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THE challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 affected all sectors of society, not just in the Philippines but around the world. The strict blockades in their initial stage from March to May in the country restricted mobility and halted almost all economic activities.
However, Philippine government agencies essential to responding to Covid-19, including the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), addressed the challenges and continued to provide services to harness science, technology, and innovation (STI).
In its year-end report on its achievements in 2020, “Leading science, technology and innovation for inclusive growth and development in the time of Covid-19,” the Science department highlighted its response to the pandemic while promoted their socio-economic development programs. increase.
Among the many challenging activities of DOST over the past year are its leading role in responding to Covid-19, intensifying its research and development (R&D) program, and Science for Change programs.
Response to Covid-19
The report said that DOST “served as the lead agency” of the former Sub-Technical Working Group on Vaccine Development of the Inter-Institutional Working Group (IATF), now the Working Group on Covid-19 Vaccine Evaluation and Selection.
The group is tasked with “working on activities related to vaccine development, including preparation for conducting phase 3 clinical trials of the Covid-19 vaccine in the country.”
DOST, led by Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, said in the report that it is also “involved in the identification, evaluation and recommendation of potential vaccine candidates for the Philippines.”
With these responsibilities, the department convened its bilateral and multilateral partners, and brought in new ones, to identify foreign vaccine developers willing to work with the task force and the government to ensure the country’s access to global vaccine supplies.
At the same time, the department spearheaded the Philippines’ participation in the World Health Organization’s solidarity trials on vaccines and therapies.
R&D test kits, equipment against Covid-19
DOST also led R&D on other concerns in response to the pandemic. In fact, as of December 2019, when the coronavirus was detected in China, the department was already preparing in its response to it.
At the beginning of February, he announced to the media that covered scientific news that his agencies have about a dozen diverse investigations to respond to the then still few known characteristics of the coronavirus.
De la Peña said then that the country “has to be prepared” to protect Filipinos from the coronavirus.
Among the projects in the pipeline was the development of the first Philippine-made reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction detection kit for Covid-19 through the development of GenAmplify by Dr. Raul Destura.
There was also the web-based disease model, the Syndromic Surveillance Feasibility Analysis using the Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler (Fassster), which served as a platform to project the future course of Covid-19 infections, as well as to surveillance.
Fassster, developed by the Ateneo de Manila University, has been delivered to the Department of Health.
DOST also supported and implemented the development of other information and communication technologies and / or models and applications powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
They included tracking for medical supplies allocation (TrAMS +), telepresence terminals for Covid-19 response team, and project or resource allocation management, distribution tracking, or project (Ramdam).
The department funded and supervised the conduct of trials on virgin coconut oil (VCO), melatonin, lagundi, tawa-tawa, and convalescent plasma as add-on treatments for Covid-19.
De la Peña announced in November that VCO could be used as an add-on therapy for Covid-19 suspects and probable cases based on clinical and community studies in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and in previous laboratory research in Singapore.
Research on other complementary treatments is still ongoing.
The Science department immediately began the design, development and production of personal protective equipment, medical devices and accessories in collaboration with government R&D and higher education institutions, as well as private sector partners, including startups.
They also include the development of ventilators, motorized air-purifying respirators; sample collection booths; GO-CLEAN disinfection chamber; AI-enabled mobile thermal scanners; Nanotechnology-enhanced disinfectants, reusable, washable, and reusable face masks; 3D printed venturi valves, ear muff holders, filter attachment for oxygen concentrating masks.
DOST also spearheaded the development of bills to establish the Philippine Institute of Virology Science and Technology (VIP).
The creation of the VIP “will serve as the main research center in the country in the field of virology, covering all areas of viruses and viral diseases in humans, plants and animals,” says the report.
De la Peña previously said in one of his DOST Report briefings that the VIP will help prepare the country for a future pandemic by having its own drug or vaccine research.
To end
