UP STS scientists assess the effectiveness of the Philippines’ COVID-19 government policies

UP STS scientists assess the effectiveness of the Philippines’ COVID-19 government policies

Published: December 13, 2023

By: Harvey L. Sapigao

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred governments worldwide to respond with containment policies, with the Philippines having one of the longest and most stringent COVID-19 policies in the world. How effective were these policies in containing the pandemic and providing social and economic support to citizens? This is the question UP Diliman College of Science’s Science, Technology and Society (UPD-CS STS) researchers ventured to answer.

A novel, multidisciplinary approach


STS scientists and faculty members Prof. Benjamin Vallejo Jr, Dr. Rodrigo Angelo Ong and Asst. Prof. Ranjit Singh Rye found a new interdisciplinary approach to the problem: “We just adopted statistical methods commonly used in marine behavioral ecology. After all, government policy response is a set of behaviors that can be standardized and compared with each other. The most significant behavioral responses can be statistically modeled,” Vallejo said.


“Furthermore, a multidisciplinary perspective allows for a better contextualization of how effective the policies are,” he added.


Using standardized policy response measures collated by the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker project (OxCGRT), they assessed the effectiveness of the Philippine response from 2020 to 2022. The OxCGRT includes daily policy response and implementation data from 180 World Health Organization (WHO)-member states,  from 1 Jan 2020 to 31 Dec 2022.


The STS scientists were able to determine that stringent pandemic policies—including lockdowns, quarantines, stay-at-home ordinances, and travel restrictions—were effective in containing the pandemic within the first 60 days. These are all dependent on law enforcement and a securitized approach. 


Effectivity of lockdowns and vaccinations


Complete lockdowns negatively affected the economy, so there was a gradual and phased relaxing of policies beginning in May 2020. It was during the relaxing of lockdowns with limited mobility starting with essential personnel that the shortcomings of the government’s response became apparent. With lockdowns being phased out, contact tracing and testing became more necessary to immediately contain clusters of infections. The government was least effective in these efforts.

The policy analysis also revealed that the government’s vaccination rollout and prioritization, although with logistical difficulties at the start, was effective in reducing infections in the health workers sector and thus ensuring the delivery of health services The health workers received the vaccine in a shorter timeframe than the rest of the population beginning March 2021. Overall, it can be said that vaccination caused a more positive outcome in the pandemic. 


It was also found that the continuation of travel health checks—such as requiring proof of vaccination, COVID-19 rtPCR tests, and, later, antigen tests—had a low odds ratio to the rate of COVID-19 case increase. This simply means that these requirements lessened the risk of spread of infections across provincial and international borders.


Mask wearing and social distancing


Non-pharmaceutical interventions such as mask-wearing and social distancing, while significantly effective at the local level, were not significantly effective at the national level. The reason is likely related to the differing levels of citizen compliance in communities. Implementation was with the local governments and reflects on political and governance realities. Politicians who implement restrictions without their constituents being consulted and convinced of the necessity of restrictions are likely to lose votes in the next election. In a democracy, citizen engagement with governments remains essential in responding to a crisis such as a pandemic while protecting civil rights according to law. Citizen participation is a central idea in STS in government.


The key role of STS in policy analysis


The UP STS scientists’ work demonstrates that STS approaches to science-informed policy analysis can objectively assess the strengths and weaknesses of government policy. The scientists hope that their study will make policy and governance more effective especially in crises.


Prof. Vallejo is a marine biologist with the UPD-CS Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology; Dr. Ong, a physician, is a professorial lecturer with the Science and Society Program; and Asst. Prof. Rye is with the Department of Political Science of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman. Prof. Vallejo and Dr. Ong also trained under the International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA) in Malaysia on science advice and policy analysis.


Reference:
Vallejo B, Ong RAC , Rye, RS (2023) An Assessment of the Philippines government’s Response to the COVID-19 pandemic based on policy response indices. SciEngg 16 (2) 426-436

UP researchers caution against parasites in raw vegetables, seafood

UP researchers caution against parasites in raw vegetables, seafood

Published: December 7, 2023

By: Harvey L. Sapigao

Scientists from the University of the Philippines (UP) are gently reminding the public to thoroughly wash and cook their market-bought fresh produce and seafood as a precautionary measure against parasites.

