The Institutional Ethics Review Committee (IERC) of Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) has once again proven its dedication to ethical research, earning a Level II Re-Accreditation from the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB).
The accreditation was approved on July 29, 2025, by Dr. Sonia E. Bongala, Chair of PHREB and Committee on Standards and Accreditation (CSA).
The Level II Accreditation is granted only to review committees who demonstrate not just technical competence, but also strong values of integrity, responsibility, and care for human participants. For OLFU, this means that the IERC is fully qualified to review a wide spectrum of research.
In 2013, Dr. Michael Joseph S. Diño, the Director of OLFU’s Research Development and Innovation Center (RDIC), worked together with IERC Chair, Jenica Ana Rivero, in building the foundation of ethical research at the University. With the support from PHREB, OLFU trained high-potential employees, developed clear standard operating procedures, and responded to the call of CHED Memorandum No. 34 (2007), which urges all institutions engaged in health research to protect the rights and welfare of participants through a formal ethics review.
This re-accreditation goes beyond a simple mark of compliance. It reflects OLFU’s promise that every research endeavor places the safety and dignity of participants above all else. This reflects not just the shared dedication of researchers, administrators, and the community upholding ethical standards, but also ensures that OLFU remains a trusted leader in conducting research that is both excellent in quality and centered on people.
Story by Soffia Liezell Paje
