P25M research grant offered to any scientist in the Visayas

BAYBAY CITY ,Philippines  — A research grant of P25 million is now available for funding basic research proposals from scientists in Eastern Visayas, according to Dr. Cecilia Reyes, executive director of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP).

Reyes made this announcement during the 8th NRCP Visayas Regional Cluster General Membership Assembly held at the Visayas State University in this city recently.

Attending the assembly were 66 researchers from the University of the Philippines-Visayas (including those from UPV-Tacloban), Silliman University, Western Visayas College of Science and Technology in Iloilo, Samar State University in Catbalogan, Naval State University in Biliran, Maasin City College, St. Scholastica College in Tacloban City, DENR-8, and the Visayas State University System.

The scientific conference was also attended by NRCP president, Dr. Alvin Culaba, a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Environmental Systems Engineering from the University of Portsmouth in England and executive vice president for external relations and internationalization of the De La Salle University in Manila.

Culaba, in his keynote address, lauded the NRCP-Visayas Regional Cluster-chaired by Dr. Manuel Palomar, VSU professor emeritus in plant protection-for its continuing consultative meetings in the region to chart the framework, policies and recommendations to make the Philippines economically competitive in line with the ASEAN 2015 goal of "One Vision, One Community, One Identity."

Culaba also pointed out six factors causing the Philippines to lose its competitiveness, as cited by former DOST Secretary Felimon Uriarte, Jr. during the last NRCP Assembly in Manila last March 9.

These are: 1) goods market inefficiencies; 2) poor infrastructure; 3) poor health of workers; 4) inefficient legal framework; 5) corruption; and 6) backward technologies.

"These factors may not be unfamiliar to us but the magnitude of each of these as to hold back Philippine competitiveness perhaps escapes our full operation," Culaba told the assembly.

Knowledge, technology and innovation are the keys in which the country should re-channel its resources for the Philippines to be competitive," Culaba said, adding that these must be reflected in the discussion among the researchers in the assembly.