Dental Restorative Viability of Zinc Oxide NanoparticleReinforced Zirconia and Baghdadite Ceramic CompositesThis study explores the enhancement of properties in zirconia-based ceramic dental restorativematerials through the incorporation of baghdadite (Ca3ZrSi2O9) and zinc oxide (ZnO)nanoparticles. Baghdadite was synthesized via a solid-state sintering method and integrated intozirconia to form baghdadite/zirconia ceramic composites. These composites were sintered withvarying concentrations of baghdadite (0%, 5%, and 10%) to enhance bioactivity and supportbone tissue repair, and incorporated with 0.6% ZnO nanoparticles to improve antimicrobialproperties. The crystallographic structure, surface morphology, apparent density, antibacterialproperties, and cell viability were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM), Archimedes principle, agar plate method, and trypan blue exclusion assay,respectively. Protein adsorption was evaluated using bovine serum albumin (BSA). Resultsshowed that higher concentrations of baghdadite increased protein adhesion on the surface.The agar plate method revealed that ZnO nanoparticle-reinforced zirconia/baghdaditecomposites exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, particularly against Staphylococcusaureus and Escherichia coli. In addition, the composites demonstrated a significant high cellviability of 83.71%, promoting cell growth. These findings suggest that the incorporation ofbaghdadite and ZnO nanoparticles enhances the bioactivity, antimicrobial effectiveness, andbiocompatibility of zirconia, making it a viable candidate for dental restorative applications.RAGUINDIN, RICKY KRISTAN M.SR METALS, INC. PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGRicky Kristan M. Raguindin has been serving as a faculty member at the Department of Mining,Metallurgical and Materials Engineering of the University of the Philippines Diliman since 2023. Heearned his Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Engineering and his Master of Science degree inMaterials Science and Engineering at the same university. Aside from teaching, he advises undergraduatestudents in their research, covering topics such as nanotechnology and smart materials. He is an affiliateof the Active Nanomaterials Synthesis and Devices (ANSyD) Research Group and currently heads theMaterials Research Innovations and Collaborative Systems (MatRICS) Research Group. He has also beeninvolved in extension activities such as teaching/training high school STEM students/teachers andserving as an expert witness/resource person in a materials failure arbitration. His research interestsinclude micro- and nano-structured materials, biomaterials, composites, the valorization of materials,failure analysis, and green chemistry, among others.151
Three-Finger Chambered Pneumatic Gripper for Grasping andRotationIn the industry, robotic grippers were used in handling different types of objects. Traditionally,most grippers used hard and rigid bodies which were designed to grasp specific shapes;limiting them to hold a few types of objects. In addition, rigid bodies lacked the delicateness inhandling fragile objects that may be easily damaged. Recently, soft grippers were being used inthe industry in handling multiple types of objects due to their flexibility and low-cost fabrication.The research presents a three-finger chambered pneumatic gripper design. Each finger consistsof three air chambers where the middle chamber is used for grasping while the left and rightchambers are used for bending. The combination of the air chambers made it possible to graspand rotate the object it was holding. The soft fingers were fabricated by injecting silicone rubberinto 3D printed molds made using a CAD modelling software. A pneumatic diaphragm pumpwas used to inflate the air chambers of the soft fingers regulated by solenoid valves that werecontrolled by a microcontroller. Pressure sensors were used to monitor the pressure of eachchamber to provide feedback to the system. The control system of the test setup yielded aclosed loop step response with a maximum settling time of 380 ms and a maximum overshootof 20%. Soft robot characterization such as bending performance and force output at thefingertip were measured and described by quadratic equations. The grasping and rotation testsshowed that the pneumatic gripper was capable of grasping and rotating objects of varyingshapes, sizes, weight and delicateness.RAMOS, MANUEL JR. C.ALEXAN PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGManuel C. Ramos Jr. received his Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1998.He is a professor in the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute of the University of the PhilippinesDiliman. He is currently the director at the University Computer Center of the said university. His researchinterests are on control systems, nonlinear control, robotics, and fuzzy systems. His recent publicationsare on controller architectures of autonomous vehicles.152