Toxoplasma gondii parasites (Photo credit: CDC-DPDx; see reference below)

The parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, called Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is one of the most infectious parasites in the world: it affects almost a third of the world’s population, most especially vulnerable groups such as the pregnant and immunocompromised. While most people infected with the disease do not present any symptoms, some may suffer flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and muscle aches. But in severe cases, toxoplasmosis can cause inflammation of the brain and blurry vision. Infected parents’ newborn infants may suffer from excessive fluid in the brain and developmental issues. Fortunately, treatments are available for toxoplasmosis, hence symptomatic individuals are advised to seek timely medical attention.

 

Cielo Emar M. Paraoan, Ren Mark D. Villanueva, and Marie Christine M. Obusan of the UP Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Biology (UPD-CS IB) found that T. gondii is fairly common in vegetables and oysters that they sampled from local markets in Central Luzon. Among the vegetables tested were lettuce, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, and mung bean sprouts. 

 

Six out of sixty (10%) collected vegetable samples contained traces of T. gondii, with leafy vegetables found to be more contaminated than root vegetables. Similarly, for oysters, 9.09%  or four out of 44 samples were also contaminated. The researchers noted that the T. gondii traces found on both vegetables and oysters are of Type I genotype. The researchers aim to investigate further the genotypes of T. gondii that will be detected in the country, as Asia is reported to have a high degree of genetic diversity.

 

The study provides evidence that T. gondii may  be transmitted through vegetables and oysters that are being sold in supermarkets and public markets. However, the researchers noted that they only tested a small sample size, and more studies with bigger sample sizes must be conducted. At present, they have an ongoing study that detects the parasite  in environmental samples.

 

The study also underscores the importance of adequately preparing fresh produce and seafood to eliminate not just T. gondii but also other parasites that may be present. The authors also emphasized the need for better management of biological pollutants. 

 

“The most sustainable approach for reducing the risk of T. gondii exposure through the consumption of seafood should focus on reducing T. gondii contamination at its source, as well as mitigating the flow of contaminated runoff to water bodies,” the authors said in their paper, published in the October 2023 issue of the Philippine Journal of Science.

 

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph

 

References:

Paraoan CE et al. 2023. Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Ready-to-eat Vegetables and Oysters in Central Luzon, Philippines. Philipp J Sci 152(5): 1989–1998. https://doi.org/10.56899/152.05.36


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, June 9). CDC – toxoplasmosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/index.html

 

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022, November 3). Toxoplasmosis. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/toxoplasmosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20356249

UP physicists improve PHL’s disaster response with network science

UP physicists improve PHL’s disaster response with network science

Published: December 6, 2023

By: Harvey L. Sapigao

UP scientists are bringing an almost 300-year-old math discipline to life-saving relevance in the 21st Century, paving the way for better and more efficient relief operations in response to typhoons.

A model of Visayas’ transport network system, showing connections between major roads (red lines), sea routes (blue lines), seaports (blue dots), and food hubs (green icons). (Photo credit: Peralta JCA et al. 2023. Transport Network Efficiency during Typhoon Relief Operations. Philipp J Sci 152(S1): p. 188. )

First formally described in the early 1700s by the Swiss mathematician and physicist Leonhard Euler, the discipline now known as “network science” was earlier applied to the question of whether or not it was possible to walk through the European city of Königsberg by crossing all of its bridges only once—a math puzzle known as “The Seven Bridges of Königsberg”. 

 

Using network science for disaster relief

 

Now, as UP scientists have shown, this powerful branch of mathematics can be used to improve disaster relief efforts after a typhoon. In network science, lines that connect two points are called edges, while the points at which the lines intersect are called nodes. Together, edges and nodes make up a graph, which can be applied to a variety of modeling applications including disaster relief.

 

Dr. May T. Lim and Dr. Reinabelle C. Reyes of the UP Diliman National Institute of Physics (UP-CS NIP), with independent researcher JC Albert C. Peralta, used these concepts to model transport networks: by representing roads and sea routes as edges and the intersections between roads and sea ports as nodes, they were able to calculate the best ways to distribute relief goods. 

