The Department of Science and Technology-MIMAROPA in partnership with the Institute of Philippine Culture – Ateneo de Manila University (IPC-ADMU) conducted a webinar on “UHC and the Transformations in the Health System: The MIMAROPA Experience” last 22 September 2020.
The webinar was part of the eTuro discussion series entitled “Sustaining the Conversation on COVID-19: How Do We Cope? The eTuro Webinar Series on Engaging Communities and Networks” or “We CaN!!” aims to provide relevant information to the public about recent local developments and efforts in the health sector particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to the so-called new normal.
Particularly, the “UHC and the Transformations in the Health System: The MIMAROPA Experience” answers the question, “How is the expected Universal Health Care (UHC) implementation in the MIMAROPA region being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?”. The discussions allowed some of the tireless frontliners in this battle, the local government units, to share their various responses and learnings gained working through the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar also outlined the potential gains brought about by the COVID-19 crisis in building a healthier and safer MIMAROPA
DOST-MIMAROPA Regional Director Dr. Ma Josefina P. Abilay talks about the importance of UHC and the different DOST initiatives during the pandemic.
Dr. Ma. Josefina P. Abilay opened the online event with her message and insights by emphasizing how the COVID-19 pandemic became an unprecedented catalyst of change and how the need for innovation is greater than ever.
The hardworking DOS regional director also showcased various DOST-MIMAROPA programs and initiatives implemented such as the deployment of online surveillance system FASSSTER and TanodCOVID, Specimen Collection Booths, and 3D printing of face shields, among others that contributed to the COVID-19 response. She also amplified the importance of universal health care in the region to gain access to a full continuum of health services and protecting the people from enduring more financial hardships.
Resource Persons in the webinar include the following: Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. (rightmost) and Odiongan, Romblon Mayor Trina Alejandra Firmalo- Fabic (middle) during the Q&A portion that was facilitated by Dr. Enrique Leviste (left).
Local Chief Executives (LCEs) Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. of the Province of Marinduque and Mayor Trina Alejandra Firmalo-Fabic of the Municipality of Odiongan, Romblon served as the key resource persons during the webinar. Both LECs shared their respective health system infrastructures and preparations for the UHC implementation as well as the health-and non-health related problems that arose and the major programs and responses of the LGU during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The LCEs also shared how DOST-MIMAROPA programs and services were able to complement their efforts to create a positive socio-economic impact in their respective communities. The webinar ended with an open forum giving participants and resource persons opportunity to share and address their queries and concerns, most especially on topics related to health.
The webinar was facilitated by Dr. Enrique Niño Leviste, Director of IPC-ADMU. A total of 505 international and local participants took part in the webinar.
The eHealth Training on Unified Resources Online (eTURO) is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and Ateneo de Manila University that aims to provide health-related training and education initiatives using technology-enabled learning methods that support capacity-building efforts and implementation of the National eHealth Program. By Athena Colline Verdey & Paulo Jay De Jesus, DOST-MIMAROPA
Photos from DOST-MIMAROPA
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PH looks to improve ranking in Global Innovation Index 2020
DOST’s Science for Change Program fuels innovation through R&D
Amidst the pandemic, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) sees the proverbial silver lining with the hope that the Philippines improves its ranking in the Global Innovation Index (GII) for 2020 when the ranking is announced during the virtual world conference to be held on 02 September 2020.
The Philippines is optimistic this year’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index (GII) will be much better from 73rd in 2018 and 54th in 2019; among the 131 economies in 80+ indicators.
The Global Innovation Index (GII), which is on its 13th edition, is co-published by Cornell University; INSEAD, one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools; and the World Intellectual Property Organization (a specialized agency of the United Nations). The report provides an annual ranking of the innovation capabilities and performance of different economies around the world.
For the past five years, the Philippines was cited for its remarkable performance in the five (5) pillars, namely: human capital and research, infrastructure, business sophistication, knowledge and technology outputs, and creative outputs.
This year, the GII gave the Department of Science and Technology the opportunity to be published with the article written by Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña as Chapter 8 with the title, “Filipinnovation: Financing Science for the People”.