Meta-Learning Framework for Sparse Multi-ObjectiveOptimizationBlack-Box Optimization (BBO) is increasingly becoming essential in solving complex real-worldoptimization problems since conventional optimization methods are limited due to itsdependence on domain experts and time-consuming processes. Meta-Black-Box Optimization(Meta-BBO) is emerging to be a vital approach which leverages on meta-learning to improve ordevelop optimization algorithms automatically. Meta-BBO has been mostly applied to singleobjective optimization problems with limited exploration in tackling multi–objective optimizationproblems specifically in the area of sparse multi-objective optimization problems (SMOPs).These problems involve optimizing multiple conflicting objectives where most decision variablesare zero (sparse solutions). Many real-world problems inherently exhibit sparsity such asfeature selection problem and pattern mining problem. The key challenge here is that highdimensional search spaces make discovering sparse Pareto-optimal particularly complex. Thisstudy investigates a meta-learning-based framework aimed at addressing sparse multi-objectiveoptimization problemsRAQUEL, CARLO R.DR. RODOLFO B. HERRERA PROFESSORIAL CHAIR Carlo Raquel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science in University of thePhilippines Diliman. He is affiliated with the Computer Vision and Machine Intelligence Group (CVMIG).He obtained his MS Computer Science from the University of the Philippines Diliman. His researchinterests are in evolutionary computation and machine learning.153
POMI: A Corpus to Support a Natural Language Inferencebased Approach for Detecting Misinformation in PhilippineOnline NewsAimed at combating misinformation through Artificial Intelligence-assisted fact-checking, thispaper introduces the Philippine Online Misinformation Inference (POMI) dataset, a compilationof 10,132 factual and false claims from Philippine fact-check articles, and the firstmisinformation corpus in the Philippines utilizing Natural Language Inference. In thebenchmarking, LLaMA 3.1 70B achieved 85.1% accuracy, outperforming smaller models suchas LLaMA 3.1 8B and DeepSeek-R1 8B, as well as larger and more recent models, includingLLaMA 3.3 70B and DeepSeek-R1 70B. However, applying fine-tuning to the smaller modelssubstantially boosted their performance; in particular, LLaMA 3.1 8B increased from 78.7% to94.5%, surpassing other models and highlighting the competitive potential of lightweightmodels for NLI-based tasks. The results establish the potential of the POMI dataset to supportdetection of false online content in the Philippines.REGONIA, PAUL ROSSENER R.ERNEST AND EVELYN CUA PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE,DATA SCIENCE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCEPaul Regonia is an associate professor in the Computer Vision and Machine Intelligence Lab, Departmentof Computer Science, at UP Diliman. His primary work involved modeling the brain dynamics in mentalhealth disorders, predicting material properties for manufacturing optimization and nanosafetyassessments, and AI-driven brain implant technologies. He is currently conducting postdoctoral researchat the Clinical Psychoinformatics Laboratory, Tokushima University, Japan, where he works on geotemporal modeling of psychosocial behaviors related to COVID-19.At present, Paul focuses on developing AI- and AR-enabled educational platforms, analyzingmisinformation in Philippine news using natural language processing, and creating dynamic models ofpsychological behaviors. His research strongly emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition, heteaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in artificial intelligence and data science. He is nowworking toward introducing a general education course in computer science and AI.154
UVLeBot: A Retrieval-Augmented Generation Chatbot forEnhanced Course Delivery in UP Diliman’s LearningManagement SystemAs artificial intelligence becomes more ubiquitous, it’s inherent hazards are becoming moreapparent. Hallucinations that deliver wrong information to those that ask LLMs are not carefullyreviewed. Humans are becoming more dependent on these technologies. Even education isaffected. Higher-order cognitive skills are no longer being put to the test because of thesetechnologies. Hence, we aim to reduce the misinformation from hallucinations by incorporatingRAG into a chatbot integrated into the university learning management system, UVLe. UVLeBotis a study on the feasibility of doing this RAG enabled chatbot using courses in AI as aprototype. The RAG system successfully integrated the knowledge base in the contents of AIcourses in UVLe to a high degree – reaching 0.932 relevance and 0.872 faithfulness. Theseboth suggest that on average, there is only a 10% mistake rate on answers generated by thischatbot compared to the 45% on non-RAG systems.REMOLONA, MIGUEL FRANCISCO M.UP KEM GLOBAL - DR. LUZ SALONGA PROFESSORIAL CHAIRIN CHEMICAL ENGINEERINGDr. Miguel Francisco Remolona is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and ArtificialIntelligence at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he also serves as Director of theInteractive Learning Center, leading initiatives that enhance digital learning and faculty developmentacross the university. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University andspecializes in applying AI to chemical engineering, focusing on knowledge management, natural languageprocessing, and machine learning. His research explores Industry 4.0 integration, data-driven solutions,and educational technologies to improve both academic and industrial practices. Dr. Remolona haspublished extensively on ontology-based systems and predictive modeling for chemical processes.Passionate about innovation and collaboration, he aims to bridge the gap between advancedcomputational methods and practical engineering applications, empowering both industry and academiato thrive in an increasingly data-driven world.155
