By Jeanger Labayen
The University strengthened its institutional capacity for ethical research review through the participation of 21 university representatives in the Online Training Workshop on Ethics in Human-Participant Social Science Research, organized by the Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC) through its Social Science Ethics Review Board (SSERB) on October 21–22, 2026, via Zoom.
The CHMSU delegation comprised 7 Regular Members and 12 Alternate Members of the CHMSU Research Ethics Committee, together with Director of Research Development Services Ivy Aboy and Deputy Director for Research Ethics Review Jeanger Labayen.
The participating Regular Members were Committee Chair Soledad Estares, Vice-Chair Conrad Albela III, Secretary May Peracullo, Prof. Joyzel Rey Garcia; Engr. Roy Gerona; Prof. Leonisa Impil; and Engr. Rene Salmingo. The Alternate Members were Prof. Ruby Mae Bermejo, Prof. Maricel Daradar, Prof. Sarah Galang, Prof. Lovelyn Granfiel, Prof. Samuel Herrera Jr., Prof. Michael Lamis, Prof. Ronora Malaga, Prof. Annielou Mana-ay, Prof. Nikki Ronquillo, Prof. Cecil Silvestre, Prof. Aileen Tranquilo, and Arlene Visitacion, Alternate Lay Member.
CHMSU representatives participated in the PSSC Online Training Workshop on Ethics in Human-Participant Social Science Research via Zoom on October 21–22, 2026, as part of the university’s continuing efforts to strengthen research ethics review and promote the protection of human research participants.
The workshop featured four major learning modules. The first module,Deputy Director for Research Ethics Reviewaria Carinnes Alejandria, Assistant Professor at Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
The second module, Informed Consent, Privacy, and Anonymity, was facilitated by Director of the Quality Assurance Francis Julius Evangelista of Miriam College, Chair of its Research Ethics Committee.
On the second day, Convenor Stella Go of the Philippine Migration Research Network, facilitated the module Maintaining Research Integrity. The final module, Designing Research for Beneficence, Social Justice, and Inclusivity, was facilitated by Chair Almond Pilar Aguila of the PSSC’s Social Science Ethics Review Board.
Collectively, the modules emphasized the importance of protecting research participants, upholding scientific integrity, securing informed consent, safeguarding personal information, and ensuring that research is designed and conducted with due consideration for beneficence, social justice, and inclusivity. These principles are essential to the ethical review and conduct of research involving human participants.
The committee’s participation underscores its commitment to continuous professional development, stronger research ethics review, and responsible research practices across the institution. Strengthening the competence of CHMSU-REC members, alongside the involvement of key research administrators, supports the university’s continuing efforts to enhance research governance and uphold ethical standards in research activities.
