The Eastern Visayas Health and Research Development Consortium (EVHRDC) conducted its 1st Quarter Executive Committee and Committee Chairs Meeting on January 8, 2024, at Hotel Alejandro, Tacloban City where it was attended by the Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology Region VIII, Engr. Ernesto M. Granada.
Aside from the presence of the EVHRDC Secretariat with its Consortium Director and Coordinator, Dr. Lucia P. Dauz and Jean Gay O. Ragub, respectively, the committees have also been well-represented. The Regional Director of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region VIII, and Executive Committee member, Meylene C. Rosales has temporarily presided over the meeting wherein the agenda being highlighted is the approval of the CY 2024 Work and Financial Plan (WFP), and the presentation of the created Philippine National Health Research (PNHRS) Survey Tool for easy consolidation of its data.
Moreover, as part of the program, the EVHRDC hosted a tribute to its Co-chairperson, Engr. Ernesto M. Granada's retirement from DOST VIII takes effect on January 15, 2024. Each member expressed their gratitude and well-wishes to RD Granada in person and on recorded videos. The EVHRDC EXECOM Chairperson and Department of Health (DOH) Region VIII Director Dr. Exuperia B. Sabalberino gave her message thru video recording while those who gave their messages in person were the acting presiding officer herself, Meylene C. Rosales first which was followed by then VSU President, Edgardo E. Tulin, wherein like everyone in the room, they both congratulated him for now having more time to travel, sleep, read, and focus more on his health and family. They have also given him tokens which made him known as someone fond of reading.
RD Granada is known for his calm and applauding accomplishments with all his various projects as the Regional Director of DOST 8 for about four (4) years. His involvement in EVHRDC started when he was still the DOST8 ARD for Technical Operations and was designated as a member of the Ethics Review Committee (ERC) of the consortium from 2015 until 2017.
In 2017, RD Granada was appointed by the EVHRDC EXECOM as the Consortium Director until his appointment as Director IV and DOST-8 Regional Director on March 9, 2020, on which date he also assumed as the EVHRDC Co-Chairperson. His former staff at the Office of the Regional Director, Jean Gay O. Ragub, who is now the coordinator of the EVHRDC, has highlighted her approach to work as something she has emulated from RD Granada who has been accordingly a meticulous and hard-working leader.
RD Granada has also expressed his gratitude to everyone for hosting a tribute for him. He shared how he has supposedly been retiring as early as September 2023 due to health issues but has extended after the gradual improvement in health conditions and work demands, making him reach the month of his official retirement date instead.
The DOST 8 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations, Ms. Marilyn O. Radam, and Supervising Science Research Specialist, Dr. Ramil T. Uy also attended the said meeting. Their presence gave room for RD Granada to announce the changes in DOST VIII administration following the Special Order No. 005, series of 2024 released by the office designating ARD-TO, Marilyn O. Radam as the DOST VIII OIC Regional Director for the period January 15, 2024 to March 15, 2024. Afterward, the Assistant Regional Director for Finance Administrative Section (ARD-FAS), Dr. Rufino E. Mengote will take over the position for the period of March 16, 2024, to May 15, 2024, and after his term, Dr. John Glenn D. Ocaña, the Provincial Science and Technology Director (PSTD) in the Province of Leyte will then take his turn as the OIC Regional Director from May 16, 2024, to July 15, 2024.
The “big bang” event for the year 2024 ended with a congratulatory toast for the successful conduct of the meeting, and the mandatory retirement from government service of RD Granada.
