Reinforcing its standing as a trusted institution for ethical research, the Davao de Oro State College-Research Ethics Committee (DdOSC-REC) has successfully secured Level II Reaccreditation from the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) for another three-year term, effective August 20, 2026, to August 19, 2029.

The reaccreditation affirms the Committee’s continued compliance with the National Ethical Guidelines for Health and Health-Related Research and PHREB’s rigorous standards on ethics review, governance, and oversight of research involving human participants.

With its Level II accreditation, the DdOSC-REC is authorized to conduct comprehensive ethical reviews of a broader range of research protocols, including studies involving greater than minimal risk, thereby providing quality ethics review services not only to DdOSC students, faculty, and staff but also to external researchers and partner institutions.

The latest recognition builds on the Committee’s milestone achievement in September 2021, when it became the first Level II accredited Research Ethics Committee in Region XI.

As of this writing, DdOSC remains one of only two State Universities and Colleges in Mindanao with a Level II accredited Research Ethics Committee, alongside the Western Mindanao State University Research Ethics Oversight Committee.

DdOSC-REC Chairperson Dr. Juanita C. Leopoldo attributed the achievement to the collective commitment and hard work of the Committee and the unwavering institutional support extended by the College administration.

“This reaccreditation is a testament to our Committee’s dedication to upholding the highest ethical standards in research. It reflects our continuing responsibility to safeguard the rights, dignity, safety, and welfare of participants across all research engagements with the College and beyond,” Dr. Leopoldo said in a statement.

Meanwhile, DdOSC President Dr. Lilybeth M. Matunhay, herself a former Chairperson of the DdOSC-REC, congratulated Dr. Leopoldo and the members of the Committee for the accomplishment.

She added that the College remains steadfast in supporting initiatives that promote research excellence and ensure that ethical principles remain at the core of every scholarly endeavor.