UP Tacloban BS Biology graduate Jonel B. Pontica won first place in the oral research presentation student category of the 2025 Regional Health Research Symposium held on 2 December 2025. He presented his research titled “Isolation of Conjugative Plasmids Carrying blaNDM Carbapenemase Genes from Environmental Bacteria in Mangonbangon River, Tacloban City.” The study underscores the critical role of bacterial plasmids in the spread of antimicrobial resistance in the environment and the alarming presence of resistant bacteria and genes in local waterways. It was conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Zoe K. Mallonga of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.