An Indoor Low-Power Hydroponics Systems For Urban SpacesInnovating an IoT hydroponics farming system in a cabinet setup offers a more manageable andaccessible system, which addresses manpower, space, and agricultural issues. Wireless MeshNetwork (WMN) improves system communication, resiliency, and efficiency, reducing thecomplexity and high power consumption. The project implemented a hydroponics system in acabinet setup using a Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) with Time Slotted Channel Hopping(TSCH) to address high power consumption issues and ensure reliability and scalability ofsensor nodes in conducting remote system monitoring and maintenance. The system used aRaspberry Pi mi-crocontroller, Texas Instruments LPSTK-CC1352R1 and CC1352R, sensors,and actuators to monitor and maintain the health and growth of lettuce and developed throughthe Contiki-NG platform. TSCH is shown to outperform CSMA in terms of energy consumptionand radio duty cycle (RDC). Furthermore, it is also advantageous for large-scaling in terms ofPacket Delivery Ratio (PDR) compared to CSMA with more packet losses as the number ofnodes increases. Wireless sensor network of 7 sensor nodes deployed using TSCH MACsetting vastly reduced the power consumption by 73.89%ROSALES, MARC D.MANUEL M. LOPEZ UP CENTENNIAL PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGMarc D. Rosales is a Professor at the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute of the University ofthe Philippines Diliman. He holds Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication Engineeringand Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (Microelectronics) from University of the Philippines inDiliman and Doctoral Degree in Electronics, Optronics and Systems for Université Paris-Est (France).His research interests include; radio over fiber, integrated circuit design for sensor interfacing, energyharvesting and optoelectronic applications, and embedded systems for Internet of Things (IoT) relatedapplications. He served as project leader to various funded projects and programs from Department ofScience and Technology (DOST); and as co-project leader in a Commission on Higher Education -Philippines California Research Institutes (CHED-PCARI) funded project.156
Effect of Cold-bath Quenching on ElectrophoreticallyDeposited Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 Films with Various SupportingElectrolytesSuperconductors are materials that offer zero electric resistance below their transitiontemperature. Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (Bi-2212) is a high-temperature superconductor with manypromising applications in micro electronic devices, magnetic shielding, and high-currentcarrying wires. Smooth films are needed to utilize Bi 2212 for device applications. We depositedBi-2212 films using electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The films underwent rapid thermalannealing (RTA) in air and a cold bath. All films were post-annealed. Analyses of the x-raydiffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) data reveal that cold-quenchedsamples maintain their crystallinity while providing a more featureless surface. However,resistance versus temperature measurements show that cold quenching degrades thesuperconducting properties of the films.ROSETE, MARICAR M.PABLITO R. HAO CHUA PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN MATERIALS ENGINEERINGDr. Rosete is an Associate Professor of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and MaterialsEngineering of the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.Her main research focus is on superconductors, electrophoretic deposition techniques, suspensions, andthin films. The research articles she published are mainly about using electrophoretic depositiontechniques to fabricate high-quality superconducting films at lower costs. In the future, she intends to usethe films fabricated from this technique to produce superconducting devices for quantum-electronicapplications.Dr. Rosete is a homegrown scientist and engineer having obtained her Doctor of Philosophy and Masterof Science in Material Science and Engineering from the University of the Philippines. She also obtainedher Bachelor of Science in Materials Engineering from the University of the Philippines.157
Design and fabrication of an Arduino-based residence timedistribution (RTD) experimental setup for a chemicalengineering instructional laboratory courseThe residence time distribution (RTD) is a widely utilized hydrodynamic characterizationmeasure used for process optimization, scale-up, reactor performance assessment, anddetection of non-ideal flow behaviors in reactor vessels [1]. In the context of an instructionallaboratory course, the design and fabrication of an experimental setup that employs RTDanalysis is beneficial to students in learning process control, measurement, modelling, andprocess engineering in general. Previously, an initial Arduino-based RTD experimental setupwas designed and developed by students, advised by the applicant, in ChemE 136: SpecialProjects Laboratory as proof of concept [2]. The experiment was conducted to investigate theresidence time in a real non-reactive system by measuring the concentration of an injectedtracer before and after a plug flow vessel. Specifically, the concentration of the injected tracer(NaCl) was determined using conductivity measurements from two sensors. The measuredquantities were then translated into a residence time distribution and analyzed. However,possible improvements to the setup were determined, including but not limited to theinstallation of flowmeters, a flow-calming section before the vessel proper, an injectionmechanism for the tracer fluid, and a user interface for student experimenters. An outcomesbased evaluation of the experimental setup is also needed. Thus, this study seeks to addressthese points for improvement with the eventual goal of submitting the final setup to theDepartment of Chemical Engineering for use in its Process Engineering Laboratory course.ROXAS, RICARDO II M.BENJAMIN CHUA PROFESSORIAL CHAIR Ricardo is an assistant professor from the Process Systems Engineering Laboratory of the Department ofChemical Engineering. His research interests include machine learning applied in chemical engineeringand process control. He hopes to one day study process instrumentation and use this knowledge tofacilitate sensor data based process engineering education in the department's pilot plant.158
