In a ceremonial turnover on Friday, 4 September 2020, the Department of Health (DOH) formally received the Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance Using Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler For Early Detection of Diseases, commonly called FASSSTER, as a tool to aid in disease surveillance in the country, including the monitoring of COVID-19.

The disease surveillance tool (FASSSTER) was developed by the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), with funding grant from the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), in 2016, initially for dengue, but which has since been recalibrated as a web-based disease surveillance platform that allows policymakers to understand the outbreaks at the national, regional, and local levels and assess the effects of the preventive measures in place. 

“It is indeed heartwarming to see our experts in FASSSTER actively contributing to public health through research and innovation. I share the pride with our researchers in saying that what started as a modest project in data science has today become a vital support to our healthcare system, especially in these uncertain times,” said DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya.