Building on nearly four decades of pioneering health information sharing, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) is aggressively expanding access to local health R&D.

The Council’s Health Research and Development Information Network (HERDIN) team mobilized a massive nationwide campaign in the second quarter of 2026, conducting specialized orientations, hands-on research camps, library visits, and conference exhibits across academic institutions, hospitals, libraries, and professional organizations.

This massive push is bolstered by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum No. 076, series of 2026 (released on March 19, 2026). The memorandum officially endorses and encourages Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to integrate HERDIN into their academic and research programs. This integration aims to support instruction, strengthen institutional research capacity, and inform evidence-based policy development nationwide.

“Health R&D finds its greatest value when it is shared,” said DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. “Making health research information accessible enables our researchers to build on locally generated studies, supports evidence-informed policies and programs, and promotes the broader application of research findings to address the country’s health priorities.”

To ensure researchers, librarians, and students can fully maximize the platform, the HERDIN team executed a multi-pronged outreach strategy between April and June 2026.  HERDIN Orientations were conducted to introduce researchers, faculty members, and students to the system and demonstrate how HERDIN can support institutions in organizing, managing, and disseminating their health research studies. The orientation with the University of Makati was conducted virtually on 10 June, while the on-site session at the Occupational Safety and Health Center was held on 15 June. Both sessions familiarized participants with the repository and helped them maximize its use for research discovery and information management. 

The HERDIN team also conducted a series of research camps to provide hands-on guidance workshops that train institutions to organize and upload their health research studies in the repository. The research camps were held at the DOST – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) on 14 April, and the Occupational Safety and Health Center on 16 June, while virtual sessions were conducted at the Philippine Dental Association on 16 April, Ospital ng Makati on 30 April, San Juan De Dios Educational Foundation Inc. – College on 20 May. During these sessions, participants received guidance on organizing and preparing their health research information for inclusion in HERDIN. 

To reinforce platform usage, the HERDIN Team conducted library visits to promote HERDIN directly to local communities. During these visits, the team provided marketing materials to increase on-site visibility and encourage wider distribution among library patrons. On 15 June, the HERDIN Team visited the DOST – Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Library and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center Library, followed by a visit to the Occupational Safety and Health Center Library on 16 June. These visits encouraged greater utilization of HERDIN and strengthened awareness of health research among librarians, researchers, students, and other library users. 

Lastly, the HERDIN team participated in conferences to promote the repository and raise awareness of DOST-PCHRD’s programs and services. Through booth exhibits at the 56th Annual Convention of the Philippine College of Physicians from 4–6 May and the Philippine Society for Reproductive Medicine (PSRM) Midyear Convention 2026 on 19 May, convention participants learned about HERDIN and its free access to health research. HERDIN was also presented during the 38th National Congress and Seminar-Workshop of the Medical and Health Librarians Association of the Philippines on 6 May, highlighting the repository’s resources and services for medical and health librarians. HERDIN was likewise featured in a Radyo Pilipinas segment with Ched Oliva on 25 June, extending its reach beyond in-person activities.

Heeding the DOST mantra of #OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All, these initiatives affirm HERDIN’s mission to democratize health research in step with the mandate, “Science for health is science for the nation.”

As more institutions contribute their studies through HERDIN, the repository continues to grow as a national resource that makes health research easier to discover, use, and build upon, helping ensure that locally generated evidence informs research, policy, and practice. 

“Through HERDIN, we remain committed to ensuring that health research information is accessible to those who can use it to advance science and improve the health and well-being of Filipinos,” Secretary Solidum concluded.

About HERDIN

The Health Research and Development Information Network (HERDIN) is the national health research registry of the Philippines. It is an online platform that provides easy access to bibliographical and full-text health and health-related researchers in the country. To access the registry or register your institution, visit www.herdin.ph.