Madayaw News

[UPDATED] "To V or Not To V" webinar on COVID-19 vaccines

Written by Rene Estremera on 09 February 2021. Posted in Madayaw News

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“To V or Not To V,” a free internet forum and webinar on COVID-19 vaccines, will be held on 13 February 2021, at 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. via Zoom. Interested parties may register at https://bit.ly/3tusvJI. The webinar will also be live-streamed on the Facebook pages of the organizers, the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) Davao, the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao, and the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao.

The webinar is a contribution to the ongoing discussion whether to vaccinate or not to vaccinate oneself against the COVID-19 disease, a topic that is presently being debated worldwide, more so in the Philippines with its recent experience on vaccines. Through the webinar, the UP community hopes to help in the Filipino’s decision-making process. “There are many perceptions about the issue and it’s best to hear from the experts,” said UPAA-Davao director Atty. Glenn Cedeño-Sorila. “Participants to the webinar get a chance to type in their questions in the Zoom chat box which will then be conveyed for the speakers to answer,” said PGC Mindanao director and UP Mindanao faculty member Prof. Lyre Anni Murao.

Dr. Willy Tan, Manager for Global Product Development – GCMC Vaccines of Pfizer Inc., will talk on “Vaccine Development and Manufacture.” The topic on “The Science Behind Regulatory Process for Evaluation and Approval of COVID-19 Vaccines” will be discussed by Dr. Nina Gloriani, Head of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Vaccine Expert Panel and member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines Scientific Steering Committee for COVID 19 Solidarity Vaccines Trials. Finally, Davao City Health Officer Dr. Ashley Lopez will talk on the “Davao City COVID-19 Vaccination Plan.” Welcome Remarks will be given by Cabinet Secretary Atty. Karlo Nograles, who is also co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. In his opening remarks, Atty. Nograles will also give an overview of the national government’s vaccination roadmap. Dr. Celia C. Castillo, a doctor of internal medicine, will be the moderator for the forum. Closing Remarks will be delivered by UP Mindanao Chancellor Larry Digal. Atty. Cedeño-Sorila will serve as the event host. The webinar is a public offering for the 26th anniversary of UP Mindanao.

[UPDATE] Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, Medical Adviser/Consultant to the National Task Force against COVID-19 and UP executive vice president, will represent Sec. Carlito Galvez in the webinar to talk on the "National COVID-19 Vaccination Roadmap."

[CLOSING REMARKS OF CHANCELLOR LARRY N. DIGAL]

University of the Philippines, Mindanao is celebrating its 26th anniversary this month of February, and so I am congratulating and truly thankful to the UP Alumni Association Davao and the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao, for successfully organizing this online forum and webinar on the COVID-19 vaccination issue in line with our anniversary celebration. I need to specifically mention UPAA Davao director Attorney Marie Glenn Sorila, UP alumna Dr. Celia Castillo, and Philippine Genome Center Mindanao director Professor Lyre Murao. This activity would not have been possible without your active support. I also acknowledge the invaluable inputs and insights provided by Cabinet Secretary, Attorney Karlo Alexei Nograles, chairperson of the Interagency Task Force, Dr. Willy Tan of Pfizer, Dr. Nina Gloriani, head of the DOST Vaccine Expert Panel, and member of the WHO Philippines COVID-19 Steering Committee, and Dr. Ashley Lopez, our Davao City Health Officer.

I hope that through this webinar we have contributed to efforts in increasing awareness of the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program and enlightening the public to decide as to whether to get vaccinated or not. UP Mindanao, for its 26th-anniversary celebration, is transcending towards a resilient recovery in the new normal. Since 2019, many of our alumni know that UP Mindanao has been aggressively gearing towards expanding its programs to make a dent in Mindanao’s development. They know because this expansion program was presented in the Regional Alumni Institute assembly that year. A major part of this expansion is the establishment of three colleges and 16 new programs. One of the colleges is the College of Medicine. With the onslaught of the pandemic, we configured our priorities and this college was even magnified to become part of a bigger initial initiative, which we call the Mindanao Health Initiative. This initiative includes two other components, a Davao City-UP Hospital, which will be established on our campus, which will become also the teaching hospital of the College of Medicine, and the Mindanao Center for Research and Innovation for One Health. The latter builds on the network developed by PGC Mindanao in assisting various COVID-19 testing laboratories in Mindanao and their research work on the pandemic and as an accredited testing Center for African Swine Fever. So UP Mindanao is well-positioned to contribute significantly in a resilient recovery. Daghang salamat sa tanan!

