BukSU Research Ethics Committee Secures PHREB Level 2 Accreditation

Bukidnon State University (BukSU) Research Ethics Committee (REC) has officially achieved Level 2 Accreditation from the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB), expanding its mandate to review and oversee complex human-participant research protocols.

According to official communication released on September 21, 2026, PHREB granted BukSU REC provisional Level 2 status, effective through September 20, 2027.

Under PHREB accreditation frameworks, Level 2 status certifies that an institutional ethics committee possesses the standardized operating procedures (SOPs), qualified membership, and regulatory compliance required to conduct ethical reviews for research involving human subjects.

Unlike Level 1 bodies, which are restricted to minimal-risk studies, a Level 2 accreditation authorizes BukSU REC to review studies involving moderate-risk protocols, vulnerable populations, and clinical or public health interventions that do not require Level 3 clinical trial oversight.

The accreditation highlights BukSU’s ongoing expansion of its research governance infrastructure, ensuring that ongoing and future investigative protocols adhere strictly to international and national ethical guidelines regarding participant autonomy, informed consent, risk mitigation, and dignity.

The administration, through BukSU President Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, Vice President for Research, Extension, and Innovation (VPREI) Dr. Carina Joane V. Barroso, and Research and Development Unit Director Dr. Joan M. Recente, emphasized that the milestone aligns with the university’s broader strategy to elevate regional research capability.

With the Level 2 status now active, BukSU REC will continue serving as an ethics review body for health, social science, and interdisciplinary human-subject research, providing compliance monitoring and protocol reviews over the coming academic years. (Mariz Rochelle C. Sedon, PhD, RN/ Head, OVPREI Management Staff)