Veneracion Cabana, Ph.D., F.A.H.A., Director of the Center for Research (CFR), Apolinar Paulican, Dean, School of Arts and Sciences and CFR Statistician, and Janellie Sumatra, R.N., M.A.N., Director of Nursing at the Valencia Sanitarium and Hospital and Research Coordinator/Research Teacher/Adviser at the MVC School of Nursing, attended a Training Workshop on Standard Operating Procedures for an Ethics Research Committee.

The training workshop was sponsored by the Northern Mindanao Consortium for Health Research and Development (NorMinCOHRD) and conducted by Dr. Ma. Salome Vios of the University of Philippines College of Medicine and Dr. Marita Reyes of the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB).

The workshop trained the participants on the formation of an Ethics Review Committee (ERC) which will provide an independent, competent and  timely review of the  ethics  of  the  proposed studies that involve human subjects.

All researches, whether in the health or the social sciences will be covered by the functions of the ERC. An ERC registered and supervised by the PHREB is a requirement of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).  Its aims are to: 1) determine the acceptability of the research proposal based on organizational commitments, existing regulations and laws, professional conduct and practice, values and needs; 2) evaluate the conduct of research in accordance with international,  national  and  local guidelines; 3) ensure that there is regular evaluation of the ethics of ongoing studies; 4) act in the full interest of potential participants  and  concerned  communities, taking into account the interests and needs of the researchers and subjects of the research, and having due regard for the requirements of relevant regulatory agencies and applicable laws. The CFR is preparing documents for the creation of an ERC at MVC.