By the Frontlines: Mitigating the Impact of Covid-19 with Science-Based Approaches

(by Ma. Alicia Soledad A. Salazar of DOST VI) 

One dictionary defines frontliner as a person or thing who operates in an advanced, exposed, or conspicuous position.  If that is the case, then we at DOST VI may also be considered as “frontliners” since technically speaking, we work at the forefront for the advancement of science, technology, and innovation in Western Visayas.  But unlike other frontliners for COVID-19, we often work in an inconspicuous  environment because primarily, our task is to recognize the threat posed by this disease towards public health.  Furthermore, we at DOST VI work rigidly in order to respond to the call to mobilize all government resources in the battle against this health crisis.  This is the call by which our colleague, Ryan Vilmor Dumpit, has responded to. 

Amidst the threat of the CoVID-19 virus which placed Iloilo City on a lockdown starting March 20, 2020, Ryan bravely attended meetings with other frontliners and RIATF member agencies.  He introduced the DOST initiatives such as FASSSTER, TanodCOVID, and the S-PaSS to the Task Force in order to address the immediate concerns of various sectors in the society. FASSSTER is a disease monitoring and predictive modelling tool while TanodCOVID is an adjunct system that can be used for symptoms monitoring, reporting, and contact tracing.  On the otherhand, S-PaSS is a Travel Management System developed by Ryan himself and his team.  It is intended to assist LSIs, ROFs, and emergency travelers during this pandemic.  Because of his efforts, all the information systems he introduced were endorsed by the RIATF for adoption by LGUs in Western Visayas.  At present, Ryan is part of the team who actively works on the promotion of S-PaSS local mobility monitoring system which can be used by agencies/offices as a digital option in lieu of the manual submission of information.  Relentless and selfless as he is, Ryan also volunteered to help in the production of 1,220 pieces of improvised face shields which were distributed to the frontline health workers.

So yes, frontliners aren’t just those we see working out in the open.  Many of them selflessly work behind us, beside us, amongst us. But as for Ryan, and DOST VI, we take pride in our work regardless of whether it’s in the frontline, by the sidelines, or by the headlines.

(RYAN VILMOR J. DUMPIT is a Science Research Specialist II for the Department of Science and Technology VI)