From Classroom Exercise to Campus Solution: A Frameworkfor Sustainable Student-Driven SoftwareIn computer science education, student-developed software projects are a cornerstone ofhands-on learning. However, the vast majority of these projects are abandoned upon coursecompletion, representing a significant loss of potential innovation and practical value. This paperargues that this \"disposable project\" paradigm can be transformed through intentionalcurriculum design and institutional partnerships. We present a qualitative case study of SUSê(Seamless, Ubiquitous, Safe, and Efficient), a service lending system developed byundergraduate students that was successfully deployed and utilized by over 1,000 users at theUniversity of the Philippines Diliman. By analyzing the academic and practical factors thatcontributed to its longevity, we propose a replicable framework for educational institutions. Theframework advocates for multi-semester project continuity, the strategic use of software artifactsas foundational knowledge products, and the establishment of symbiotic partnerships betweenstudent developers and internal university clients. The findings indicate that by shifting thefocus from short-term course requirements to long-term value creation, universities cancultivate an ecosystem where student projects become sustainable, reusable solutions thatprovide lasting benefits to both the students and the institution.SOLAMO, MA. ROWENA C.ARMENA-ESTUAR PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGMa. Rowena C. Solamo is an Assistant Professor who has significantly contributed to the UP DilimanDepartment of Computer Science since 2001, educating students in critical areas like SoftwareEngineering, Database Systems, Computer Programming, and Project Management, while also practicingher expertise by participating in software projects with the university and government agencies. Holding aBS Computer Science degree from Ateneo de Manila and an MS Computer Science degree from UPDiliman, she is a member of the Web Science Research Group under Prof. Rommel Feria, focusing herresearch on Web Science as applied to Health and Education. Her research trajectory has continuouslyevolved from Interaction Design and Persuasive Technology to her current compelling focus on HumaneTechnology, which seeks not only to address the harms of technology but also to maximize its potential toallow human beings to thrive.159
Optimizing Hull Design for a Battery-Electric Inland WaterwayCatamaranThe electrification of maritime vessels in the Philippines is at an early stage, with inlandwaterways emerging as prime candidates for this transition. This study focuses on optimizinghull design for an electric catamaran ferry to be operated on an inland waterway system in thePhilippines. Three hull designs were evaluated: broad, tapered, and fair form, each influencedby different battery capacities and operational requirements. Hydrodynamic simulations usingMaxsurf, statistical simulation using the design of experiments (DOE) feature of JMP softwareand iterative design refinements with Rhinoceros software were employed to minimize drag andenhance efficiency. The fair form hull demonstrated the highest energy efficiency, requiring31.08 kW at 8 knots cruising speed, with an energy economy of 2.57 kWh per km while alsosatisfying the other restrictions determined from the deployment site. This integrated approachunderscores the importance of hull design in enhancing the performance and sustainability ofelectric ferries.TRIA, LEW ANDREW R.DEAN FRANCISCO L. VIRAY PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGLew Andrew Tria is a professor at the UP Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute handling coursesin the field of Electrical, Electronics, and Energy Engineering since 2009. He obtained his BS and MSdegrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman and hisPh.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of New South Wales in Sydney Australia. Healso obtained a Master’s degree in Innovation and Business from the Asian Institute of Management in2021. His research interests include applications of power electronics, electric motor design, and designof energy systems such as solar photovoltaics and electric vehicles. Currently he leads research projectson electrification of the Pasig River Ferry System and development of an electric public utility bus.160
