Bacolod to host the 37th Philippine Chemistry Congress

Bacolod City will host the biggest event for chemistry professionals in the country, the Philippine Chemistry Congress. Planned in 2020, the hosting of the international scientific event at the City of Smiles was put into hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the 26th to the 28th of July 2023, the 37th edition of the Chemistry Congress, dubbed as 37PCC, will take place at the SMX Convention Center, Bacolod City. This is the first face-to-face, in-person congress to be conducted after restrictions are lifted since the onset of the global pandemic. It is co-organized by the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) National and its Bacolod Chapter, in partnership with the Philippine Federation of Chemical Societies (PFCS).

The theme of 37PCC is: “Chemistry and Agriculture 4.0: Chemistry for Agriculture and Food Security.” In the same way that technology is central to Industry 4.0, this theme reflects the importance of chemistry in raising the level of agricultural productivity to attain food security. Negros Island is an appropriate setting for this theme being one of the agro-industrial hubs of the Philippines. 37PCC aims to focus on the various challenges facing the Philippine agricultural sector and the contributions that chemistry can make.

37PCC will cover various topics which are important to this theme, such as the impacts of climate change, trends in agricultural chemicals, food contaminants, and food security, among others. 37PCC will also discuss how chemistry can contribute to agro-industrial development, from big industry to micro-, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In addition, various areas of chemistry such as: environmental chemistry, analytical chemistry, natural products chemistry and biochemistry, nanotechnology, inorganic chemistry and materials science, and chemistry education will be discussed.

Some of the confirmed keynote and plenary speakers include the following:
• DENR Secretary Antonia Y. Loyzaga;
• DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr.;
• Professor Sir Charles Godfray of the University of Oxford, England;
• Ms. Nora Mae C. Gareza of the Center for Integrated STEM Education, Inc.;
• Ms. Nopmanee Suvanggang of the Global Soil Laboratory Network, Thailand;
• Dr. Jonel Saludes of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City;
• Dr. Christopher Caipang of UP Visayas; and
• Dr. Glenn Gregorio of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), UP Los Baños (UPLB), Laguna.

The Philippine Chemistry Congress is the biggest annual conference of chemists, chemistry educators and chemistry researchers in the Philippines. After one year of pause and two years of full online congresses due to the pandemic, 37PCC will now be conducted face to face again bringing chemists from academe, industry and government together in one venue to interact, share new knowledge and to collaborate.

37PCC will also feature technical exhibitors who will be able to showcase new products that can improve your performance and productivity, create partnerships, and generate new ideas.

The ICP and PFCS invite the whole science, technology, and agriculture communities to discover new opportunities in Chemistry and experience the excitement and warmth of Negros and its people.* (with BCD PIO)