Madayaw News

Call for volunteers for a CoViD-19 testing lab

Written by Rene Estremera on . Posted in News

The Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao has issued a call for volunteers who are willing to work in a CoViD-19 diagnostic laboratory in Davao del Norte. Persons who wish to participate need to have experience in RNA/PCR/qPCR and are willing to work in Davao del Norte. Qualified persons may indicate their interest by filling up the survey form at http://tiny.cc/vn7tlz. Deadline is 26 March 2020.

This call is URGENT. Davao Region has not reached its CoViD-19 peak, hence the operationalization of the lab is urgent to prevent the spread of CoViD-19 in the region.

UPDATE: 

Davao del Norte supports UP Mindanao proposal on diagnostics program for COVID-19 testing
 
The diagnostic lab for COVID-19 free testing proposed by the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao has gathered immediate interest from the Davao del Norte province. In a joint letter to UP Mindanao dated March 22, provincial governor Edwin Jubahib and Tagum City mayor Allan Rellon wrote, “As local chief executives, we hereby commit and support your proposal to establish a mobile diagnostics laboratory for rapid medical and public health response to COVID-19 in the province.”
 
Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao director Dr. Lyre Anni Murao, a professor of virology at UP Mindanao, revealed that the construction of the proposed lab and procurement of needed equipment, estimated at P15 million, will be funded by private groups while the operational costs, pegged at P10.3 million per month, will be funded by the local government unit.

“Our partners from the private sector will take charge of designing the lab to ensure it will meet biosafety standards,” she said. “The entire laboratory establishment including accreditation, design and assembly, up to equipment installation and calibration, will take roughly 7 to 8 weeks. When running at full capacity, the lab can be expected to handle 96 tests per day.”

Based on previous discussion with the Department of Health (DOH), the proposed lab will likely be attached to the Davao Region Medical Center (DRMC) in Tagum City according to UP Mindanao chancellor Dr. Larry Digal.

“DOH XI welcomed the idea of setting the lab with DRMC to supplement the capacity of SPMC so that other provinces in the Davao Region and even outside the region can be better served,” he said. “We are now working closely with the DavNor LGU on how to set up this lab as soon as possible. But just like the case of Marikina, the facility will have to be assessed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine [RITM] of the DOH before it can be operational.”

Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Dr. Leopoldo Vega has suggested during the Philippine Information Agency online press conference yesterday for UP Mindanao “to be an independent lab” since it will take time for DOH System and UP System to sign a memorandum of agreement.

He said, “Just make sure you have the necessary accreditation. This is a molecular biology lab. There has to be a standard, protective room with negative pressure so that safety is there when they inactivate the virus. If they have that, I think the RITM would give their approval.”

To augment the personnel who will initially operate the proposed lab, PGC Mindanao has already issued a call for volunteers last March 24. Dr. Murao said, “We cannot rely fully on our partner hospital to free up their personnel to do COVID-19 tests because they are needed in other hospital operations. We need volunteers with background on molecular biology, which is crucial to process the samples.”

Volunteers must have experience on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) or ribonucleic acid procedures and are willing to be deployed in Davao del Norte. The survey form is available here: http://tiny.cc/vn7tlz

“While we already included in our initial proposal to the LGU funding to take care of our volunteers (i.e., compensation, accommodations, etc.), we are now crafting a separate proposal for a rigorous training on biosafety and molecular diagnostics to ensure the welfare of our volunteers. This will be submitted to the UP System for funding,” she added.
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Read original news story here: https://www2.upmin.edu.ph/index.php/news-sp-3476/madayaw-news/4236-proposed-diagnostics-program-for-free-covid-19-testing

Proposed Diagnostics Program for Free COVID-19 Testing

Written by Rene Estremera on . Posted in News

The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao is proposing a diagnostic program that can give free testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Davao Region. The program includes establishing a PhP15-million biosafety molecular lab, which will have to be attached to a hospital and is expected to supplement the ongoing tests in the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). SPMC is currently the only medical facility in Mindanao recognized as a subnational reference laboratory that can test for COVID-19. 
 
Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao director Dr. Lyre Anni Murao, a professor of virology at UP Mindanao and author of the proposal, wrote, “To back up the existing facility in SPMC and to prepare for the unprecedented peak of outbreak of the disease, it is only imperative to consider the establishment of another diagnostic facility for faster and efficient diagnosis for coronavirus. For example, the Marikina local government has established its own diagnostic lab for free COVID-19 testing of local health workers and suspected cases.”
 