 

To simulate how relief operations move through different towns and districts, the researchers first pinpointed the regional food hubs from where relief packages are first received. They then simulated the relief packages moving outwards from these hubs to the edges and nodes, like water flowing through a network of pipes.  As part of their model, they also assigned each edge with a travel time, or the time it takes for a vehicle to traverse the road segment or sea route. This allowed them to calculate how long it would take for relief to reach different destinations.

 

Visayas: Proof of concept

 

The researchers tested their model on the Visayas region using geographic data from Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, and other publicly-accessible sources. Their model showed that Region 8, particularly in Northern and Eastern Samar, is the most vulnerable to relief delivery delays, taking as much as 12 hours for relief packages to arrive from the food hubs to these districts.

Relief delivery delays in Visayas transport network system when no connections are damaged. Region 8 is the most vulnerable to delays. (Photo credit: JCA. C. Peralta)

The researchers then simulated how typhoon damages affect relief operations, by randomly removing nodes to mimic impassable roads. Their simulation of the Visayas transport network revealed the extent of its vulnerability. Using the path of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) as example, when even just 1% of the total nodes became inaccessible, 30 out of 251 towns became disconnected from the main network. More worryingly, almost all towns in the region became inaccessible when only just 5% of all nodes were shut down.

 

“We emphasize the need for a more decentralized and proactive form of relief logistics such as prepositioning relief goods, especially in or nearer to towns most vulnerable to disconnection,” the researchers cautioned.

 

Nationwide applicability

 

Although the model was only tested on the Visayas transport network system, the researchers underscored its potential application to all network systems in the Philippines. To showcase this usefulness, they made a prototype app that offers a user-friendly approach for the public. Currently, only the Visayas network system is available, but more transport networks are expected to be available as more data is brought into the model. They also said that the model’s accuracy and usefulness could be improved by using data based on actual rather than hypothetical damage.

 

The UP physicists’ work demonstrates how network science can aid in disaster response and preparedness. “It is our hope that policymakers will harness this potential for informed decision-making, strategic cost-benefit analysis for infrastructure investments, and effective data-driven transportation planning to enhance resilience in the face of future disasters,” the researchers concluded.

 

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph

 

References:

Peralta JCA. C. et al. 2023. Transport Network Efficiency during Typhoon Relief Operations. Philipp J Sci 152(S1): 185–195.

Pinoy inventor investigates abaca spacesuits and other nanotech innovations

Pinoy inventor investigates abaca spacesuits and other nanotech innovations

Published: November 20, 2023

By: Harvey L. Sapigao

Nanotechnology is a bustling field that opens the door to innovation across a wide variety of industries, from fashion and clothing to health and wellness. With this in mind, Dr. Gil Nonato Santos launched the iNano Research Facility in 2006.

 

iNano aims to provide nanotech-related services to academic institutions and industries, from manufacturing nanoparticles to nano-coating materials. Its diverse range of projects includes an abaca fabric coated with nanocomposites that can be used for spacesuits. Another project is focused on detecting lung diseases such as active tuberculosis, which affects 10 million people worldwide.

Dr. Gil Nonato Santos, head of DLSU’s iNano Research Facility, demonstrates a cost-effective tuberculosis test that uses nanotechnology to detect telltale compounds in a patient’s breath. (Photo credit: Dr. Gil Nonato Santos)

Dr. Santos  received his doctorate from the University of the Philippines – Diliman National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP). He is currently a full professor at De La Salle University – Laguna (DLSU-Laguna) and a visiting professor at Osaka University.

 

Based out of DLSU-Laguna, iNano has collaborations with institutions and companies across the globe, including a prestigious partnership with Integrated Microelectronics Inc. (IMI), a global company that manufactures electronics and semiconductor supplies, and support from USAID. iNano also has collaborations with the Lung Center of the Philippines and National Taiwan University.

 

More of iNano’s achievements and goals will be discussed by Dr. Santos at the next iStories session on Monday, November 20, at 4:00 PM. He will give his talk at the CS Admin Auditorium and will also be live streamed on Zoom. To join, you may register through this link: https://bit.ly/iStories6 

 

iStories is a series of monthly innovation-themed talks, storytelling, and activities featuring local and international scientists. The initiative aims to ignite the creativity and inventiveness of young scientists not just from UPD-CS but also from other institutes inside and outside of UP.

