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DOST official dies after a long battle with cancer on World Cancer Day

Philippines | National

DOST official dies after a long battle with cancer on World Cancer Day

By Charissa Luci-Atienza

As ironic as it may seem, a high-ranking official of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has died on Thursday after “a long battle with cancer” as the World Cancer Day is celebrated across the globe.

DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, in his Facebook post on Feb. 4, bared, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Dr. Brenda L. Nazareth-Manzano at 10:43 a.m. today after a long battle with cancer.”

Dela Peña described Nazareth-Manzano as a “consummate public servant.”

“She died with her boots on, ever the champion of regional development through science and technology. We will truly miss her passion, her friendship, ready smile and helping hand,” he said. "We pray for her eternal repose.”

Before she was appointed as Undersecretary for Regional Operations in 2017, Nazareth-Manzano served as regional director of DOST-IX. During her leadership stint, DOST IX became the first DOST regional office in the country to receive the ISO 9001 certification.

She was a recipient of GAWAD Career Executive Services (CES Award) - an award most coveted among the members of CES- "for her exemplary performance and significant contributions, particularly in the areas of innovation, information and communications technology, social services, administrative reforms, and public policy.”

The World Cancer Day is an international day marked every Feb. 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

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