Public and private sector institutions continue to conduct research studies relevant to the growing needs of Northern Mindanao but the resources needed to bring the region to the next level are sadly lacking.
During his opening remarks at the launching of the 2016 National Science and Technology Week last July 23 in Cagayan de Oro City, Dept. of Science & Technology Region 10 Director Alfonso P. Alamban disclosed the Research and Development Intensity (the ratio of R&D Expenditures to Gross Regional Domestic Product) is only .13%, even lower than the Philippines R&D Intensity of .14%.
Interviewing Dr Lesley C. Lubos, VP for Research, Extension & Publication of Liceo de Cagayan University wth Research Associates Angeline Beltran & Julius D.M.P. Suazo
“What we should strive for is really the RDE itself, which is only 1.38% of the country’s expenditure of about Php 16 Billion,” he added, “There was a tremendous increase in R and D in the last 5 years, but definitely we can absorb more.”
In his keynote speech at the same program, Engr. Elpidio M. Paras, regional S&T Ambassador for Business, said this ratio shows there is a clear need to ask Congress for additional budget.
“Human resource is one of our greatest assets. Shall we be contented to be just OFWs or call center operators? There is so much talent that is wasted here in this country.”
“I am sorry to compare ourselves to Taiwan, but just 4 decades ago, this nation which has an area smaller than Luzon, was poorer than the Philippines. Today, it is an economic powerhouse ranked among the top 15 countries in the world.”
Despite the country’s increasing focus on research and development through industry-academe linkages, Paras said it still lags behind the so called Tiger Economies of Asia. For instance, the Philippines latest budget for higher education related to S&T is a mere fraction of what Taiwan spent in 2010 (47.97-million TWD or PhP 70.57-billion).
Despite the depressing outlook, the Northern Mindanao Consortium for Health Research and Development (NorMinCoHRD) of which DOST-10 is a member, cited outstanding research studies during the 2016 National Science and Technology Week celebration last July 24 in Cagayan de Oro City.
NorMinCoHRD chose the following research papers as its official entries to the 10th Philippine National Health Research System Week for the Oral Research and Poster Contest categories to be held on 9-11 August 2016 at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
For the Professional Category (Poster Contest): “Utilization of Health Information for Policy Formulation, Priority Setting and Resource Allocation in Iligan City Health District and in Oroquieta Inter-local Health Zone to Meet National Health Goals” by Dr. Alita T. Roxas, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT); “Health Services Utilization and Customer Satisfaction in the Inter-local Health Zones in Lanao del Norte, Region X” by Prof. Stephen C. Fajardo, MSU-IIT; and, “A Geographic Information System Using Google Visualization API for Schistosomiasis Mass Drug Administration” by Prof. Lemuel Clark P. Velasco, MSU-IIT.
For the Student Category (Oral Research): “Determination of Lead and Mercury Content of Three-top SellingFood Supplements in Three Leading Drug Stores in Cagayan de Oro City 2015” by Mr. Christian Dale A. Aves, Xavier University-Jose P. Rizal School of Medicine; “The Efficacy of Kalamunggay (Moringa oleifera) Leaves in the Treatment of Raw Water as Compared to that of its Seeds in Cagayan de Oro City, 2015” by Ms. Hannah Joyce L. Halasan, XU-Jose P. Rizal College of Medicine.
For the Student Category (Poster Contest): “Knowledge, Attitude, Beliefs and Practices Regarding HIV/AIDS among Men Having Sex with Men” by Mr. Julius Denn Mikell P. Suazo, Liceo de Cagayan University(LDCU); and “The Effect of Iodized and Sea Salt Used as Control Agents for Mosquito Larvae in the Top Four Barangays in Cagayan de Oro City with the Highest Dengue Incidence” by Ms. Angeline D. Beltran, LDCU.
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