 

For inquiries about iStories, please message adride_staff@science.upd.edu.ph 

 

For interview requests and other media concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph

UP geologists sweep 2023 PRC Licensure Exam

UP geologists sweep 2023 PRC Licensure Exam

Published: November 17, 2023

By: Harvey L. Sapigao

All ten topnotchers of the Philippine Regulation Commission’s (PRC’s) recently-conducted annual Geologists Licensure Exam are from the UP Diliman College of Science National Institute of Geological Sciences (UPD-CS NIGS).

UPD-CS NIGS was also the overall top-performing school, with 48 of 52 examinees having passed the licensure exam—a passing rate of 92.31% for the Institute. In comparison, the total passing rate for all 351 examinees from across the country was 47.01%.


The PRC Geologists Licensure Exam was computer-based, and held online from November 13 to 15, 2023.


Pursuant to Republic Act 10166, also known as the Geology Profession Act of 2012, the PRC Geology Licensure is a requirement for any individual who wants to practice geology as a profession in the Philippines.

 

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph.

UP scientist’s novel tech empowers rural fisherfolk

UP scientist’s novel tech empowers rural fisherfolk

Published: November 9, 2023

By: Timothy James M. Dimacali

Innovative data-driven technologies are empowering Filipino coastal communities by enabling them to make better informed decisions on when and how to utilize marine resources. 

 

An advocate of sustainable fishing practices, Dr. Aletta Concepcion T. Yñiguez of the UP Diliman College of Science’s Marine Science Institute (UPD-CS MSI) has been working closely with small-scale fishers and government agencies to help rural fisherfolk with technologies developed by UP scientists.

Dr. Yñiguez holds a SensPak tube, developed in collaboration with the National Institute of Physics, off the coast of Bolinao in June 2021. Once lowered in the water, such devices can help scientists and fisherfolk monitor the health of the marine environment almost in real time. (Photo credit: UPD-CS MSI DOST HABHazard Program)

Yñiguez collaborated closely with an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the UP Diliman College of Science’s National Institute of Physics (NIP), led by Dr. Giovanni Tapang,  to create compact sensor arrays that fit neatly into an ordinary PVC tube. Dubbed SensPak, the devices can monitor environmental conditions and send this valuable data in real time to scientists, fisherfolk, and decision makers for assessment and action.

 

She and her fellow MSI researchers also created ARAICoBeH (A Rapid Assessment Instrument for Coastal Benthic Habitats), an inexpensive tool for taking underwater photos of endangered areas such as coral reefs without needing to dive. She also spearheaded HABHub (Harmful Algal Bloom Hub), an online platform that facilitates the detection and reporting of algal blooms, which could threaten both the lives and livelihoods of affected fisherfolk. 

 

HABHub utilizes robust early-warning systems that allow for more proactive mitigation and enhanced understanding of HAB phenomena. HABHub also makes use of the Automated Water Quality Monitoring System (AWQMS) developed by the MSI’s Dr. Cesar Villanoy, Dr. Charina Amedo-Repollo, and Rachel Francisco, which continually looks at the temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and amount of chlorophyll in the water.

 

These and other innovations and insights from Dr. Yñiguez were the focus of a recent iStories webinar, hosted by the UPD-CS. 

 

“To ensure the sustainable utilization and management of ocean resources, it is critical that observational, monitoring and decision-support tools are in place to provide concrete, science-based information and management. But the technologies, tools and capacity for these are sorely lacking,” Dr. Yñiguez said at the event. 

 

“Our present efforts help bridge this gap through interdisciplinary collaborations to develop cost-effective sensors that automate ocean observation, building ocean data repositories and models for understanding, forecasting and decision-support,” she added.

 

For her work, Dr. Yñiguez was bestowed The Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service (TOWNS) award in 2022. Given by the TOWNS Foundation, Inc., the prestigious award honors Filipinas 21 to 45 years old who have contributed greatly to Philippine society in their chosen fields.

 

iStories is a series of monthly innovation-themed talks, storytelling, and activities featuring local and international scientists. The initiative aims to ignite the creativity and inventiveness of young scientists not just from UPD-CS but also from other institutes inside and outside of UP.

