Tacloban City, May 4, 2017 - Now on-going is the conduct of Regional Consultation on National Unified Health Research Agenda/ Regional Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA/RURHA) for CY 2017-2022 at Hotel Rodolfo, Tacloban City from May 4 to 5, 2017.

The activity is being spearheaded by the DOST Philippine Council for Health Research & Development (DOST-PCHRD) in cooperation with the Eastern Visayas Health Research & Development Consortium (EVHRDC). The PCHRD commissioned the Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes (AIHO) for the development of NUHRA and RUHRA 2017-2022.

Present in the activity are the different personalities of stakeholders involved, particularly Ms. Annie Catameo, Regional Program Officer of PCHRD, Engr. Edgardo M. Esperancilla, Regional Director, DOST8 & EVHRDC Co-Chair, Engr. Ernesto M. Granada, EVHRDC Director, Dr. Paula Paz M. Sydiongco, ARD, DOHRO8 and Mr. Leonido P. Olobia, Regional Research Program Coordinator, DOHRO8 & EVHRDC-RMC Chair.

Engr. Esperancilla gave his Opening Remarks highlighting EVHRDC’s stronger efforts to develop priority proposals for funding. Dr. Minerva P. Molon, the Regional Director of DOHRO8, and Chair, EVHRDC will provide her message before the end of the afternoon session.

Ms. Pearl Tumlos of the Research Management Division of PCHRD provided a brief introduction of the PNHRS as well as the introduction of the Research Agenda Committee (RAC) of the PNHRS which spearheaded the development of the NUHRA for 2017-2022.

Dr. Miguel Dorotan, Project Manager for the NUHRA Development discussed in detail the process of RUHRA/NUHRA Development. As mentioned, the 2-day activity which will involve workshops and plenary sessions will be a priority listing of the researchable topics in health for the next 6 years (2017-2022). The RUHRA document will serve as a live document for the region which will take into consideration relevant and emerging topics for health research.