CATBALOGAN CITY – As Samar State University (SSU) strengthens its pursuit towards research and innovation, it has also recognized that strict ethical standards must be followed especially in the use of animals as research subjects. With this, the University is giving high regard in promoting the Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines by spreading awareness through an online seminar held on February 2-3 (20) via Zoom.
The Webinar on Basic Animal Welfare, Care and Research in the Philippine Academic Setting generally aimed to orient participants on the basic concepts of animal welfare, care and research and to “protect and safeguard animals from exploitation” as said by Dr. Sherrie Ann C. Labid, Executive Director for Research.
The online seminar was made possible through the collaboration of the Institutional Research Ethics Review Committee of SSU, Philippine Association for Laboratory Animal Science (PALAS) and Cebu Technological University (CTU).
Participants from SSU, Northwest Samar State University (NWSSU), University of the Eastern Philippines (UEP), Leyte Normal University (LNU), St. Scholastica’s College of Tacloban, Eastern Visayas Regional Science High School, Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium, Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care, Food and Drug Administration, City Veterinary Office, and Provincial Veterinary Office attended the two-day webinar.
Experts from Cebu Technological University (CTU) and Philippine Association for Laboratory Animal Science (PALAS) served as speakers, namely Dr. Adrian P. Ybanez, Dr. Rochelle Haidee D. Ybanez, Dr. Rodel Jonathan S. Vitor II, and Dr. Melissa Marie R. Rondina.
Topics on Animal Welfare in the Philippines, Basics of IACUC and Practical Tips, Basic Laboratory Animal Handling, Animal Care and Use Program, Common Laboratory Animal Research Designs, Animal Biosafety Level and Facility Designs, Animal Care and Use Statement: Requirements in the Conduct of Research in Laboratory Animals Guidelines on Protocol Review, and Management and Care of Laboratory Animals were tackled.
SSU is committed in improving animal welfare through its active involvement and attention to animal ethics. Thus, several steps will be planned out by the University to establish the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) in compliance with the Philippine Animal Welfare Act following the said webinar.