The Regional Ethics Monitoring Board – 1 (REMB – 1), alongside with the Sub Committee on Standards on Accreditation (CSA), evaluated three applications of REC accreditation held last June 3, 2019 at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Batac City, Ilocos Norte. The said applications include: (1) DOH Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, Research Ethics Committee in Pangasinan, (2) Lorma Colleges, Research Ethics Committee in La Union and (3) University of Northern Philippines Ethics Review Committee in Ilocos Sur.

The said training-workshop is a continuation of the first capacity activity held last October 2018 which aimed to further equip the accreditors on the process of evaluating REC applications. The training-workshop was facilitated by Dr. Marita Reyes of the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB). The group comprised of REMB-I and CSA members was divided into three (3) members and were assigned an application each to evaluate. They applied what they had learned in appraising the submitted documentary requirements and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The highlight of the activity was the deliberation on the assessment made by each group through the supervision of Dr. Reyes. Result of the assessment will be released upon approval of PHREB.

REMB-I promised on continuing their extensive promotion on the importance of establishing REC and shall partner with core agencies to link REMB-1 to their constituents. With this, it is hoped that more institutions will apply for accreditation this year.