Participants from different regions of the country lauded the Second Philippine National Health Researh System (PNHRS) Week and National Assembly held at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Manila last August 13-14, 2008.
Stakeholders and regional representatives all over the country gathered at the two-day event which showcased parallel sessions, a networking bazaar, and a panel discussion focused on strengthening networking and convergence within the PNHRS.
Day one featured three simultaneous capacity building sessions on research translation. Resource speaker on Writing Policy Briefs is Ms. Jennifer P. T. Liguton of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), while University of the Philippines (UP) Manila College of Medicine professor and Chair of the PNHRS Committee on Resource Mobilization Dr. Jaime Z. Galvez-Tan discussed Resource Generation for Health Research. Lecturers in the session on Research Article Writing include Dr. Imelda Maribeth F. Garcia, Editor-in-Chief of the Filipino Family Physicians; Dr. Mario R. Festin, professor of UP Manila; and Dr. Isagani R. Cruz, Executive Publisher from the De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila.
Day two featured the PNHRS National Assembly with Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) Executive Director Dr. Jaime C. Montoya giving the Welcoming Remarks. Pampanga 4th District Representative Dr. Anna York Bondoc addressed the attendees of the assembly with her Inspirational Message followed by Dr. Federico M. Macaranas, Executive Director for Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center, as the Keynote Speaker. Dr. Ces Acuin of the University of the Philippines Manila-National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH) served as the Masters of Ceremony.
A Panel Discussion was held with the topic on convergence, collaboration, networking and community building within the PNHRS. Among the panelists were Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (RHRDC) Region 1 Chair Director Leonardo N. Quintos, Jr., RHRDC Region 7 Chair Dr. Enrico B. Gruet, RHRDC Region 8 and PNHRS Research Management Committee Chair Dr. Fe B. Baraquin, RHRDC Region 11 Chair Dr. Warlito C. Vincente, and RHRDC Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) member Dr. Erlinda C. Palaganas.
After the panel discussion and a brief open forum, Dr. Juan Ma. Pablo R. Nañagas, Chair of the PHNRS Committee on Structure/Organization Monitoring and Evaluation (SOME), formally launched the PNHRS Consortium Awards.
Dr. Libertad P. Garcia, Vice Chair of the PNHRS Committee on Capacity Building, facilitated the afternoon program, a networking bazaar for the Regional Health Research System with representatives from all regions of the country, which served as an open space for the stakeholders from each regions to exchange information and form collaborative undertakings.
Each consortium then presented the profile of its research community, including their existing capacity and facilities, samples of the current research being undertaken in the region, and new initiatives planned which would need partners, as well as their areas for collaboration and networking. After the presentation, a short open forum was initiated by Dr. Garcia in which questions from the participants were entertained.
The two-day event is part of the annual PNHRS Week celebration, with this year's theme: Converge @ PNHRS!