 

For inquiries about iStories, please message adride_staff@science.upd.edu.ph 

 

For interview requests and other media concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph  

4th Graduate Student Research Conference

4th Graduate Student Research Conference

Save the Date! 

Join us at the 4th Graduate Student Research Conference on November 13, 2023, at the CS Admin Building Auditorium! 

Get ready to be inspired by the innovative research and groundbreaking ideas of our talented graduate students!

UPD-CS celebrates 40 years with Science Film Festival in partnership with Goethe Institut

UPD-CS celebrates 40 years with Science Film Festival in partnership with Goethe Institut

Published: October 24, 2023

By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

In celebration of its 40th Anniversary, the UP Diliman College of Science in partnership with the Goethe-Institut is providing free university and public screenings of the Philippine Science Film Festival Philippines 2023.

 

The two days of screenings (see schedule below) will kick off on the College’s Anniversary on Thursday, October 26, and will be held at the UPD-CS Institute of Biology Auditorium at the National Science Complex, UP Diliman. Students and members of the public are free to attend but may be asked to show a valid university or government ID for security purposes.

 

Founded in 1983, the UP Diliman College of Science is the country’s premier generator of new scientific knowledge and the leading producer of PhD and MS graduates in the basic and applied sciences and mathematics. In 2023 alone, the College graduated 19 PhDs, the most in its four-decade history.

 

The Science Film Festival Philippines, now in its 14th year, will be held from October 25 to December 01, 2023. Celebrated as one of the biggest and longest-running science events in the Philippines, the festival offers a roster of 34 science-related films in support of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

FILM SCHEDULES

 

DAY 1 (October 26, Thursday)

 

Short Film Entries

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Ranging in length from 6 minutes to 10 minutes, these brief documentaries cover a range of topics from “The Forgotten Forest” to “Redesigning the Wheel”. 

 

Powering Puerto Rico

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

This is a film about a Northeastern University professor’s innovative solution to provide affordable renewable power to Puerto Rico using reconditioned hybrid car batteries after Hurricane Maria left millions without electricity.

 

A League of Extraordinary Makers: Rise of the Makers

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

A documentary exploring the rise of the Maker Movement, highlighting individuals who create, innovate, and hack a wide range of products and technologies, from everyday items to groundbreaking innovations, as they become the heroes of this movement.

 

Kelp – South Africa’s Golden Forests | The Last Seed

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

“Kelp” explores the hidden beauty and importance of the Great African Seaforest on South Africa’s Western coastline, emphasizing its contributions to livelihoods, conservation, and cultural heritage while advocating for its sustainable management in the face of climate change.

 

“The Last Seed” is a close-up look at the challenges facing food and agriculture in 21st-century Africa, with a central focus on the control of seeds, while raising questions about lost values and the search for sustainable solutions, using music, dance, visuals, and the experiences of small-scale food producers and experts.

 

DAY 2 (October 27, Friday)

 

Short Film Entries

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Ranging in length from 6 minutes to 10 minutes, these brief documentaries cover a range of topics from “The Forgotten Forest” to “Redesigning the Wheel”.

 

Duty of Care – The Climate Trials

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Lawyer Roger Cox’s pioneering legal actions against the Dutch government and Shell resulted in landmark climate rulings that sparked a global wave of climate cases, with a cast of characters and experts exploring the principles of justice in addressing humanity’s greatest climate challenge.

 

Gardening Marine Forests: A Hands-on Approach to Restoration | Wild Hope – Coffee for Water

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

In “Gardening Marine Forests,” two marine scientists explore how a hands-on approach to marine restoration is reviving kelp forests in South Korea by emphasizing the deep connection between people and the ocean, showcasing inspiring examples of community involvement and sustainable practices.

 

“Coffee for Water” showcases the inspiring change-makers who are actively restoring and safeguarding the environment. With a focus on growing coffee to preserve Mozambican rainforests, this film emphasizes the power of local actions and offers a hopeful perspective.

 

Forest Partners

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

This documentary explores the symbiotic relationship between public and private organizations, local communities, and tropical forests, showcasing innovative solutions that blend technology and traditional knowledge to protect and sustainably manage these landscapes, with a focus on success stories from South America, Africa, and Asia.


For further inquiries, please message media@science.upd.edu.ph