Weather-based Safety Assessment and Optimization ofPassenger Ship Routes in the PhilippinesThe Philippines faces frequent weather-related risks due to typhoons, monsoon winds, and highwaves. Domestic ferry routes remain mostly static and are not systematically adjusted based onseasonal or annual weather conditions, increasing the likelihood of capsizing, delays, andpassenger safety incidents. This study uses a weather-based safety assessment andoptimization framework for passenger ship routes to assess safety risk of historical routes.Existing ferry routes were collected and evaluated using annual wind and wave data. A safetycost metric—based on vessel exposure to beam waves and winds—was integrated into amodified time-dependent Dijkstra’s algorithm to generate safer alternative routes. Results showthat several current routes encounter high safety exposure, while optimized routes reducebeam-sea interaction with minimal detours. The study demonstrates that safety-focused routingcan enhance resilience of Philippine maritime transport and provides a basis for data-drivenpolicy and operational route adjustments.VILLAR, JOHN JUSTINE S.DEAN REYNALDO B. VEA PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGDr. John Justine Villar is currently a Professor and Chair at the Department of Computer Science, Collegeof Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman. He is a faculty adviser at the Scientific ComputingLaboratory of the Department of Computer Science and a Research and Extension Fellow at the IntelligentTransportation Systems Laboratory of the National Center for Transportation Studies. His research workspans topics in computational biology and optimization models in transportation. He is involved invarious DOST-funded land and maritime transportation research projects such as Project MARIS in 2019-2020, Project PAROLA in 2021, Project MEDIANS in 2022, Project E-TraMS and Project VIROS-ROVE in2023-2024 and Project ALON in 2024-2025. From these, he is also awarded the Kabalikat SeasonedResearcher award by the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research andDevelopment of DOST. He is also a current member of the Interagency Technical Working Group in ActiveTransport headed by DOH and Chair of TC 93 (Intelligent Transportation Systems) of DTI-Bureau ofProduct Standards.161
A Simulation-Optimization Approach for Optimizing ServiceProvision of Multi-Service QueuesQueueing systems in the real world can involve multiple types of services provided, such asdoctors with different specializations in hospitals, highway toll booths handling cash or RFIDpayment, and the provision of several fuels in various dispensers in gasoline stations. Thesetypes of queues diverge from the common queue types in queueing theory, where it is assumedthat only one service type is provided. This study investigates the scenario where a queueingsystem is to be designed to optimize the system performance with respect to relevant metrics,in particular, the average sojourn time of all customers that entered the system. Specifically, thestudy tackles the problem of determining which services to offer in a queueing system with afixed number of servers and a fixed service capacity (i.e. number of services provided) perserver. In order to provide a mathematically tractable solution, the combinatorial optimizationproblem is formulated as an integer program that is solved using the Particle Swarmmetaheuristic. Results show improvements of up to 6.9342% in the identified performanceupon the implementation of the optimal configuration of the queueing system. Sensitivityanalysis shows the robustness of the methodology for varying mean values of the arrivaldistribution, allowing for a wider range of applicability in the real world.VILLENA, PIERRE ALLAN C.JARDIOLIN FAMILY PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERING (1)Pierre Allan C. Villena is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering andOperations Research, University of the Philippines Diliman, and currently serves as the department’sQuality Assurance Officer. His research interests include data science, artificial intelligence, operationsresearch, and quality control. His work aims to contribute to the advancement of modern industrialengineering practices through the integration of quantitative methods, data-driven analysis, and emergingAI techniques.162
Evaluating Branch Swapping Methods for Topology Search inMachine Learning-Augmented Phylogenetic Tree InferenceMethods for inferring phylogenetic trees such as maximum likelihood-based methods facescalability challenges due to the computational cost of evaluating candidate trees. To addressthis, the study evaluates the potential of integrating machine learning models with branchswapping heuristics for guiding tree search. We assess model performance based on Spearmancorrelation with true likelihood rankings, as well as the relative position of the predicted bestneighbor within the empirical ranking, and vice versa. Our results highlight the potential ofmachine learning-guided heuristics to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of phylogenetic treeinference, and extend prior work by comparing multiple heuristics beyond Subtree Pruning andRegrafting.YAP, JAN MICHAEL C.ENRIQUE LEE LAGUINIA PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGJan Michael C. Yap, Ph.D. is a recipient of the PHINMA Foundation Professorial Chair in Engineering. Heis a Professor in the Department of Computer Science, and is a member of the Algorithms andComplexity Laboratory. He earned his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophyin Computer Science degrees in the University of the Philippines Diliman. His main research interestsinclude bioinformatics, computational and systems biology, data analysis and visualization, and computerscience education.Dr. Yap once served as the Program Director of both the Core Facility for Bioinformatics and theComputational Genomics and Systems Biology research program of the UP Philippine Genome Center(PGC) from 2019 to 2023. He was involved in the group tasked to handle bioinformatics analysis neededfor the genomic biosurveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in the country during the height of the COVID-19pandemic.163
