Marriott Hotel, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
August 11, 2022

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recognized the contribution of health researchers to the rapid developments in the fields of science and medicine when he attended the 15th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week Celebration at the Marriott Hotel in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

The Chief Executive commended the country’s health researchers for their commitment to pursuing programs and solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic and other health-related concerns.

“It is nothing less than having you have helped to keep millions of people alive.  There is nothing more heroic in my mind than what you have achieved,” the President stated, citing the health research community’s milestones in developing test kits for the local community and the genome sequencing that can detect and identify different strains of the COVID-19 virus that helped mitigate the effects of the public health crisis.

He also conveyed his gratitude to the researchers for being at the forefront of the country’s battle against the pandemic, and for improving the healthcare system that provides better access to the people.

He reiterated his promise in creating an enabling environment for research studies by pushing for the creation of the Virology Center of the Philippines and the Disease Control Center, emphasizing the need for new research data and knowledge to be more coordinated so that the country will be more prepared in dealing with another pandemic, should it happen.

“As your President, I hope that my presence here today gives a clear signal that this administration continues to support your endeavors so that together we can create an enabling environment for the Filipino research community that fosters collaboration and cooperation that will yield solutions, that will make lives better for our fellowmen and women,” President Marcos Jr. stressed.

The PNHRS Week is celebrated every second week of August in accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 1309 signed in June 2007.  It serves as a gateway for health researchers to share their insights, best practices and experiences to enhance health policies, and make feasible solutions as the nation recovers from the pandemic.

The weeklong celebration adopted the theme, ‘Health Research: Responding to Challenges Towards National Recovery and Resiliency’.

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