The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) conducted the 37th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) preparatory conference on June 11, 2015, at Hotel Jen Manila.
The pre-conference integrated the results of the pre-ASM roundtable discussions and discussed the draft resolutions that will be presented on July 9, 2015, the second day of the ASM. The activity was hosted by the Health Sciences Division (HSD) and the 37th ASM Resolutions Committee, chaired by Academician (Acd.) Jaime C. Montoya and Acd. Antonio Miguel L. Dans, respectively.
Prior to this conference, NAST PHL conducted a series of pre-ASM roundtable discussions on the roles of the agricultural, social, biological, mathematical and physical, health,and engineering sciences in the control and prevention of NCDs.
Acd. Montoya gave the objectives of the pre-conference and overview of the 37th ASM. Acd. Dans presented and discussed the draft resolutions.
According to Acd. Dans, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) happen “everyday, everytime, and everywhere”. He dispelled common misconceptions about NCDs; among these are that NCDs are “diseases of the rich” and that “lifestyle is a choice”. He presented the results of several studies about the prevalence of NCDs and showed that more poor people suffer from NCDs. He also said that behavior is not exactly a choice, rather an adaptation on the world we live in. Acd. Dans added that education alone does not work in prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. According to him, knowledge about a healthy lifestyle is universal, but the practice is limited.
Dr. Jaine C. Reyes, associate professor at the College of Public Affairs of University of the Philippines Los Baños, gave a synthesis of the discussions. Dr. John Mark S. Velasco, Outstanding Young Scientist 2014 and deputy head and research coordinator of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, served as the moderator of the activity.