Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photos by Erlyn May U. Pareja
“We need timely liquidation from project leaders to facilitate the release of new funds, as delayed reporting often impacts funding schedules and completion timelines.”
Ms. Armelia K. Rozo, Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, through its Research Grants Administration Office (RGAO), hosted its second Project Leaders’ Summit on 28 and 29 October 2024 at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall of the UP College of Medicine, bringing together researchers, administrative staff, and financial experts in discussing best practices and sharing challenges in research project implementation. The summit underscored UP Manila’s commitment to strengthening its research capacity by providing researchers with the tools and knowledge essential for fulfilling their roles effective, and update and equip research project leaders and teams with the essential skills in conducting operations, procurement processes, financial compliance, reporting, project management, authorship, publication, and intellectual property. Projects-specific topics related to the financial advisers and solicitors were also considered by the researchers.
Dr. Emerito Jose A. Faraon, RGAO Director, began the proceedings by stating their scope of work. “Our work as the Research Grants Administration Office is to act as a bridge between project teams and funders. However, persistent challenges in project management, such as delays in document processing, show that there is always room for improvement.”
Day 1: Guidelines, Compliance, and Financial Management
The day’s agenda featured several insightful sessions covering critical aspects of project management, such as grant guidelines, project roles, legal and administrative compliance, and financial procedures.
Dr. Johanna Patricia D. Adevoso-Cañal, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, highlighted the importance of UP Manila’s adherence to Republic Act 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act. This adherence is crucial to ensure the proper and ethical use of government funds, particularly in research, where funding is sourced from public funds.
Ms. Armelia K. Rozo of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shared insights on DOST’s role in research funding, particularly in supporting projects with sustainable economic and social impacts, noting that the DOST processes around ₱8 billion in research grants annually to Higher Education Institutions. “We need timely liquidation from project leaders to facilitate the release of new funds, as delayed reporting often impacts funding schedules and completion timelines.”
Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz, Executive Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), discussed UP Manila’s internal grants available for faculty and research, extension, and professional staff (REPS) and students. She encouraged the participants to avail these grants and outlined priority research topics aligned with the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA).
Dr. Faraon outlined project roles, responsibilities, and effective implementation strategies. RGAO staff members Ms. Patricia Joy Enaje, Ms. Sophia Dela Cruz, Mr. Marc Ian Belitor, and Ms. Robelyn Barlizo detailed pre-implementation research procedures, while Ms. Angelica Gotoman and Ms. Edelyn Ibe addressed post-implementation responsibilities, including the Final Financial Report and technical report archiving.
Pre-implementation procedures and financial policies were discussed by legal and accounting experts. Atty. Vincit Immanuel Tagoc, University Legal Counsel, highlighted essential legal documents and compliance, and Mr. Erwin Dando, Chief of Accounting, discussed research administration documentation.
Ms. Melody Jane Rojo, Director of the Procurement Management Office, and Raven Christine Estabillo, RGAO-Procurement Unit Head, provided an overview of key procurement processes.
Day 2: Advanced Workshops and Quality Assurance
A financial and procurement management workshop led by the RGAO provided practical insights for project leaders to streamline their financial workflows and procurement activities. The plenary session, conducted by Ms. Robelyn Barlizo and Ms. Maria Lourdes Hipolito from RGAO, featured strategies for effective project management.
The afternoon sessions covered a range of topics, including research ethics, publication assistance, and intellectual property. Dr. Jacinto Blas V. Mantaring III, Chair of the Research Ethics Board, provided an overview of ethical considerations, followed by Dr. Jean Anne B. Toral, Director of the Office of Research Integrity.
Dr. Roland Dominic G. Jamora, Chair of the Publication Assistance Committee, discussed support mechanisms for research publication. Additionally, Lourdes Marie S. Tejero, Director of the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office, addressed the legal aspects of intellectual property.
Prof. Emely D. Dicolen of the National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions (NTTCHP), concluded the summit with a session on ISO quality assurance, emphasizing the importance of quality management systems and operational procedures.
The 2nd Project Leaders’ Summit marked another step forward for UP Manila in creating a more robust, financially accountable research culture. By offering tools and knowledge to enhance project efficiency, UP Manila reaffirms its commitment to strengthen impactful, ethical, and nationally relevant research that directly addresses the health and development needs of the country. #
