Contenders from Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao emerge as champions in the Oral Research Paper Competition, securing first-place victories in the Professional and Student categories, respectively at the 16th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week Celebration held on August 9, 2023, at the Summit Hotel Tacloban City, Leyte.

Dr. Virginia S. Ariza of Holy Infant College representing the Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (EVHRDC) bagged first place in the Professional category with her research entitled, “Project B.U.H.A.T. (Babies Under Heat-Assisted Technology) – Kangaroo Mother Assistive Device.”

The winner in the Student category is Mr. Emerson Paul D. Somontan of Iligan Medical Center College representing Northern Mindanao Consortium for Health Research and Development (NorMinCoHRD), with his research entitled, “Development of an X-ray shielding material based on eggshells and crab shells.”

Aiming to serve as a platform for the dissemination and exchange of noteworthy health research findings carried out by both professional and student researchers, the PNHRS conducts the competition as an integral component of its annual festivities, which are observed during the second week of August.

Other winners of the competition are as follows:

Professional

• 2nd Place: Ms. Julia Theresa A. Regalado| Study Title: Whole Genome Sequencing and Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Genome in Samples Collected from The Lung Center of the Philippines- | Institution: University of the Philippines Visayas | Consortium: Western Visayas and Development Consortium
• 3rd Place: Dr. Marilou M. Saong | Study title: Analysis of Arsenic Levels in Rice (Oryza sativa) and Water Samples from Barangay Lucnab, Baguio City, Philippines |  Institution: University of Baguio | Consortium: Cordillera Regional Health Research and Development Consortium

Student

• 2nd Place: Ms. Laiza Joy B. Dasalla | Study title: Pharmacognostic Characterization of Ulasimang Bato (Peperomia pellucida L.) Mucilage as a Preformulation Suspending Agent in Aluminum Hydroxide Suspension | Institution: University of Perpetual Help-Dr. Jose G. Tamayo Medical | Consortium: Health Research and Development Consortium CALABARZON
• 3rd place: Mr. Kenneth John P. Chavez  | Study Title: Anti-Hyperglycemic Activity Of Talahib (Saccharum Spontaneum Linn.) Ethanolic Stalk Extract In Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Mice | Institution: Partido State University  | Consortium: Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development

A replay of the competition may be accessed at the DOST-PCHRD Facebook page.