In that particular portion of the publication, the science chief enumerated the different R&D projects under the Science for Change Program and other flagship programs that the department has been implementing that focus primarily on funding grassroots innovation; promoting regional capacity building; fostering symbiotic collaboration between the academe and R&D institutes and industry stakeholders; and strengthening knowledge transfer and technical assistance to micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Science for change
The Department of Science and Technology created the Science for Change Program (S4CP) way back in 2012, as if having a premonition of the event s to come.
The S4CP aims to primarily boost innovation through intensified research and development initiatives. The program employs a unique strategy that involves the adoption of science, technology, and innovation (STI) by proportionately spreading financial support across all regions in the Philippines by implementing capacity-building initiatives in partnership with academic institutions and industry stakeholders, thus creating a vibrant innovation ecosystem.
The Science for Change Program (S4CP) is composed of four major components, namely: Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) with total R&D investment of P856 million already as of the first semester of 2020; Collaborative R&D to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) with total investment of P 200 million as of July 2020; R&D Leadership (RDLead) Program with 32 RD leaders composed of scientists, researchers, and engineers now working in 14 regions and hosted by 30 research institutions; and the Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry Program that has already financed one (1) project involving production of pharmaceutical grade ingredients worth P 11.7 million and established 18 industry consultations in the first half of the year.
From 2017-2019, the total budget allocated for the S4CP, the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), and DOST Grants-in-Aid was pegged at $213.2 million.
The S4CP is being implemented under the stewardship of DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara.
Strengthening countryside innovation
The Science for Change Program strategy capitalizes on tapping innovative resources already present in the provinces by creating a paradigm shift that enabled the flow of R&D investments to increase in the regions.
In 2016, 80% or P 2.98 billion of the DOST regional R&D investment was allocated to the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon and CALABARZON. Only 20% or P 764 million was allocated to the other regions.
Seeing the big potential in the regions, the science department recalibrated its strategy and pumped out P 1.34 billion or 27% worth of investments in the other regions. NCR, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON was given P 3.71 billion or 73% of the total R&D budget in 2019.
For 2020, the adjustment continued in favor of the other regions with P 1.38 billion or 27% of the total R&D budget allocation while NCR, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON got P 3.72 billion or 73% of the pie.
This trend of redirecting more R&D funds in the countryside augurs well for maximizing innovation initiatives, therefore igniting regional development and socioeconomic transformation.
Innovation push through policy support
The innovation effort of the DOST will prove futile innovation if not fully backed up by legislation, thus the enactment of Republic Act (RA) No. 11293, or better known as the “Philippine Innovation Act” ushered in a new era in Philippine innovation.
The law was passed with the aimboosting the Philippines’ global competitiveness by harnessing the power of science, technology, and innovation.
The law also added more muscle through the establishment of the National Innovation Council (NIC) that works on a whole-of-government approach involving the coordination and collaboration of the different agencies of government to greatly improve the country’s innovation governance and create synergy.
Lastly, under Section 28 of the Act, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), in close coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), were mandated to prepare the Philippine Innovation Act’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
With all these initiatives from the branches of government pitching in and collaboration of the private sector and the academe, the DOST, more than ever, is able to fuel its regional innovation program with more sustainability. (DOST-STII) By Rodolfo P. de Guzman, S&T Media Service
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PH ranks 50th among 131 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2020
Joins China, Vietnam, and India with the most significant progress in the global ranking
The long wait is finally over. The Philippines rose to rank 50th in the Global Innovation Index 2020, a symbol of hope for the country that is currentlyfighting the pandemic brought about by COVID-19.
This is indeed a remarkable performance for the country considering there were 131economies ranked in 80+ indicators grouped into innovation inputs and outputs and the Philippines was inrank 100thway back in 2014.
Moving up four notches from 54th in 2019 and scaling up by 23 steps from the 73rd ranking in 2018; the GIIreport shared that the Philippines performed on innovation above expectations for its level of economic development for the second consecutive year.
The country ranked 41st in terms of innovation outputs from 42nd in 2019 and 68th in 2018. Also this year, the Philippines jumped to rank 70th in innovation inputs from 76th in 2019 and 82nd in 2018.
The Philippines, likewise, scored high in all seven (7) GII pillars which are above average for the lower middle-income group, coming in at rank 4th among the 29 lower middle-income group economies.The other pillars and their respective ranking of the Philippinesare the following: knowledge and technology outputs (26th), business sophistication (29th), creative outputs (57th), infrastructure (63rd), market sophistication (86th), human capital and research (86th), and institutions (91st).