The proposed lab will be made from two container vans—the easiest way to set up the facility—and equipped with a real-time polymerase chain reaction or PCR detection system and other equipment. The facility will also be designed to handle infectious materials based on guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH). 
 
Dr. Murao stated, “The role of PGC Mindanao is capability building. We will organize trainings for our partner hospital on biosafety procedures and molecular diagnostics. During the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, our staff can also assist in the testing if there is a need for extra personnel. But eventually, our partner hospital will have to run the lab itself. That’s why it is important for this lab to be attached to a hospital so its operations will be sustainable in the long run.” 
 
When operating in full capacity at 96 tests per day, monthly operational costs for the lab (procuring kits, reagents, and consumables, as well as costs for other requirements) are pegged at PhP10.3 million.
 
WHO recommends that interrupting human-to-human transmission through community quarantine, social distancing, and other measures should be coupled with aggressive testing in order to identify, isolate, and treat patients early. These strategies in concert are known to be effective as in the case of China, Singapore, and South Korea. But as WHO has repeatedly announced, lockdowns and social distancing are not enough.
 
In a recent study, UP Mindanao biomathematical expert Dr. May Anne Mata notes, “With the current landscape of COVID-19 in the region, testing asymptomatic individuals or COVID-19 carriers is necessary since they may show no symptoms but can freely transmit the disease if not regulated.”
 
Her mathematical model’s projections show that the total COVID-19 carriers in Davao Region will likely reach a maximum of 3000 individuals with a testing rate of 0.1% per day—that is, for every 1000 COVID-19 asymptomatic individuals, only 1 is tested. But if the testing rate is increased to 70% to 100% per day, the number of COVID-19 carriers will reach 0 within a faster period compared to the status quo testing capacity.
 
The study has not yet been published, but an early draft will be presented to local authorities to help guide policies in the region moving forward. 
 
Last Friday, March 20, a UP Mindanao delegation consisting of the chancellor Dr. Larry Digal, the vice chancellor for academic affairs Dr. Nilo Oponda, and PGC Mindanao director Dr. Murao met with officials from the city council and DOH, as well as advisors from SPMC, to discuss the proposal. The delegation also met with SPMC chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega afterwards.
 
“Testing is really necessary. In fact, some local government units have already expressed interest in investing in such a lab facility. For the Davao Region, we are exploring all options on how to fund this initiative, particularly a private-public partnership. We already have contacts from the private sector who are willing to help in procuring much-needed equipment like PCR machines compatible with available test kits. The machine needs to be imported and is a costly investment. For now, we are awaiting formal response from DOH and the Davao Region COVID-19 Task Force to see how we can proceed,” said Chancellor Digal.
 
Dr. Murao added, “This lab can also serve as a model that can be replicated in other sites of the country for accurate and timely detection of the disease. The lab also has future use for other infectious and emerging diseases, making the country even more prepared for crisis such as this.”
 
As of 12 noon, March 22, the Davao Region has recorded 3 patients testing positive for COVID-19, with 58 out of the 104 persons under investigation (PUIs) admitted (5 deaths: 2 cleared; 3 awaiting confirmation) and 6837 out of the 8285 persons under monitoring (PUMs) still under observation according to DOH XI. 
 
 
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Cancellation of classes, 2020

Written by Rene Estremera on . Posted in News

 
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
3F, Quezon Hall, Diliman, Quezon City
Tele/Fax: (632) 962-6345; 9818722; 9818500 local 2528
Email:
Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs

20 March 2020

Memorandum No. OVPAA 2020-38

For: UP System Faculty

(through the Chancellors, Vice-Presidents for Academic Affairs, the
Deans, Institute Directors and Department Chairs)

From: Maria Cynthia Rose Banzon Bautista
Vice-President for Academic Affairs

Re: SUSPENSION OF CLASSES IN ALL UP CONSTITUENT UNIVERSITIES EXCEPT UP OPEN UNIVERSITY
LIFTING OF DEADLINE FOR DROPPING AND FILING OF LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER AY 2019-2020
_________________________________________________________________
On the Suspension of Technology-Supported Learning

In light of the enhanced community quarantine over the entire Luzon and the imposition of similar measures in other regions of the country, classes both residential and online and alternative learning activities in the UP System (except UP Open University) are suspended until 14 April 2020 while the University assesses the situation and decides on how best to facilitate learning and manage academic requirements in the time of COVID-19. Since the situation remains very fluid, the University’s academic response to the crisis will be crafted iteratively and disseminated accordingly.

