Protect public funds, support researchers, too

The recent corruption scandal reminded me of the parallel struggles faced by experts and scientists in navigating our research system. In 2024, I wrote a letter (see “Access to resources still a problem for researchers” 1/23/24) describing the challenges of research governance and administration in the Philippines. Sadly, nearly two years later, little has changed.

Many researchers still encounter rules and processes in procurement, hiring, contracting, and financial management that are often complex, inconsistent, or unclear. Sometimes, even small, legitimate expenses are hard to process or reimburse. In a few cases, expenses may be disallowed based on subjective interpretations of unwritten rules rather than clearly written guidelines. These situations contribute to delays in project implementation and discourage some researchers from pursuing their studies.

This results in a system where our experts and researchers, despite their commitment and resourcefulness, spend more time untangling administrative hurdles than advancing knowledge, and improving practice. While these rules are intended to safeguard public funds and ensure accountability, we dare to ask: Are these mechanisms still relevant, effective, and fit for today’s research landscape?

I call on our research leaders, managers, and national agencies, such as the Department of Health and the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, to discuss and address these systemic barriers. I believe it is time to review and rationalize procurement, accounting, HR, and audit rules so that they may continue to protect public funds while enabling researchers to fulfill their work to improve people’s lives.

Reiner Lorenzo Tamayo,

renztamayo@gmail.com