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PRESIDENT Arroyo on Monday conferred national honors on
two Filipino scientists and a former chief executive of
a multinational firm for their efforts to help improve
the lives of Filipinos.
Dr.
Lourdes Cruz was conferred the Order of National
Scientist and Dr. Baldomero Olivera decorated with the
Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Grand
Officer in ceremonies at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall.
Mrs.
Arroyo also conferred the Order of the Golden Heart with
the rank of Grand Officer to Howard Belton, former chief
executive officer of Unilever Philippines.
Cruz and
Olivera have jointly produced an antivenom drug that
counters the poison secreted by cone snail shells when
accidentally stepped on.
Cruz
also conceptualized and established the Rural Livelihood
Incubator (Rural LINC) in 2001 that seeks to generate
employment opportunities and establish sustainable means
of livelihood as long-term solutions to poverty and
sociopolitical instability in rural areas, especially
among Aetas, upland farmers and fisherfolk.
Olivera,
a corresponding member of the National Academy of
Science and Technology and a professor at the
University of
Utah,
is part of a group that made a breakthrough discovery of
a family of biomolecules called conotoxins widely used
in the study of ion channels and neuromuscular synapses.
Belton
is known for his pioneering efforts and involvement in
social development work, most notably the Pasig River
Rehabilitation project, Laguna de Bay Conservation
project, and the “Pasiglahin ang Batang Pinoy” feeding
program. |