Furthermore, the Philippines, together with other three economies namely China, Vietnam, and India, made the most significant progress in the GII innovation ranking over time.
Innovation in various fronts
According to the GII 2020 report, the Philippines stood out in the areas of innovativeness of its business sector and the innovation outcomes produced by its investments, with the levels of outcomes that even surpassed some high-income economies.
Compared to other economies in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania, the Philippines performed above average in the pillars of Business sophistication and Knowledge and technology. This overall performance earned the Philippines rank 11th among the 17 economies in the said region.
The Philippines was also cited to be well-integrated into the global trade, being tagged as top 1 in rank in High-technology imports, 3rd in High-technology exports, and 8th in ICT services exports. Further on, the Philippines was rank 10th in the Creative goods exports.
As the tale of the tape unfolded, the report disclosed that the country performed beyond expectation as it grabbed rank 6th in Productivity growth, rank 7th in Firms offering formal training, and rank 8th globally in the area of Utility models by origin.
For the Human capital and research pillar, the Philippines posted rank 22nd in the category of tertiary education in terms of graduates in science and engineering. The DOST may be considered as vital contributor to this pillar with its scholarship programs like the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP) and the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) being implemented by the DOST-Science Education Institute.
The country’s innovation profile shows top 25 rankings for other indicators like market capitalization, research talent in business enterprises, and high-technology manufacturing. Under these indicators, the DOST exhibited tangible initiatives as it continuously strengthened one of its flagship programs, the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), geared at providing technical and financial assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises in the regions. Records revealed that from 2017-2019, the total budget amounting to $213.2 million was shared by SETUP, the Science for Change Program, and the DOST Grants-in-Aid.
R&D as catalyst of change
In hindsight, the creation of the Science for Change Program (S4CP) in 2012, was somehow providential as it now carries the torch for the DOST in its thrust to push innovation to the limits through research and development.
The S4CP has a unique strategy that involves the adoption of science, technology, and innovation (STI) by proportionately spreading financial support across all regions in the Philippines by implementing capacity-building initiatives in partnership with academic institutions and industry stakeholders, thus creating a vibrant innovation ecosystem.
The Science for Change Program (S4CP) is composed of four major components, namely: Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) with total R&D investment of P856 million already as of the first semester of 2020; Collaborative R&D to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) with total investment of P 200 million as of July 2020; R&D Leadership (RDLead) Program with 32 RD leaders composed of scientists, researchers, and engineers now working in 14 regions and hosted by 30 research institutions; and the Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry Program that has already financed one (1) project involving production of pharmaceutical grade ingredients worth P 11.7 million and established 18 industry consultations in the first half of the year.
Filipinnovation
A notable achievement for the Department of Science and Technology in relation to the GII 2020 was the inclusion in the report of an article by Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña as Chapter 8 with the title,
“Filipinnovation: Financing Science for the People”.
In that particular chapter, Secretary de la Peña enumerated the different R&D projects under the Science for Change Program and other flagship programs being implemented with primary focus on funding grassroots innovation; promoting regional capacity building; fostering symbiotic collaboration between the academe and R&D institutes and industry stakeholders; and strengthening knowledge transfer and technical assistance to micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Policy support
The innovation initiatives particularly of the DOST will prove futile if not fully backed up by legislation, thus the enactment of Republic Act (RA) No. 11293, or better known as the “Philippine Innovation Act” helped put muscle to the country’s innovation agenda.
The law was passed with the aim of boosting the Philippines’ global competitiveness by harnessing the power of science, technology, and innovation.
It also paved the way for the establishment of the National Innovation Council (NIC) that works on a whole-of-government approach involving the coordination and collaboration of the different agencies of government to greatly improve the country’s innovation governance and create synergy.
Lastly, under Section 28 of the Act, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), in close coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), were mandated to prepare the Philippine Innovation Act’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
The Global Innovation Index ranks world economies according to their innovation capabilities. The Global Innovation Index (GII), which is on its 13th edition, is co-published by Cornell University; INSEAD, one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools; and the World Intellectual Property Organization (a specialized agency of the United Nations). The report provides an annual ranking of the innovation capabilities and performance of different economies around the world. (Rodolfo P. de Guzman/S&T Media Service)