Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium

WVHRDC advances evidence-informed policymaking through policy brief training

The Department of Science and Technology Western Visayas (DOST Western Visayas) through the Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC), officially kicks off the 2026 Policy Brief Training with an orientation Activity.

Today’s activity was participated in by 11 researchers, representing seven (7) WVHRDC member institutions, namely Aklan State University (ASU), the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WVCHD), Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital, Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital (WVSGH), West Visayas State University (WVSU), the University of San Agustin (USA), and Capiz State University (CAPSU).

The session introduces participants to the fundamentals of policy brief development, guiding them in crafting effective policy brief titles and concise executive summaries that clearly communicate research findings and recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders.
Resource speakers Dr. Joy C. Lizada, Executive Director of UPV Foundation, Inc. and Professorial Lecturer at UPV College of Management and Dr. Reynold D. Tan Acting Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development of the University of the Philippines Visayas, shared their expertise and insights on translating research evidence into impactful policy communication.

The 2026 Policy Brief Training will run from June 3 to 30, 2026 and will cover the essential components of policy brief writing, including crafting policy brief titles and executive summaries, developing introductions and policy recommendations, writing the main body, discussing policy implications and conclusions, and enhancing policy briefs through effective layout, formatting, and visual presentation.

Through this capacity-building initiative, DOST Western Visayas and WVHRDC aim to translate scientific evidence into actionable and well-informed policies that can be implemented in target communities. This is to ensure that research outputs are effectively utilized to support evidence-based decision-making, strengthen program implementation, and address priority health and development concerns in Western Visayas.

𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

The Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC) invites you to its May Webinar on May 28, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. via Zoom and Facebook Live.

This month’s webinar will be hosted by the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital.

Dr. Joher Bolante Mendez, Jr., RN, MD, CPC-FP, MHA, Medical Officer III and Chief Resident of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital, will present his study titled “Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) Among Filipino Children Aged 12–18 Years with Asthma Managed Using the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Two-track Approach.”

To join, please register through this link: onedo.st/2026MayWebinar

This webinar is free. Register now, and we look forward to seeing you on May 28!

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁?

The 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗨𝗦𝗥𝗖) is officially calling for entries!

If you’ve conducted high-impact research in 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙉𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝘿𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨, 𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙎𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔.𝗬. 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, it’s time to step out of the lab and into the spotlight.

Showcase your findings at this year’s 𝟱𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗢𝗦𝗧-𝗙𝗡𝗥𝗜 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, connect with industry leaders, and help shape the future of food and nutrition.

Submit your work now at 𝗳𝘀𝘀𝟱𝟮𝗻𝗱.𝘂𝘀𝗿𝗰@𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺!

Deadline is on 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4t56aiU.

𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒! 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐌𝐈𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

Do you have a thesis on natural products from indigenous plants or microorganisms with potential health applications? The DOST-PCHRD is now accepting applications for the 2026 Undergraduate Thesis Grant in Natural Products (1st Call).

Qualified undergraduate students may receive up to ₱75,000 in research funding to support thesis projects that explore the potential of Philippine natural resources in developing solutions for human health, under the Tuklas Lunas Drug Discovery and Development Program.

📌 Who can apply?
3rd or 4th year undergraduate students in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nursing, and Health and Allied Sciences (e.g., Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Medical Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics, and related fields) whose thesis focuses on natural products from terrestrial/marine plants and/or microorganisms indigenous to the Philippines with human health applications.

📅 Deadline for submission to your Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (RHRDC): April 30, 2026
📖 Learn more and download the proposal forms here: bit.ly/NatProdGrant2026_1stcall

Turn your thesis into research that could shape the future of health.
Apply now! 💙

Calling all undergraduate researchers!🌿

Do you have a thesis on natural products from indigenous plants or microorganisms with potential health applications? The DOST-PCHRD is now accepting applications for the 2026 Undergraduate Thesis Grant in Natural Products (1st Call).

Qualified undergraduate students may receive up to ₱75,000 in research funding to support thesis projects that explore the potential of Philippine natural resources in developing solutions for human health, under the Tuklas Lunas Drug Discovery and Development Program.

📌 Who can apply?

3rd or 4th year undergraduate students in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nursing, and Health and Allied Sciences (e.g., Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Medical Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics, and related fields) whose thesis focuses on natural products from terrestrial/marine plants and/or microorganisms indigenous to the Philippines with human health applications.

📅 Deadline for submission to your Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (RHRDC): April 30, 2026

📖 Learn more and download the proposal forms here: bit.ly/NatProdGrant2026_1stcall

Turn your thesis into research that could shape the future of health. Apply now! 💙

📢📢📢𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓!

The Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC) April Webinar has been rescheduled for May 7, 2026.

This month's event will be hosted by Iloilo Doctors’ College and Saint Gabriel College.

The first study, “Abundance, Spatial Distribution, and Species Diversity of Red Macroalga Halymenia in Manila Bay, Philippines,” will be presented by Asst. Prof. Raymund N. Fantonalgo, Faculty Member of Iloilo Doctors’ College.

This will be followed by “Caregiver Strain Index among Informal Caregivers of Elderly with Medium to High Fall Risk in a Tertiary Hospital,” presented by Dr. Valerie Anne N. Bebita, FPCFP, CFP, Chief Resident, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Saint Gabriel Medical Center, Inc.

To join the webinar, please register through this link: https://onedo.st/2026WVHRDCAprilWebinar

This webinar is free. Register now, and we look forward to seeing you on the 7th!

Continue your research journey after R&D with the DOST-PCHRD's Support to Research Dissemination Services! From publication to presentation and more, bring your research to a wider audience and create greater impact. 🩵
🧑‍🏫 Present your PCHRD-supported research project in scientific conferences and meetings
📚 Publish your research in peer-reviewed research journals
🔬 Organize scientific events aligned with the research priorities of the PCHRD
Know how we can support you here: https://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/what.../research-utilization/
For inquiries, contact us via [email protected].

🎊🎉

DOST Western Visayas and the Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC) proudly congratulate Matt Jireh S. Tumlos and his adviser, Dr. Mizpah C. Villalobos of Central Philippine University (CPU), for this outstanding achievement.

Their study, “Determination of the Potential In Vitro Antihyperglycemic Activity of Leaf and Flower Fractions of Pandakaki-puti (Tabernaemontana pandacaqui) via α-Glucosidase Inhibition,” has been recognized as one of the grantees of the PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant on Natural Products for its 2025 Second Call..

This recognition highlights their dedication to research and contribution to advancing natural product studies. Congratulations, and we wish you continued success in your research journey.