DOST RO2 Head drives CVHRDC closer to communities

"Gusto ko by 2019 and beyond we keep in touch with the community, mas magiging meaningful ang consortium kung ang impact ay mapupunta sa ating citizentry", said DOST RO2 Dir. Sancho A. Mabborang in the first day of Cagayan Valley Research Health and Development Consortium (CVHRDC) Strategic Planning for 2019-2022 held at Country Inn Hotel and Restaurant, Centro, Sta. Ana, Cagayan, November 7, 2018. 

Dir. Mabborang said that the members should distinguish their niche aligned with the RUHRA or Regional Unified Health Research Agenda and RDP or Research and   Development Plan to address major health problem in the country.

On the other hand, Executive Director of Angeles University Foundation Dr. Roberto Pagulayan emphasized the need for the integration of Patent, International   Publications, and Research to Policy Outcomes in the consortium.

from left to right: Ms. Marie Jeanne Berroya, Dr. Larguita Reotutar, Dr. Marivic Alimbuyugen, Rev Fr Alfredo V. Corpuz, Dr Mayrose L. Quezon, Dr Marita Reyes, Mr. Ariel Bacani, Dr Michael MArtin Baccay, Dr Maria Paz Virginia Otayza, Ms Anita Criste, Ms Lucila Roja and Atty Bernie Francis Constantino

The Regional Ethics Monitoring Board – Region 1 (REMB-1) together with the Committee on Standards and Accreditation (CSA), in partnership with the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board, conducted for the first time ever a two-day Accreditation Training and Workshop on How to Accredit Research Ethics Committees on October 23-24, 2018, at the Board Room, Main Building of Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte. The activity was primarily aimed at relating the roles and functions of REMB with the PHREB mandate and to rationalize the accreditation process according to the PHREB policies, accreditation standards and classification of RECs. 

Dr. Marita Reyes of the National Ethics Committee (NEC), served as the trainer for the training-workshop. Dr Reyes refreshed the participants on the REMB functions and gave a comprehensive lecture on the accreditation policies and standards for RECs. She emphasized the need to effectively employ the principles based on the National Ethical Guidelines which is considered as the bible of all ethics committees in the country.

The two sets of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) from the University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City, Ilocos Norte and Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation, San Carlos City, Pangasinan, were used by the participants who were divided into two groups. The two groups were composed of three (3) REMB members and (2) CSA members. The groups checked on the completeness of the documentary requirements and evaluated the SOPs. Although it was only a training, the results of the evaluation of the applications of the RECs of the two institutions served as basis for the findings that were transmitted to them for compliance.

Furthermore, during the latter part of the training- workshop, the members of the REMB-I showed their full support and supervision every time the CSA conducts an accreditation. They also expressed their gratitude to PHREB and PCHRD for the conduct of the said training-workshop.

Emphasis, impact, do’s and don’ts in preparing a research proposal are just some of the topics for module 2 of the Mentorship Program. Module 2 of the mentorship program commenced last October 8 to 10, 2018, at the Grand Regal Hotel, Lanang, Davao City. The Regional Health Research and Consortium XI (RHRDC XI) invited one renowned researcher in the Philippines who is an expert in the field of Chemistry and Biology and a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Balik Scientist awardee to facilitate the Mentorship Program. The moderator, Dr. Jonel P. Saludes, is a seasoned researcher who is a member of the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Chemistry and an Associate Vice President for Research in the University of San Agustin, Iloilo.

Module 2 did not only focus on the methodologies, but the moderator prepared an intensive one-day course on the essential elements in preparing a proposal for a grant. Some of the key elements of a research proposal are the title and abstract which must be aligned in the priority areas from the National Unified Health Research Agenda 2017-2022 of DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, the introductory paragraph that should engender enthusiasm on the ideas of the mentees, the objective must have well-defined endpoint, and a repetitive reminder of the moderator to always be clear and concise. After the lecture, Dr. Saludes suggested to re-write the entire proposal from introduction to objectives of the study. The following day, the mentees were given the chance to sit down with Dr. Saludes for a one-on-one critiquing. The third day continued the one-on-one for the fifth mentee thereafter a presentation for the revised proposal for critiquing of the moderator and peer was done. After module 2, the mentees are expected to submit their draft output for the 2^nd Module to their respective mentors for review and comments and final output must be sent to RHRDC XI secretariat as basis for Module 3.

The 3^rd Module for the Mentorship Program is scheduled on November 7-9, 2018.3

By: Mabel Diana M. Calipes