"Science and research are the world’s chances for recovering better from the COVID-19 crisis.”

This was stressed by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara in her message during the National Research Council of the Philippines’ Annual Scientific Conference and 88th General Membership Assembly with a theme “Pagbangon at Pananaig: National Recovery and Rebuilding” held on Wednesday, March 10.

The assembly was expected to gather nearly 5,000 seasoned and young researchers and artists, along with local and foreign practitioners in science and technology and research.

"As all governments face a challenging role to think and implement efficiently various recovery strategies, we need to also take part, channel our resource and and join the efforts of the government, academe, industry and civil society in the fight against COVID-19. Hence, the DOST’s sectoral planning councils formulated the programs ARCHER (Addressing and Responding to COVID-19 through Health Research), STRAP (Science and Technology for a Resilient Community against the Pandemic) and ReAARRC (Rebuilding the Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources in Response to COVID-19) Programs,” Guevara said.

She said the DOST - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) led the implementation of the ARCHER program.

The program sought to fund research projects that provide regulatory studies and solutions directed to the development of new drugs and supplements, vaccines, diagnostic kits, prediction studies through Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and medical facilities’ enhancement, she said.

While, the DOST - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) spearheaded the STAR program or STRAP Block Grant as the agency’s response to help Filipinos adapt to the “new normal”.

She noted that projects that were funded in the program were under the priority areas including Work from home tools; Workplace Ergonomics; Safe mobility and transport – air, sea and land; Response and coping with the new normal; Testing and calibration of locally-developed medical devices; Geospatial and ICT Solutions to address COVID-19; New devices and products; Protective Coatings for Surfaces and PPEs; Detection and disinfection technologies; and Emergency Food for COVID-19 affected families, communities, and frontliners.

Guevara said the DOST – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) has implemented ReAARRC program aimed at transferring technology and disseminating information to the public in terms of ensuring food security during pandemic.

All these programs were under the guidance and purview of the DOST – NRCP as their Monitoring Council, she said.

“In the past 11 months, almost a year now since COVID-19 hit the world, I have learned that we should not only think of the short-term solutions to address this pandemic,” Guevara said.

"We need to accelerate competitiveness in all aspects that affect our lives. We need to invest on economic activities of our start-up and MSMEs, preserve biodiversity, restore our environment, think of more sustainable food system, strengthen our healthcare system and most importantly invest more in R&D (research and development),” she stressed.