MICROBIOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

I. (Description) The Philippines currently has two leading association for microbiology. In
the year 1970, 12 Filipino physicians realized the importance to study infectious
diseases in the country thus they discussed the idea to form an association
dedicated to microbiology. After 2 years, January 27, 1972, the Philippine Society for
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases was born. Another microbiology organization is
The Philippine Society for Microbiology Inc. It is an organization founded by 20
microbiologist in 1971 mostly from the former UP College of Agriculture now UPLB.
II. (Formation) TIMELINE
A. 1971 - The Philippine Society for Microbiology was founded
B. January 27, 1972 - Leading infectious disease specialists and practitioners at
that time formally established the Philippine Society for Microbiology and
Infectious Diseases
C. 1973 - BS Biology major in Microbiology was offered in UPLB
D. 1974 - post graduate courses for microbiology was initiated by PSMID
throughout the country
E. 1986 - under the presidency of Dr. Ireneo Dogma Jr, the PSM hosted the first
Asia-Pacific Biotechnology Congress
F. 1987 PSMID held the first International Congress on AIDS and other STDs.
G. 1988 - The PSM Board proposed the establishment of a system of
accreditation and certification fo microbiologist.
H. 1989 Issues of clinical importance were tackled by forming committees like
the Antibiotic Task Force and the Infection Control Committee
I. May 15, 1990 - the PSM committee proposed a National Registry for
Microbiologists, with 2 categories, Registered Microbiologist and Specialist
Microbiologist to be administered by the body called Philippine Academy of
Microbiology.
 J. 1990 guidelines for accreditation of Fellowship Training Program in
Infectious Diseases were formed
K. 1991 - PSMID became an official member of Western Pacific Society of
Chemotherapy and International Society of Chemotherapy
L. May 22, 1991 The proposed Philippine Academy of
Microbiology (Composed of at least 165 Registered Microbiologists, 50
Specialist Microbiologists, 40 diplomats, 20 fellows) was then established
M. 1994 The PSMID hosted a meeting on chemotherapy and
infectious diseases; consensus statements tackling multi-drug resistant
tuberculosis, antibiotics policies, malaria, pneumonia, dengue fever and
limited resource AIDS and cancer management were published.
N. 1994 - Visayas Chapter for PSM was made
O. May 17, 1995 - Mindanao Chapter for PSM was made
P. 1998 - The Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines on
Community Acquired Pneumonia and Urinary Tract Infections were published
Q. March 17, 2000 - Luzon Chapter for PSM was made
R. September 29, 2007 - Bicol Chapter for PSM was made
III. FILIPINO MICROBIOLOGISTS
A. Prof. William Fernandez - father of Philippine Microbiology
B. Dr. Gerado O. Ocfemia - considered as Father of Plant Pathology and he is
also one of the pioneers in Biological Science in UPLB
C. Asuncion Reymundo - is the first Filipina Molecular Microbiologist to
pioneer the application of biotechnology in the Philippines.
- DYK Currently Dean of CAS UPLB
- Found a way to discriminate local prevalent pathogen
strains like Ralstonia solanacearum and Xanthomonas
oryzae to allow selection of the appropriate variety
resistant to this strain for planting.
 D. Bienvenido O. Juliano - improved the grain quality of rice that made it
more economical and nutritious
E. Rhoel Dinaglasan - discovered an antigen called AnAPN1, that causes
human to create antibodies that prevent transmission of Malaria

IV. EXTRA INFO/TRIVIA

A. Final draft of the constitution (PSM) was approved and certified by 26
signatories.
B. During the first annual convention alone, the original 20 professionals grew
into 4,000 members
C. Several PSM Board members served as talents for the Joy Antibac
commercial
D. There is a pending bill known as the Microbial Act of 2013. Its objective is to
institute a regulatory system that guarantees the delivery of technical
services that ensures food safety, quality goods and responsive health and
environmental care and prevents the rapid spread of microbial-caused
diseases.