Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photos by Jericho Paolo L. Mabansag
The University of the Philippines Manila held the 4th Project Leaders’ Summit on September 3–4, 2026, bringing together project leaders, researchers, and staff for two days of lectures, discussions, workshops, and consultations on research leadership, project management, governance, and compliance. The summit aimed to equip Project Leaders with leadership, management, and strategic competencies needed to effectively implement research projects and maximize their scientific and societal impact. It also provided participants with opportunities for interactive learning through lectures, workshops, panel discussions, institutional consultations, and peer-learning activities.
The program covered research leadership and project management strategies, institutional policies and research governance, regulatory requirements, digital technologies in research operations, collaboration, and the translation of research outputs into policy, innovation, and community impact.
Dr. Janus Ong, Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, underscored the contribution of research to national development.
“When this country asks us what the national team Health Sciences Center has done for the health of the Filipino people, the answer is your work. It’s our work that drives and promotes the health of the Filipino people,” Dr. Ong said.
Strengthening and understanding of the research project life cycle
The first session, “Life Cycle of a Research Project and Roles of UP Manila Offices,” was led by Dr. Sheriah Llaine de Paz-Silava, Head of the Research Grants Administration Office (RGAO). The discussion covered the three major phases of a research project: pre-implementation, implementation, and post-implementation.
Dr. Ryan Lintao, Research Associate Professor at the National Institutes of Health, followed with a discussion on the roles and responsibilities of project leaders. The summit also addressed pre-implementation requirements, including memoranda of agreement, material transfer agreements, collaboration and other relevant documents, administrative overhead costs, project contract forms, deferment of implementation, contracts of service, and monthly accomplishment reports.
Connecting project leaders with research support offices
Representatives from key UP Manila offices provided guidance on requirements that project leaders encounter throughout the research process.
Dr. Cecilia Jimeno, Chair of the Research Ethics Board, discussed research ethics, while Dr. Ailyn Yabes, Chair of the Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee, addressed institutional biosafety and biosecurity. Dr. Rodel Jonathan Vitor, Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, discussed institutional animal care and use.
The program also featured sessions on intellectual property and publication assistance led by Prof. Lourdes Marie Tejero, Director of the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office, and Dr. Roland Dominic Jamora, Chair of the Publication Assistance Committee.
The discussions emphasized that project leaders need to understand not only the scientific aspects of their projects but also the administrative processes that govern research implementation.
Building capacity in financial and procurement management
The second day focused on financial and operational requirements. Accounting Office Chief Erwin Dando, Procurement Management Office Director Melody Jane Rojo, and Supply and Property Management Office Chief Vicky Galvan discussed research administration documentation, procurement processes, and supply and property management.
Participants then took part in a workshop on financial and procurement management, allowing them to apply the concepts and procedures discussed during the sessions.
The afternoon program shifted to the sustainability and completion of research projects. Dr. Emerito Jose Faraon, Director of the Research Management and Translation Office, discussed “Beyond the Research Grant: What Lies Ahead?” while Jeanelyn Donghit of RGAO-Fund Administration Management Unit (FAMU) discussed post-implementation obligations.
Emphasizing project completion and accountability
The summit highlighted that a research project does not end when its implementation activities are completed. Project leaders must also fulfill technical, financial, documentary, and property-related requirements to complete the project and secure the necessary clearance or certificate of completion. The sessions emphasized the importance of understanding government rules and institutional procedures, particularly for projects supported by public funds.
Through the two-day activity, UP Manila strengthened its support for Project Leaders by bringing together offices involved in research administration, ethics, biosafety, intellectual property, publication, accounting, procurement, property management, and research translation. The summit provided a venue for researchers to better understand institutional processes and develop strategies for managing research projects from proposal development through implementation and completion.
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