Not 2, but 5 young scientists to represent PHL at Novartis BioCamp

For the first time in eight years, the Philippines will send five students instead of two to the three-day Novartis International BioCamp seminar in Basel, Switzerland this August.

Novartis will sponsor two of them while the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Health (DOH) will sponsor the other three.

The five chosen are:

• Arjelle Agupitan and Alvin Bello - graduates from the University of the Philippines with degrees in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology;
• Jortan Tun - a graduate student at the UP Marine Science Institute;
• Kin Israel Notarte - a Siliman University graduate working on a masters degree in microbiology at the University of Sto. Tomas; and
• Gerald Ryan Aquino - a research associate at the Molecular Toxicology Research Laboratory of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.

All students completed their undergraduate degrees with latin honors (either Cum Laude or Magna Cum Laude).

"We couldn't decide who among you will be going because we wanted all of you to go. We had a long time discussing and debating about it," said Jaime C. Montoya, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, addressing the five shortlisted candidates during the Local Novartis Biocamp workshop on Saturday.

He continued, "[Health Secretary Enrique] Ona and [Environment Secretary Mario] Montejo wanted me to make this announcement: All of you will be going to Basel, Switzerland!" The statement spurred cheers from the five shortlisted candidates.

In an interview with GMA News Online at the sidelines of the event, Montoya said that DOST and DOH will jointly spend at least half a million pesos for each of the three candidates they are sponsoring.

The Novartis International Biotechnology Leadership Camp (BioCamp) is a three-day seminar held at the Novartis International Headquarters in Basel. This year, 60 students from around the world will arrive at the camp on August 24. The program starts on August 25 and ends on August 27.

According to the Novartis website, the at the Biocamp the students will be able to interact with key Novartis scientists, receive first-hand experience about starting and running a biotech company, and explore career opportunities in the healthcare and biotech industries.

"They will be trained not only in science, but also in entrepreneurship," Montoya told GMA News Online.

"It's only this year that the secretaries decided to pitch in and sponsor the other three. And the reason for this is they saw the potential of these post-graduate students—of exposing them to a biotech camp. If you see it as a return of investment, [they are] worth it," said Novartis Healthcare Philippines' chief scientific officer Dr. Francis M. Domingo in a separate interview with GMA News Online.

However, Domingo said that there are logistical processes that still have to be done by Novartis' local arm given the unprecedented decision of the two government departments.

"It's only an additional three, but we're do our best," Domingo said. "I think it will work out kasi nakakahiya naman sa mga secretary." — BM, GMA News