The Batangas Medical Center Research Ethics Review Committee (RERC) reviews research protocols involving human participants to ensure that ethical standards are followed in accordance with national and international guidelines.
Researchers are required to obtain Ethics Approval before starting any research activities.
When is Ethics Review Required?
Researchers must apply for Ethics Review BEFORE:
✔ Starting data collection
✔ Recruiting research participants
✔ Conducting interviews, surveys, or experiments involving humans
✔ Implementing clinical or behavioral interventions
✔ Using patient records or identifiable health data
✔ Submitting research to journals that require ethics approval
⚠ Research must NOT begin without prior ethics approval from BatMC RERC.
Recommended Timeline for Submission
To avoid delays, researchers are advised to submit their application: At least 4–6 weeks before the intended start of the study
This allows time for:
Initial evaluation of documents
Ethics committee review
Required revisions or clarifications
Final approval processing
Incomplete submissions may delay the review process.
To: MARITESS TERESITA M. TORIO, MD, FPSP, MPH, MHA
Medical Center Chief II, Batangas Medical Center
Thru: TERESITA RISALYN V. VILLANUEVA, MD, FPPS
Chief, Professional Education Training and Research Office
📧 Send to: batmcrc@gmail.com
A MOA is required if a single institution expects to submit multiple or regular requests for ethics review.
Prepare a draft MOA for review.
Send the draft MOA to PETRU for their review and comments by emailing it to petro@batmc.doh.gov.ph
Incorporate all required revisions until the MOA is finalized.
Once finalized, sign and notarize the MOA.
Submit one (1) hard copy of the finalized MOA to the RERC office.
The MOA must be approved prior to the release of ethics approval
Required only for clinical trial protocols.
Same steps as MOA: draft → PETRU review → revise → sign & notarize → submit hard copy.
Must be approved before ethics approval.
Required for all submissions.
Valid for 6 months from issuance.
Complete all forms as indicated in the Complete Protocol Package Form.
Ensure Principal Investigator (PI) name and signature are included.
Submit forms in Word format without altering original formatting.
Required for PI, Co-Investigator, Adviser and Study Team members, if applicable.
GCP Certificate must be current within 3 years.
Follow the required format and use continuous line numbering (see Page Layout in MS Word).
Convert the document to PDF format (A4 size).
Include a footer on every page with Version Number / Submission Date.
Required for studies involving human participants.
Use the WHO ICF Template.
Required for children or participants unable to give full consent.
Used alongside parental/guardian consent.
10. Questionnaire – If Applicable
Submit survey/questionnaire instruments.
11. Plagiarism Report & Statistician Clearance
Plagiarism similarity must be ≤ 20% (≤ 25% for exempted studies).
Exclude dummy tables and bibliography from the plagiarism check.
Include an updated Statistician Clearance Certificate.
12. Non-Disclosure Forms – If Applicable
Required for PI, Co-Investigator, Research Adviser and Study Team members.
Forms must be notarized.
Applicable Forms:
Non-Disclosure Agreement Form for BatMC Personnel – Form 2.7.5
Non-Disclosure Undertaking for Site Outside BatMC – Form 2.7.6
Refer to the Protocol Package Checklist (Form 2.7.1) as applicable.
After completing all documents:
✔ Ensure no blank fields in all forms
✔ Verify signatures and document validity
✔ Compile all required files
Upload the documents through the online submission portal: 📂https://bit.ly/3LNdGL7
After uploading all required documents through the online submission portal, please send a notification email to inform the committee that your application has been submitted.
📧 Email: rerc@batmc.doh.gov.ph
Include in your email:
Study Title
Principal Investigator Name
Date of Submission
INFORMED CONSENT should be an INDIVIDUALIZED LETTER intended for your participants to be read. It should contain all the necessary detail about your research, in an understandable manner , so as to give your prospective participants an idea to which they shall base their participation or not.
Make sure TO AVOID COPYING AND PASTING PARTS OF YOUR PROTOCOL TO COMPOSE YOUR INFORMED CONSENT FORM.
PROTOCOL is intended to be read by those technically and scientifically oriented people, while INFORMED CONSENT is intended to be read by general population, may he / she be scientifically oriented or not. Hence the manner of writing in the informed consent should be more individualized and personal, rather than being too scientific.
Refer to the link below to access the INFORMED CONSENT TEMPLATE depending on the study type;
FOR DETAILED CHECKLIST OF YOUR ADHERENCE TO CONFIDENTIALITY FORMAT OF YOUR PROTOCOL PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND REFER TO THE CHECKLIST FOUND IN THE LINK BELOW: