NAST – PSM Sponsor Workshops on Establishment of Microbiology Consortia in Mindanao and in the Visayas

Just recently, the National Academy of Science and Technology and the Philippine Society for Microbiology (PSM) sponsored two workshops with the objective of implementing the conclusion reached as a consequence of the NAST RF Fellowship of Acd Asuncion K. Raymundo on the Assessment of the Microbiology Needs of the Food and Pharmaceutical Industries that there is a dire need to increase the number of Microbiologists in the country. Currently, in many cases non-microbiologists do microbiology work in the industries. The necessity to produce the critical mass of Microbiology majors who can become registered Microbiologists and provide the manpower needs of many industries has reached a level that demand urgent action. An expansion of the microbiology workforce has to be complemented by improvement of microbiology education that can only be implemented when more universities offer a major program with a specialization in microbiology. Cognizant of the difficulty in instituting new programs, it was decided that the most feasible strategy is to establish Microbiology consortia in key places in the country.

Consequently, in collaboration with PSM, workshops were conducted at the Marawi State University, Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City on November 22-24, 2016 and at the Sarabia Manor and Convention Hotel, Iloilo City on December 6-8, 2016 for the organization of a consortium for Mindanao and for the Visayas, respectively. The holding of the workshops was at very opportune times as they served as pre-convention activities of the annual convention of the local chapters of the PSM.

In the workshops, representatives of ten Higher Education Intuitions (HEIS) in the Mindanao and nine in Visayas were on hand to thresh out organizational issues. At least two participants represented every HEI. At MSU, the workshop was opened by the PSM Mindanao Chapter President, Dr. Annielyn Tampus, while MSU-IIT Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Edgar Ignacio welcomed the participants. Thereafter, Acd Raymundo gave an overview and background of the activity followed by a presentation of the consortium proposal by Dr. Franco Teves, MSU-IIT Director of Research.

In Iloilo City, PSM Visayas Chapter President May Sansuit delivered the opening remarks while UP Visayas Dean Resurreccion Sadaba gave the welcome address. Dr. Phillip Ian Padilla, Associate Professor and UP Faculty Regent, introduced the consortium proposal after Acd Raymundo provided an overview of the issue at hand.

Consistent with the objective of ascertaining which universities are interested in establishing a microbiology program, the participants presented the plans of their institutions, including courses or related courses currently being offered in their universities, and which microbiology courses they are deficient in. After the presentations, it was ascertained that two HEIs in Mindanao and only one in Visayas are offering a B.S Biology program with a major in microbiology. Undeniably, the situation does not augur well to the plan of producing the needed number of Microbiologists in the regions. During the workshop proper, important issues such as modes of cooperation were threshed out. The following were suggested: cross-enrolment among consortium member HEIs, sharing of qualified faculty members, and offering of Microbiology courses during summer for B. S Biology graduates that lack courses to qualify them to take the Microbiologists accreditation examination as graduate non-degree students.

At the end of the workshops, a sense of enthusiasm and accomplishment pervaded the atmosphere as participants felt the satisfaction of having established the beginnings of a consortium which they pledged to exert extra effort in convincing their administrators to be part of this undertaking notwithstanding the fact that its implementation is the greater challenge that lies ahead. A Memorandum of Understanding was drafted and consequently the participants were enjoined to have it approved by higher officials of their universities.