Statement of UP Mindanao Against “Red-tagging”

Written by Rene Estremera on 08 February 2021. Posted in Madayaw News

The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao administration has seen posts published on social media that accuse UP Mindanao and one of its alumni of collaboration in misleading the youth into joining terrorist groups.

The UP Mindanao strongly repudiates the red-tagging of the institution, its student publication, and its alumnus for the malicious accusation and labelling on subversive involvement in the communist ideology.

Moreover, UP Mindanao neither promotes nor condones any recruitment activity by the outlawed communist party.

We request the public to refrain from spreading disinformation and false allegations that circulate online. The University administration warns such groups that publishing accusations without acceptable evidence or proof is a crime under multiple laws.

As an institution of higher learning, repository and producer of knowledge, and builder of communities, we firmly retain independence and autonomy against those perceived to be enemies of the state.

While we aim to protect one’s right to life, liberty and security from being associated with any communist front organization, this blanket act of red-tagging endangers our students, faculty and whole academic community as it maligns and imperils people for the lawful exercise of their freedom of expression.

In the prevailing context where some of the members of the UP community become the targets of harassment and threats, we in UP Mindanao stand to end the vicious practice of red-tagging.

We urge pertinent government agencies to address legitimate criticism of its policies, and take concrete steps to ensure the safety and protection of individuals from these unlawful acts of red-baiting and other similar acts.

February Events, 2021

Written by Rene Estremera on 05 February 2021. Posted in Madayaw News

13 February - "To 'V' or Not To 'V'?" Webinar on the COVID-19 vaccine. 13 February 2021, Saturday, 9 AM to 11 AM via Zoom and Facebook Live. Pre-register here: bit.ly/3tusvJI

19 February - UP Mindanao x Fulbright Philippines Virtual Roadshow, 19 February 2021, 9 AM to 11 AM. Registration link: https://up-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kf-mhrDMsG913JGWksnLSnRaVxEn_-YfL

19 February - Blood Donation Activity, 19 February 2021, 9 AM to 11 AM, at the CHSS, AVR, CHSS Building. Organized by the Health Services Section of the Office of Student Affairs, in coordination with the Philippine Red Cross – Davao Chapter, and in collaboration with the UP Madayaw Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and UP Mindanao College Red Cross Youth.

22 February - UP Mindanao 26th Anniversary Kick-off and Recognition Program. 22 February 2021, Monday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Zoom link to follow.

27 February - "Isang Libong Alumni Para Kay Oble, Isang Libong Kumustahan," 27 February 2021, Saturday, 7pm, via Zoom and FB Live. "Games, Raffles, Performances ng mga alumni. Masaya ito! Kitakits! Register here: http://bit.ly/upaad1k"

University Library Report

Written by Rene Estremera on 02 February 2021. Posted in Madayaw News

The University Library Accomplishments Report for 2020 RESIZE50

UP Mindanao joins PRO-11 COVID-19 lab blessing

Written by Rene Estremera on 23 January 2021. Posted in Madayaw News

UP Mindanao Chancellor Larry N. Digal and Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao Director Lyre Anni Murao witnessed the blessing of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-11 COVID-19 Testing Laboratory on 18 January 2021 in Davao City, in the company of Philippine National Police Chief General Debold Sinas and PRO-11 Director Brigadier General Filmore Escobal.
UP Mindanao, through the experts in PGC Mindanao, will train the lab personnel in biosafety and molecular diagnostics and prepare them for proficiency testing by the Department of Health−Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH-RITM). UP Mindanao will also assist in the development of a manual on standard of operations for the lab and provide consultancy services, if requested, for technical issues that may arise during the regular operations of the laboratory. These roles were set forth in the memorandum of agreement which UP Mindanao signed with the PRO-11 on 16 September 2020. 
In addition, the lab can be an extension laboratory of the UP Philippine Genome Center for research and development collaboration to study and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases in the Southern Philippines. The PRO-11 COVID-19 lab expands the network being built by UP Mindanao and PGC Mindanao for these purposes, which already includes COVID-19 labs in Tagum City and Davao de Oro Province.
UP Mindanao’s service offering to the PRO-11 lab is part of its Mindanao Health Initiatives which includes a medical education program, a center for infectious diseases, and a hospital in partnership with the Davao City local government unit. 
 

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