One challenge researchers encounter when conducting their research is looking for locally related studies.
To address this challenge, the Northern Mindanao Consortium for Health Research and Development (NorMinCoHRD), in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology—Philippine Consortium for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), conducted an online orientation on the Health Research and Development Information Network (HERDIN) on February 7, 2025.
The webinar aimed to provide researchers with an understanding of HERDIN’s features and guidance on accessing health research studies in the Philippines for free.
Open to the general public, the webinar welcomed faculty members, researchers, healthcare professionals, and allied health experts nationwide.
HERDIN is the national repository of published health research. The Philippine National Health Research System Implement Rules and Regulations mandate that all health research be registered in HERDIN.
As of the writing of this article, the platform holds 60,178 publicly accessible records.
81 participants from 30 institutions joined the webinar, with 25 institutions from Region 10. The activity also attracted participants from across the country, including Sultan Kudarat State University (Region XII), Cotecna Elite Philippines, Inc.-Surigao, Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (Region XIII), Davao de Oro State College (Region XI), Cebu Doctors’ University (Visayas), and Tarlac State University (Luzon).
Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, Executive Director of PCHRD, commenced the activity by encouraging participants to explore HERDIN and its benefits for their research endeavors.
“The true value of HERDIN lies in its ability to address health research information needs of Filipinos. This is why DOST-PCHRD reaches out to research generators like you to introduce HERDIN as a tool for accessing local health research studies,” he emphasized.
Following his remarks, Ms. Maria Violeta G. Intia, Lead of the HERDIN Team, provided an overview of HERDIN. The session continued with a step-by-step guide on navigating the platform’s key features. Ms. Alyza Ganon led the discussion on account creation. At the same time, Ms. Grace Ruth Daulat explained the HERDIN search function, demonstrating how users can refine search queries with advanced filters and keyword optimization.
The orientation also highlighted HERDIN partnerships, encouraging interested institutions to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and join the Research Camp.
Attendees expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to deepen their understanding of HERDIN and its applications in health research. A representative of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology highlighted HERDIN’s value: “HERDIN will greatly help researchers find local data, allowing us to align our studies more closely with the local context, thereby increasing their applicability.”
NorMinCoHRD remains committed to leveraging technology and knowledge-sharing to enhance the health and well-being of every Filipino.
Through HERDIN, the orientation provided a platform to increase the visibility of local health research and an opportunity to join the growing HERDIN community, strengthening regional health research networks. (JDBApal/JQAromin, DOST X)
