The Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development (BCHRD) was established in 2007 with the primary objective of instituting and strengthening collaborative systems in the Bicol Region to develop and enhance the research capacities of regional institutions as a strategy to improve the health conditions of the Bicolanos.
The initial base institution of the consortium was at the Ago Medical and Educational Center–Bicol Christian College of Medicine (AMEC-BCCM). The pioneer Chairperson of the BCHRD was Dr. Angelita F. Ago, President of AMEC-BCCM, with Dr. Elma Cabrera serving as the pioneer Consortium Director.
In 2012, the BCHRD was transferred to Bicol University (BU) as its base agency. With BU as the host institution, Dr. Fay Lea Patria Lauraya, President of Bicol University, became the second Chairperson of the consortium, while Dr. Alma Banua was designated as the second Consortium Director. The overall management of the consortium is vested in the Regional Health Research and Development Coordinating Council (RHRCC), which serves as the consortium’s policymaking body.
In the same year, four working committees were created, namely: Research and Development (R&D), Ethics Review, Capacity Building, and Research Information, Communication and Utilization (RICU). Each committee is headed by a chairperson elected by the respective committee members. In 2013, the consortium’s membership expanded to fifteen institutions.
In 2015, following the appointment of Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas as the 8th President of Bicol University in March 2015, he assumed the position of Chairperson of the BCHRD, with Dr. Alma Banua continuing to serve as the Consortium Director.
In 2023, the BCHRD was officially transferred to the Department of Science and Technology Region V (DOST-V) as its new base agency. With DOST-V as the host institution, Mr. Rommel R. Serrano, Regional Director of DOST-V, became the new Chairperson of the consortium, while Ms. Ma. Theresa D. Alcantara was designated as the new Consortium Director. To align the regional structure with the 2023-2028 National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA) and the new Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Strategic Map, the four working committees were renamed into: Research Management Committee (RMC), Research Ethics Committee (REC), Research Utilization Committee (RUC), and Capacity Building Committee (CBC).
Under DOST-Bicol’s leadership, the consortium achieved significant milestones, including solidifying the consortium’s future trajectory by crafting the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan and defining the 2023-2028 Bicol Regional Health Research Priorities to ensure that local innovation remains responsive to the region’s most critical health needs. In 2025, the consortium successfully hosted the 18th PNHRS Week Celebration, which elevated the region’s profile on the national stage. Additionally, the consortium’s membership grew to nineteen (19) Institutions, with the addition of the Divine Word College of Legazpi (DWCL), Sorsogon State University (SorSU), and the return of University of Santo Tomas - Legazpi (UST-L), marking a significant milestone in regional health research collaboration.
In 2026, the BCHRD leadership is composed of Dr. Demetrio P. Anduyan Jr., serving as the Chairperson of the consortium, Dr. Amado A. Oliva Jr., as the Vice-Chairperson, and Ms. Ma. Theresa D. Alcantara, as the Consortium Director.
