President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recognized on Thursday the invaluable contributions and commitment of Filipino health researchers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and their hard work in securing the nation’s “healthier and safer future.”
During the 15th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week celebration in Pampanga, Marcos expressed gratitude to health workers who have assisted the country to get through the impact of the pandemic.
“It is nothing less than having you have helped to keep millions of people alive. There is nothing more heroic in my mind than what you have achieved,” he said, as he recalled his first COVID-19 bout back in March 2020.
“There was a total lack of information, of knowledge about this new pandemic; and that is why the work that you did that developed the genome sequencing so that we could follow and identify and detect the different strains as they came about, the test kits that you were able to develop for the local community, the modeling that was done — this was all a fruit of your partnership, and it is something that has never been seen before,” he added.
The President commended the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development for organizing the event, along with the PNHRS.
He also recognized the Central Luzon Health Research and Development Consortium for hosting the celebration.
“Your organizations’ coordination and leadership in this important field of study will help ensure that we can utilize the maximum economic and social benefits that stem from the rapid developments in science and medicine,” he said.
The President noted that their work and cooperation “have removed all the barriers in terms of the course of scientific research, of exchange of information, of help in facilities, help in using all of the laboratories” to maximize efforts.
Meanwhile, Marcos stressed the importance of risk communication, as well as reliable evidence-based systems in mitigating the effects of crises such as health emergencies and disasters.
More support
Marcos expressed commitment to provide more assistance for the creation of “an enabling environment for the Filipino research community that fosters collaboration and cooperation that will yield solutions” towards a better life for Filipinos.
The chief executive highlighted in his maiden State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July the planned creation of the country’s first virology institute, in a bid to expand the Philippines’ research sector.
He said consultations are ongoing with the Senate and the House of Representatives for the creation of the Virology Center of the Philippines and the country’s own Disease Control Center.
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