In a release by the Presidential Communications Office dated August 8, 2024 President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named Dr. Carmencita David Padilla (BS Pre-medicine, 1976; MD, 1981; MAHPS, 2005) and Dr. Romulo Gelbolingo Davide (BSA, 1957) the country’s newest National Scientists. They were recognized for their significant contributions to the fields of genetics, and nematology and plant pathology, respectively.
President Marcos issued Proclamations No. 642 and 643, which declared Padilla and Davide members of the Order of the National Scientist, last August 2, 2024. These were signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
Padilla had already been conferred the title of National Scientist in Malacañang Palace on August 31, 2023. The proclamation officially granting her the rank and title, however, came nearly a year later. Among her many accomplishments, she was instrumental in the enactment of Republic Act. No. 9288 or the Newborn Screening Act of 2004. Through this law and Padilla’s research, newborn screening is now implemented in over 7,400 health facilities in the Philippines as of 2023, saving countless infants from mental retardation and death.
Padilla would complement this by lobbying for a complementary law, Republic Act No. 10747 or the Rare Disease Act of 2016, and assisting the Department of Health to prepare the Integrated Road Map for Rare Diseases for 2022-2026.
Also renowned for her visionary leadership of several laboratory and medical institutions, Padilla is perhaps best known as Chancellor of UP Manila (UPM) from 2014 to 2023. She also played a key role in setting up the UP Philippine Genome Center, where she served as Executive Director from 2011 to 2016.
Dubbed the “Father of Plant Nematology”, Davide won international praise for discovering fungi (P. lilacinus and P. oxalicum) that trapped nematodes or roundworms. This discovery would pave the way for the development of BIOCON, the first Philippine biological control product that can be used against nematode pests that attack crops. For farmers, it became a viable alternative to highly toxic and expensive chemical nematicides.
Davide had also won many awards for helping put the powers of science in the hands of farmers to increase their yields and rediscover the dignity of their labor. He was named “Outstanding Agricultural Scientist” by the Department of Agriculture in 1994, and received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for his groundbreaking research and compassionate teaching in 2012. He is currently an emeritus professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
Padilla and Davide are two of only 11 living National Scientists. They are also the 43rd and 44th members of the Order overall, as well as the 40th and 41st who are UP alumni.