In the meantime, the faculty is urged to continue exploring alternative delivery modes apart from online tools and to learn to optimize the use of online tools from home, if feasible. They are also expected to use the time to calibrate their courses beyond the stipulated 23 March 2020 deadline for the submission of revised syllabi in OVPAA Memorandum No. 2020-35—which is now lifted. In addition, faculty members and officials are encouraged to share creative strategies or thoughts on how to move forward by email with their Vice-Chancellors for Academic Affairs cc
 
In the course of calibrating courses, the faculty may take the following considerations into account: 

o The University’s education site subscription to ZOOM will be available within the next few days. This will enable hosting and attendance of formal and informal meetings, classes and webinars even after the projected mid-April end of the lockdown as long as the UP System faculty, staff and students use their up.edu.ph addresses, gadgets and access to the internet. The epidemiological pattern of the disease suggests that it may peak around May and begin its decline thereafter. However, the period of decline will not necessarily imply a return to normalcy in the next few months.
OVPAA Memorandum 2020-31 and 2020-35 directed the faculty to utilize UP’s learning management system and other platforms for uploading learning materials, assessment tools and student submissions, and interacting with students. The period of suspension is also a time to further enhance the use of these platforms in preparation for the lifting of the suspension of classes.

The suspension is also the time for the faculty to get to know each of their students more and take their situation into account when calibrating their courses.

o There are different types of technology-supported learning activities, from “low-tech” options (e.g. Q&A via SMS, printed worksheets) to online activities (e.g. blogs, online quizzes, discussion fora, webinars), that may be utilized given the varying conditions of our campuses and students. The Webinar Series that UPOU is offering to the faculty of other UP Constituent Units will discuss these and general principles in the design of technology-supported learning.
 
o In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Universities worldwide confront the same challenge of enabling learning in the midst of disruption, albeit under different conditions depending on the level of development of their societies. Recommendations of fellow academics on how to deal with the crisis are worth noting. Consider, for instance, some of the tips of University of Washington Professor Penas on Pedagogy in Time of Epidemic that is available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/12HaENU4tIZZYC16d4neyIDF3TAs6DEi15aYuw500P7M/mobilebasic:

1) Prioritize: What do students really need to know for the next few weeks? This is really difficult, and, once again, it means that the quality of teaching and learning will suffer. But these are NOT normal circumstances.
2) Stay in contact with students, and stay transparent. Talk to them about why you’re prioritizing certain things or asking them to read or do certain things. Most of us do that in our face-to-face teaching anyway, and it improves student buy-in because they know content and delivery are purposeful.
3) Make assignments lower or no stakes if you’re using a new platform. Get students used to just using the platform. Then you can do something higher stakes. Do not ask students to do a high stakes exam or assignment on a new platform.

o There are also various online discipline-specific resources that faculty can explore, such as the STEM video education library of the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) at https://www.jove.com/blog/educator-blog/jove-offers-free-access-to-extensive-stem-education-video-library-to-aid-remote-teaching-learning-as-covid-19-pandemic-shuts-down-classrooms-around-the-world/
 
On the Lifting of Deadlines
 
The deadline for dropping and leave of absence for the second semester 2019-2020 is hereby lifted. The new deadlines will be announced in subsequent memos.
 
Thank you and please stay safe.
 
 
 
 [THE MEMO ABOVE SUPERCEDES THE PREVIOUS MEMO, POSTED BELOW]
 
Screenshot 2020-03-12-20-22-14-60 e2d5b3f32b79de1d45acd1fad96fbb0fRSZ6012 March 2020
 
 
MEMORANDUM NO. LND 2020-025
 
 
TO: ALL UNITS
 
FROM: PROF. LARRY N. DIGAL, PhD
Chancellor
 
SUBJECT: CANCELLATION OF CLASSES AND IMMEDIATE SHIFT TO ONLINE OR TAKE-HOME ASSIGNMENTS, EFFECTIVE TOMORROW, 13 MARCH 2020, UNTIL AFTER THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IS LIFTED
 
 
In accordance with the Davao City Government Guidelines No. 07 for Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19), ALL classes are hereby CANCELLED effective tomorrow, 13 March 2020.  All faculty are advised to immediately shift to online mode or take-home assignments UNTIL AFTER the public health emergency is lifted. A copy of the Davao City Guidelines No. 7 is hereby attached for your reference.
 
 
Thank you.
 
