In partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), the country’s premier recognition and advisory body on science and technology (S&T), held the virtual Speakers Bureau program to stress the importance of health systems response and preparedness, and bat for the strengthening of institutional infrastructure for pandemic preparedness.
Under the Speakers Bureau program, provincial centers are served through scientific and technological lectures, and academic institutions or any interested organizations are assisted as NAST PHL provides speakers and resource persons on science-related issues.
The sixth installment of the Speakers Bureau was held on Nov. 15.
“This activity is led by NAST Philippines where they partner with DOST Regional Offices to reach the provincial centers in providing scientific and technological lectures and also assist academic institutions or any other organizations in providing resource persons on the science-related issues that the partner organization will identify,” DOST-Calabarzon Regional Director Emelita P. Bagsit said in her opening remarks.
“The Speakers Bureau Program also aims to connect stakeholders, institutions, communities to national scientists, experts, academicians who may be able to assist them through consultations and workshops, for instance, in addressing the current issues and challenges in their locality.”
She said the NAST PHL “will serve as the bridge between them that can open up for possible collaborations and engagements.”
The virtual activity zeroed in on two topics that sought to inform the public on how different private and public organizations prepare and respond to health systems and infrastructure in relation to the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
These were “Health Systems Response and Preparedness” with Dr. Anthony R.G. Faraon, deputy executive director of the Zuellig Family Foundation as the resource person, and “Strengthening the Institutional Infrastructure for Pandemic Preparedness”, which was presented by Dr. Aileen Espina, former chief of Medical Professional Staff in the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center.
Bagsit said the topics were identified as part of the Luzon Regional Scientific Meeting held on May 11 to 12.
“We believe that these are helpful to our constituents and stakeholders in the region.”
During the event, Erickson Manuel O. Pawig, development management officer of the Department of Health (DOH) IV-A, also shared the DOH’s response against COVID-19 pandemic.
"We, at DOST-CALABARZON and NAST Philippines, will try our best to link you from our network of scientists, academicians, and experts. We hope that after this Speakers Bureau Program, we will be able to create new projects or address scientific policies that will lead to the betterment of our region,” Bagsit said.
In her closing remarks, NAST PHL Director Luningning E. Samarita-Domingo expressed hope that the Speakers Bureau will soon be conducted physically in the regions.
"This may be the “current'' normal but we are still hoping to see you all physically in the near future. As you know, the Speakers Bureau was originally conducted physically in the regions—we used to go to the regions and bring the experts right in front of you to discuss topics relevant in your area,” she said.
She noted that the last Speakers Bureau was held physically in the province of Dinagat Islands in 2020 before the lockdown.
“Hopefully, by next year, we can conduct the Speakers Bureau, if not physically, through a hybrid setup— physical and virtual," Samarita-Domingo said.
“Despite conducting this year’s event virtually, we still hope that everyone gains knowledge and insights about the topics discussed by our speakers and we wish that you can put these learnings into practice.”