LEGAZPI CITY-The DOST through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) initiated a program called Tuklas Lunas as an effort to discover safe and effective natural alternatives to allopathic medicine in partnership with the academe, and the industry to screen marine, microbial and plant species for pharmacologic activities. To expand the coverage of the Tuklas Lunas researches across the country taking into account the Philippines' rich biodiversity, the PCHRD plans to establish more Tuklas Lunas Development Centers (TLDCs), with Region V as one of the target sites. 

With this, the DOST-PCHRD Tuklas-Lunas Program Team headed by  Dr. Amelia P. Guevarra, Chair of the Technical Advisory Group, Ms. Melissa Bulao, Tuklas Lunas Program Coordinator and Mr. Aldrick B. Verano, project management officer conducted institutional visits to Department of Science and Technology V (DOST V), University of Santo Tomas- Legazpi (UST-Legazpi) and  Bicol University (BU) last October 8-9, 2018 to discuss possible collaboration, repackaging and expansion of the scope of the proposal as the program following the project proposal submitted by Dr. Lilibeth A. Cajuday, a professor of Biology department of the Bicol University. 

The said meeting was attended by the president of Bicol University and BCHRD Chairperson, Dr, Arnulfo M. Mascarinas, Dr. Jocelyn Serrano, dean of BU-College of Science, Dr. Lilibeth A. Cajuday, project leader of the study submitted, Prof. Michael Montealegre, BCHRD director, Dr. Rafaelita Lucena, DOST V representative, BUCS faculty and staff as well as DOST V and BCHRD staff. 

During the said meeting, the objectives and the process of drug research under the Tuklas Lunas Program were discussed by Ms. Melissa Bulao followed by the presentation of the project proposed by Dr. Lilibeth Cajuday and the presentation of the Manpower and Facilities of the Bicol University relevant to the program. Comments of the Tuklas Lunas advisory team were given after. The visit was ended with a tour of the natural science laboratory of the Bicol University.