COTABATO CITY (August ___, 2013)---Two student entries from Region 12 or SOCCSKSARGEN Region bagged top honors in separately held national health-related scientific research competitions recently.
Dr. Zenaida P. HadjiRaof-Laidan, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) director for Region 12, lauded the winners for bringing pride to the region.
“The winners proved that we have gifted researchers in the region who can help promote the benefits of R&D (Research and Development) towards a sustainable economic development and peace in the countryside,” she noted.
The “Anticoagulant and Antianglogenic Potentials of Clariasgariopinus Burch (African Catfish)” by Ralph Angelo R. Abanto et al. clinched the top prize in the 7th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Student Research Competition held at the Plaza del Norte Hotel and Convention Center in Paoay, Ilocos Norte last August 7-9.
Meanwhile, the undergraduate thesis titled “Antiangiogenic Activity and Toxicity of CrescentiacujeteLinn. (Calabash)” authored by Jaime P. Guerrero, Abigail U. Cellona and March Jane O. Palermoalso won third place in the DOST-PCHRD-GruppoMedica Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis in Herbal Medicine national level competition, held at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino last July 10.
The winners are students of the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU) in General Santos City.
Two other entries from Region 12 were also chosen as finalists in the 7thPNHRS national competition.
They were the “Bioactivity of Commonly Used Medicinal Plants by T’bolisof South Cotabato” by Jaybee M. Baay, Sheila D. Buhian and Anabelle T. Diocales, also from NDDU, and “Health and Lifestyles of Indigenous and Moro Aged People in SOCCSKSARGEN” by Dr. InorayDindang-Osop of Mindanao State University in General Santos City for the professional category.
With these feats, Dr. Laidan encouraged researchers to develop more products and researches that can help SOCCSKSARGEN move forward and become a major player in improving the health status, productivity and the quality of life of its people.
SOCCSKSARGEN comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
Themed “People at the Center of Health and Health Research,” the celebration was hosted by Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium.
PNHRS Week is held annually every second week of August by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1309 signed in 2007 and later became Republic Act 10532 otherwise known as the “Philippine National Health Research System Act of 2013,” effective June 1, 2013.
