Review and Publication Process

The review process will follow the peer refereeing system with a three-stage evaluation process:

Stage 1- Initial Appraisal (IA) by the Editortial Team to determine whether the manuscript will be endorsed for an external review or be returned to the author/s for revision. The following activities shall be undertaken in the initial appraisal:

  • Plagiarism check-originality of the manuscript (similarity index should be no more than 10%),
  • Ensure that each manuscript fits the objectives and standards of the journal
  • Establish significance, the technical soundness of the paper

    Author/s is/are given two to four weeks to revise the manuscript depending on the security and completeness of revisions required. Manuscripts revised following the initial appraisal with attached accomplished and signed commitment form are sent for double-blind refereeing by at least two external reviewers.

Stage 2- Double-Blind External Review (DBER) by at least two external reviewers. The external reviewers are determined by the Editorial Board and given a month to evaluate the manuscripts.

  • Comments and suggestions resulting from the refereeing are consolidated and sent to the authors for appropriate action. 
  • The author/s is/are given two (2) weeks to revise and resubmit the manuscript.
  • The revised manuscript shall undergo final scrutiny by the Editorial Team.

Accepted papers for publication are then subjected to final language editing by the Managing Editors and the Editors-in-Chief.

Stage 3- Editorial Board Evaluation (EBE) by the Managing Editors and the Editors-in-Chief. This process ensures that the external reviewers’ suggestions are incorporated in the manuscript, on which the acceptance for publication of the proposed article shall be contingent.

  • For final language editing
  • When ready, proofs are again sent to the author/s for his/her/their final review.
  • The author/s is/are expected to return the proofs within a week.  Failure on the part of the author/s to send any feedback within said time implies acceptance of proofs without corrections.
  • As soon as the camera-ready copy of the journal volume is prepared, it will be sent to the Web-Editor for uploading of the new issue of the journal on the online platform..