Western Visayas representative Dr. Christian Earvin Bondoc emerged as victor in the recent 3-minute pitch to policymakers (3MP) competition held last 13 August 2024 in Butuan City, besting 11 other competitors from different regions.

Explaining how cardiovascular diseases affect 1 in 6 Filipinos and account roughly for 35% of premature or early deaths in the country, he stressed the urgent need to act against CVDs, especially at the grassroots level. 

In his pitch, Dr. Bondoc shared the results of his study entitled: “Risk Assessment for Cardiovascular Disease among adult individuals in Igbaras, Iloilo: A cross-sectional study,” which surveyed 500 individuals across 46 barangays in the municipality of Igbaras. In this study, he found that almost half of those surveyed had intermediate to high-risk CVD development. 

While the threat of CVDs is apparent, Dr. Bondoc lamented at how screening processes remain “passive and opportunistic.” He stressed that the implementation of the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law entails that all Filipinos should be protected from risks that could affect their health, which includes CVDs. 

To battle the threat of CVDs, Dr. Bondoc pitched three (3) recommendations, namely: 1) to institutionalize a regular schedule for CVD assessment in barangays; 2) to recruit and train community volunteers to augment the already burdened barangay workers, and 3) to provide logistics for risk screening across the community. He also elaborated how the strategy can be further enhanced by “monitoring those who are already known to be hypertensive and diabetic, and by strengthening the smoking cessation program in our municipality.”

“Addressing the national burden of CVD requires actions from the grassroots,” Dr. Bondoc said. “Now, if we’re able to impact one community at a time, in time, we will see a healthier Philippines,” he added.

Other winners from the competition are Dr. Allan Jay Espiritu for second place, Ms. Debbie Gail Mangadlao for third place, and Dr. Charina Cicon for the People’s Choice Award.

The annual 3MP serves as a platform to demonstrate researchers’ presentation and communication skills, as well as champion their causes to policymakers through a competition. In three minutes, participants are tasked to present the health problem and their corresponding proposed solution and offer a call-to-action in front of a non-specialist audience.

“At the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), we firmly believe that the true value of health research lies in its utilization,” DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya said. “By translating research findings into strategies, technologies, policies, and interventions, we can improve the lives of Filipinos and make meaningful progress in public health,” he added.