September 30, 2019 — President Rodrigo Duterte conferred the prestigious Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award on Dr. Raul Destura for his contributions to health and medical biotechnology, especially in diagnostics development, during the awards rites held on 10 September 2019 in Malacañang.
Dr. Destura, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Training Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity and former director of the NIH Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, was recognized for his work on the early detection of dengue with his invention called the Biotek-M Dengue Aqua Kit, a device that can diagnose dengue within an hour at a more affordable cost and with 95% sensitivity and accuracy.
The kit is capable of detecting the infection within an hour from extraction, thus, it is seen to ultimately lessen the number of hospital admissions and lower health expenses, especially for the marginalized sectors of the community.
The study got funding support from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development and led to the setting up of its first spin-off company called Manila HealthTek.
The DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) awarded the Gawad DAGISIK or Dakilang Ambag sa Imbensiyon at Siyensiyang Pang-Kalusugan also to Dr. Destura’s Biotek-M during its 32nd anniversary celebration on January 25, 2019.
The same device was recognized by the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (Salon International Des Inventions Geneve) with a gold medal in Geneva, Switzerland in April 2018.
The Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award is given by the Civil Service Commission to outstanding civil servants for their exceptional or extraordinary contributions coming from an idea or performance with nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony, either in the form of a suggestion, an innovation, or a superior accomplishment.