 
 
References: 
 
Davao City Goverment Guidelines No. 7, click here http://bit.ly/2IJ13kF
Memorandum from the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, click here http://bit.ly/2IKHclf 
 

UP breaks into top 500 in world rankings, 2019

Written by Rene Estremera on . Posted in News

London-based magazine Times Higher Education (THE) has placed the University of the Philippines in the world’s top 500 universities and fourth in the ASEAN region, according to the 2020 THE World University Rankings.The national university is listed in the 401-500 group of 1,396 ranked research universities.

This is UP’s fourth year in the rankings. It was included for the first time in 2017 among the top 1,000. The succeeding rankings showed marked improvement for UP as it climbed to the top 800 in the 2018 edition and to the top 600 for 2019.

THE assesses research-intensive universities based on 13 performance indicators in five pillars: teaching (30 percent), research (30 percent), research influence/citations (30 percent), international outlook (7.5 percent) and industry income (2.5 percent).

For 2020, UP has been ranked 159th in citations which places it in the top 11 percent of prestigious universities that have “influence in spreading new knowledge and ideas.” Its score in citations went up from last year’s 69.1 to 86.9. As indicator of research influence, 'citations' refers to the average number of times a university’s published work is cited by scholars globally. This year, THE's bibliometric data supplier Elsevier examined 77.4 million citations to 12.8 million journal articles, article reviews, conference proceedings, books and book chapters published over five years. The data include more than 23,400 academic journals indexed by Elsevier’s Scopus database and all indexed publications between 2014 and 2018. Citations to these publications made in the six years from 2014 to 2019 are also collected.

UP also scored better in teaching (from 21.7 to 24.1), research (from 16.4 to 17.2) and industry income (from 35.8 to 39.4). A global academic reputation survey partly determines the scores for teaching and research.UP, however, slipped in international outlook, with its score down from 39.5 to 37.9. International outlook considers the number of international students and staff as well as international collaboration.Only two universities from the Philippines appeared in the latest table. UP is still the leading university in the country.

THE publishes some of the most influential rankings used by the global academic community which include the Asia University Rankings, Asia-Pacific University Rankings, Emerging Economies University Rankings,  World University Rankings by Subject and Impact Rankings.

Ambassador Fries' tour of CSM, 2019

Written by Rene Estremera on . Posted in News

HONORABLE HARALD FRIES, Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines, took a tour of the UP Mindanao campus on 30 April 2019 on the second day of the Floorball Program in the campus. He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Susan Fries, Atty. Leo Dominguez, founding chairperson of the Philippines-Sweden Business Council, and Ms. Charlene Balaan, embassy communications officer. The visitors were guided by vice-chancellors Nilo Oponda and Aurelia Luz Gomez.
 
The group started with a visit to the College of Science and Mathematics where they were welcomed by Dean Dominica Dacera and College Secretary Dr. Ritchie Mae Gamot. They were joined by the department chairpersons, professors Leo Manuel Estaña, Cleto Nañola Jr., and Juma Novie Alviola. Ambassador Fries made a brief stop at the biology dispensing room to view the equipment. Continuing onward, Prof. Nañola gave a walking briefing about the projects of the Dept. of Biological Science and Environmental Studies. At the Drug Discovery Laboratory, Prof. Joel Hassan Tolentino talked about their ongoing research for a cure to lung cancer. At the Fermentation Lab, Prof. Alviola gave a briefing on the research on sago flour and the other flours of the Dept. of Food Science and Chemistry. At the Geo-SAFER flood hazard mapping project, Supervisor Gus Oguis presented the maps and Project Leader Joseph Acosta added to the conversation.
 
At the DC-UP Sports Complex, the group was met by Dept. of Human Kinetics chairperson Prof. Erwin Protacio at the Human Kinetics Gym, where they observed a volleyball game of the Palarong Pambansa before a jampacked crowd. The ambassador pointed out to Prof. Protacio how the gym was ideal for playing floorball. A team of female volleyballers trotted by and chanted "Magandang umaga, Mabuhay" in unison, to the delight of the ambassador. The ambassador also visited the football field and the Aquatic Center.
 
The group returned to the Administration Building where they were met by Chancellor Larry Digal. They watched the on-going floorball game at the Atrium supervised by Mr. Saldio Amador. At the second floor, Prof. Armando Salazar showed the model of the Sports Complex which triggered a discussion between Ambassador Fries, floorball coach Peter Eriksson, and Chancellor Digal.
 
After lunch, the ambassador spent time signing the certificates for the participants of the floorball program. In his closing remarks, Ambassador Fries expressed his appreciation for the welcome and accommodation they received and that he looked forward to coming back to UP Mindanao.

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