Transforming Research Into Action: From DAN-AG to SIBYA 2025

For years, malnutrition and parasitic infections have quietly undermined the health of countless school-age children in Cebu. The problem is insidious — not always visible, yet devastating in its long-term effects on learning, growth, and future productivity. 

While many efforts have focused on treatment, Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU) believed the missing piece was data-driven understanding: what exactly are the health gaps faced by Cebuano children, and how can science guide solutions to this problem?

That conviction gave rise to Program DAN-AG (Directly Assessing Nutritional Gaps in School-Age Children), a multi-year, government-funded initiative implemented by CDU in partnership with the Mandaue City Government, City Health Office, and the Department of Education Mandaue City Division. Supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VII, Program DAN-AG looked beyond surface symptoms and probed the underlying risk factors of malnutrition and helminthiasis (intestinal parasitism).

On August 28, 2025, Program DAN-AG’s journey marked a milestone through SIBYA 2025: Sharing Insights for a Better Health PolicY Action — the program’s official dissemination and stakeholders’ research forum held at Radisson Blu Cebu.

From Research to Reform

SIBYA 2025 was not a typical academic conference. Instead, it was designed as a bridge between science and governance, making research understandable, relevant, and actionable for decision-makers.

At its heart, the forum highlighted two major projects under Program DAN-AG: 

• Project HAYAG (Helminthiasis Assessment in the Young and Its Associated Gaps), led by Dr. Brian Denney, which mapped prevalence and risk factors of worm infestations among children; and 

• Project SINAG (Soil-Helminth Parasitism and Associated Risk Factors Evaluation), led by Prof. Jacklyn Risia San Gabriel, which examined environmental and behavioral determinants contributing to parasitic infections. 

These projects provided a clearer picture of child health in selected Mandaue City public elementary schools, identifying hygiene practices, sanitation issues, and nutritional vulnerabilities that demand urgent attention.

“These projects are not just academic exercises,” explained Dr. Emmalyn Cutamora, Head of the CDU WISE Innovation Hub and Research Office. “[These] are proof that when disciplines converge — medicine, public health, education, environmental science, policy and technology — we can actually craft solutions by relevant, responsive, and impactful steps.”

IN PHOTO: Lee Moses Ching (CDU-CM) presents research data in the 3-minute policy pitch competition

Panel of Perspectives

What made SIBYA 2025 particularly dynamic was its multi-sectoral panel discussion. Led by Dr. Cutamora, CDU researchers shared the stage with professionals in public health, governance, and civic advocacy. Among them were Dr. Brian Denney and Prof. Jacklyn Risia San Gabriel as project leads; and Dr. Jocelyn Gerra as internal consultant. 

They were joined by Cebu Governor Hon. Pamela Baricuatro, who stressed the need to align science with policy, and Mr. Bryan Ybañez, DOST Cebu Provincial Science and Technology Director, who affirmed the government’s support for university-led innovation. 

Other voices added further depth: Dr. Elisse Nicole Catalan, the Cebu Governor’s Public Health Consultant; Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Cañal, Regional Epidemiologist of DOH Central Visayas; and Ms. Pilar Pilapil, representing the Pilar Pilapil Foundation for Children.

IN PHOTO: Panel discussion with sectoral leaders

The conversation underscored both challenges and opportunities — from the gaps in implementing existing health laws, to the importance of empowering parents, teachers, and barangay leaders in sustaining interventions. As Governor Baricuatro reminded the audience, “A healthy Cebuano is a strong Cebuano.”

“When we talk about health, we are not only talking about hospitals and medicines — we are talking about the future of our young people and the future of Cebu,” she added.

Pitching Policy in Three Minutes

Another highlight of the day was the 3-Minute Pitch to Policymakers Competition, where CDU faculty and students distilled their research into concise, policy-ready proposals. The energy in the room was palpable as young innovators and seasoned researchers presented ideas that could immediately inform governance.

Dr. Jan Harmony A. Cesar clinched first place with his project “TAMBAL: Taking Action to Manage and Bridge Awareness for Lasting Solutions”, which called for more proactive community-based health programs. 

In second place, Ms. Patricia Uy presented “Legislated but Neglected: Fighting the Invisible Threat”, pointing out how existing policies often fail in actual implementation. Rounding out the winners was Dr. Davis Don Mcleroy G. Gaviola, who secured third place with “Forecasting the Immunization Status of Children in Cebu City Based on ARIMA Model”, a data-driven approach to predicting vaccination trends.

IN PHOTO: Dr. Jan Harmony Cesar bags the first place award in the 3-Minute Pitch to Policymakers Competition

These pitches are more than academic exercises; they embody CDU’s commitment to transforming scholarly works into concrete tools for governance and social impact.

The Bigger Picture: CDU as a HeaRTNovation Hub

Beyond Program DAN-AG, SIBYA 2025 reflected CDU’s identity as a research-active, community-anchored university. Through the CDU WISE Innovation Hub, supported by DOST’s HeaRTNovation Hubs Program, the University is positioning itself as a leader in evidence-based innovation.

“We do more than exchange findings, we come together to chart a shared future,” said Dr. Philip Anthony S.D. Larrazabal, CDU President and Chairman of the Board. “This event is not simply a conference, it is a convergence of values, mission, and voices.”

Moving Forward

As Program DAN-AG officially concludes its implementation phase, CDU looks ahead to even broader initiatives that will translate data into lasting community impact. SIBYA 2025 made one thing clear: research does not end in publication or presentation — it becomes truly powerful when it informs policy and transforms lives.

In the words of its organizers, SIBYA is not the end of a program, but the start of a movement towards healthier futures for Cebuano children.

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CDU MPRO