard time fighting the pandemic.
“Ganoon pa man, maraming nagsasabi matagal ang resulta ng RND pero kung hindi po tayo nag-invest sa R&D noong mga nakaraang taon, wala po tayong pupulutin ngayon na magagamit po natin sa laban sa COVID-19.”
Meanwhile, the department launched the “Big 21 in 2021” event on Tuesday where it presented 21 technologies, new facilities, new R&D projects, new human resources development, and DOST’s assistance in the industry.
Guevara said the DOST is providing solutions using science and technology for the country’s continuous fight against the “evolving problem” caused by COVID-19.
“Sa pagpapatuloy na laban ng ating bayan sa evolving problem na dulot ng COVID-19, ang DOST ay nagbibigay ng mga solusyon gamit ang agham at teknolohiya para sa bayan. Bukod sa mga health technologies ay nagbibigay din kami ng mga programa na makakatulong sa pagbangon ng ating ekonomiya, kapayapaan at kaligtasan sa kalamidad.” -rir
