Another institution in Davao Region is granted by the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) with Level 1 accreditation. Last September 10, 2019, the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of Compostela Valley State College (CVSC) received the good news from PHREB for their compliance to national and international ethical guidelines in reviewing research involving human participants. PHREB Level 1 accreditation is given to institutions which reviews researches with minimal risk to participants and is applicable to newly constituted RECs with less than a year of operations.

Dr. Lilybeth Matunhay, REC Chair of CVSC, expressed her gratitude on this new achievement by the institution: “We are humbled of the accomplishment; however, this would not be made possible without you and Dr. Concha extending your generous time to help us. Congratulations to all of us and thank you REMB XI and PHREB for the recognition.”

Currently, the Regional Ethics Monitoring Board XI (REMB XI) is assisting various private and public institutions in Davao Region and its neighboring regions through mentoring and orientation. REMB XI is happy to assist any institutions and/or organization from application to PHREB accreditation. Do you need assistance? Contact, the REMB XI secretariat, Ms. Diane Calipes at (082)227-1313 or through email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By MDMC

A session on Ethics in Research was conducted during the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week Celebration on August 13, 2019, at The Luxe Hotel in this city.

Attending health professionals from both private and public sectors urge academes with research studies to establish a Research Ethics Committee (REC) within their schools.

The primary mandate of the REC is to protect human subjects in every research.

Issues such as gender abuse, bias, and discomfort among human subjects in conducting researches were raised.

Also raised during the session was the prevalent sampling of high school students as human subjects in almost all researches.

“Creation of RECs is the solution for protecting high school students in the research”, Dr. Paulo Maria N. Pagkatipunan of the UP College of Medicine said.

According to Dr. Pagkatipunan’s research, only four out of 10 schools have established RECs. Thus, close coordination with CHED is needed to reach out and encourage schools to adapt the establishment of REC.

The session was attended by more than 300 participants from the National Government Agencies, Public and Private Hospitals, and the Academe.

With the session concluded, it is hoped that the academe sector will embrace the establishment of REC to make firm the protection of every human subject involved in researches.

The PNHRS Week Celebration will be conducted at the Luxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City on August 13-16, 2019. There are sessions that are open to all and registration is free.


Written by Julie Anne H. Baculio | DOST-X

The Cordillera Region posted improvements in the health sector in 2018, according to DOH-CAR and Regional Social Development Sector Vice-Chairperson Director Amelita Pangilinan.

During the Kapihan on the State of the Region Address 2019, held on August 13, 2019,  Director Pangilinan reported that there was a reduction in the region’s number of maternal, neonatal and under-five deaths in 2018, compared to the figures posted in the previous year. 

She elaborated by saying that maternal deaths decreased by 3.2 percent from the 43 percent posted in 2017.  The same is also true for under-five and neonatal mortality rates which decreased by 1.4 and 0.1, respectively,  from the previous year’s figures.

In terms of nutrition, a reduction in the prevalence of overweight, wasting and stunting of children 0 to 5 years old was also noted.  Further, there was an increase in the proportion of Cordillera households who had access to a sanitary toilet facility.

The DOH chief also said the region has reason to look forward to further improvements in the region’s health status with the continued and intensified implementation of the following laws and government programs:

1. Universal Health Care Law (RA 11223) which will improve access to health care services;
2. National Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP) which is expected to accelerate the demographic transition and maximize gains from demographic dividend
3. First 1,000 Days Program and Operation Timbang which is aimed at reducing infant mortality and improving nutrition; and
4. Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law which guarantees universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care.

The Cordillera Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 provides that the desired overall outcome of the Sector on Social Development is to ensure that the region’s economic growth strategy results in improved quality of life and total human development of all Cordillerans. The plan, which is due for its midyear updating this year,  is operationalized through the six sectoral committees of the Cordillera Regional Development Council, which, aside from the Regional Social Development Committee, includes the Committees on Development Administration, Economic Development, Infrastructure Development, Watershed and Environmental Management, and Indigenous Peoples Concerns.



Written by Ma. Emelie Daquipil

With the theme “Achieving Health-related Sustainable Development Goals through Research and Innovation”, the Philippine National Health Research System celebrated a week-long annual activity on August 13 to 16, 2019 at the City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro City. The theme of the PNHRS Week is part of the contribution of a bigger spectrum which is achieving the health-related sustainable development goals (SDGs) by the year 2030. One of the sessions of the PNHRS Week is the inter-regional consortium contest for poster and oral research both for Student and Graduate categories.

Davao Region takes pride that amongst the research contests and categories, four entries from last year’s winners during the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium XI (RHRDC XI) Expo were shortlisted. Two of the shortlisted researches won 1^st Prize during the contest. The research entitled “Utilization of Mango Seed Kernel for the Development of Antimicrobial Films” presented by Ms. Mary Grace L. Alimpolos from the University of the Philippines Mindanao won the 1st place under the Student Category for Oral Presentation. Her study is about the use of mango starch from mango seed kernels, a common waste from a mango processing plant. With the addition of carrageenan and carvacrol, a biodegradable packaging material that inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli was produced.

The research of the group of  Ms. Via Angela Bulangis from the University of the Immaculate Conception entitled “Isolation, Characterization, and In-Vitro HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitory Activity of Pectin Powder from the Peel of Calamansi” won the 1st place under the Student Category for Poster Exhibit. The study is about the usage of pectin powder isolated from the peel of Calamasi and determination of its 3 hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitory activity. 

Two young researchers from the University of Immaculate Conception were also able to make it in the shortlisted entries represent the Region namely: Ms. Nelyn Cadotdot who presented the research entitled "Investigation of Possible Inhibitory Action of Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) Serum on HIV-1 infectivity in-vitro to and After Attachment to human Peripheral Blood mononuclear cells" under the Oral Presentation - Graduate category and Ms. Charity P. Redaniel who presented the research entitled "Evaluation of the Anti-inflammatory Potential of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and Pomelo (Citrus maxima) Leaf Extract through Lipoxygenase Inhibition with Emulsion-gel Preparation" under the Poster Exhibit - Graduate category

These awards only show that Davao Region continues to build its pool of experts through these young researchers. The consortium hopes that the present generation will continue to be champion in research dedicated to improving the health condition of the people.

By MDMC