Strengthening Policy, Strengthening Policy,Governance, Governance,and Digital Systems and Digital SystemsTHEME 05164
An Assessment of the Effectiveness of the PhilippineGovernment Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) inPromoting Good GovernanceGood governance in public procurement is not only desirable – it is essential. Publicprocurement in the Philippines has been riddled with corruption issues through the years,hindering the e iciency and e ectiveness of the delivery of critical goods and services to theFilipino people. E-procurement systems such as the Philippine Government ElectronicProcurement System or PhilGEPS have the potential to improve the public procurement processthrough streamlining, digitizing, and automating key aspects of the public procurement process,improving e iciency, competitiveness, as well as transparency for all stakeholders. The objectiveof this study is to assess the e ectiveness of the current PhilGEPS system in curbing corruptionand promoting good governance. Particularly, the study will examine the availability,accessibility, and timeliness of available data in the PhilGEPS system, and compare these withthe e-procurement systems of other governments through thorough benchmarking. The resultsof this study can be used to improve the e ectiveness and transparency of the PhilGEPS system,supporting the improvement of the Philippine public procurement system accordingly.ANG DY PAY, GEORGIANA L.Fortunato T. de la Peña Professorial Chair for Productivity EngineeringGeorgiana L. Ang Dy Pay is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering andOperations Research where she handles courses in engineering economy, statistics, and supply chainmanagement. She received her bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 2014 and her master'sdegree in finance in 2020, both from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Her research interestsinclude supply chain sustainability, systems analysis and improvement, and operations management.165
FixAble: Creating An Automated Scanning and Fixing Tool forWeb Accessibility ComplianceWeb accessibility is crucial in establishing inclusive digital experiences for users withimpairments. Despite its importance, a 2025 study by WebAIM revealed that many websites stillfail to comply with the Web Accessibility Content Guidelines version 2 (WCAG2), a globalstandard for web accessibility. Existing tools primarily assist in detecting accessibility issues,but often rely on manual developer intervention for remediation, limiting their practicality inlarge-scale applications. This research introduces FixAble, an integrated system designed toautomate the detection and remediation of accessibility violations within web pages. FixAbleachieved a 77.23% reduction in accessibility issues based on axe-core audits and a 68.30%reduction according to WAVE assessments. Consequently, the tool demonstrates the significantpotential of scalable, efficient automated solutions in promoting web accessibility.FERIA, ROMMEL P.DEAN JUAN L. TIONGSON PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGRommel P. Feria is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and leads the Web Science Lab. Hisresearch interests are on ethical computing, healthcare informatics, decentralized computing andinformation systems engineering. Rommel is a TED Fellow, an Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE), asenior member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and a member of the Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).166
Comparison of Deepfake Detection Transformer ModelsAgainst Adversarial AttacksDeepfakes, a form of synthetic media generated using artificial intelligence (AI), may posesignificant threats due to their increasing realism and potential for misuse in pornography,disinformation, and political manipulation. While numerous deepfake detection systems havebeen developed, their vulnerability to be bypassed by adversarial attacks remains a criticalconcern. These adversarial attacks, which involve subtly altering deepfakes to evade detection,can severely com- promise the accuracy and reliability of these systems. This research continues to examine the robustness of state-of-the-art deepfake detection models, particularlythose based on convolutional neural net- works (CNNs), transformers, and hybrid architectures.By evaluating the performance of these models against a range of adversarial attacks, theresearch aims to identify vulnerabilities in their design and inform the development of morerobust deepfake detection techniques, and other key gaps in research.FESTIN, SUSAN P.FILEMON RODRIGUEZ PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGSusan Pancho-Festin is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science and is the current head ofthe Computer Security Group. She obtained her PhD from Cambridge University, where she was part ofthe Security Group at the Computer Laboratory. Prior to this, she graduated from Royal HollowayUniversity of London with an MSc in Information Security degree. Her research interests are in securityprotocols and secure software engineering. Since 2002, she has led several research and developmentprojects, with funding from various agencies such as the UP, DOST, and CHED. She has also been arecipient of funding from external agencies such as the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation,Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and Microsoft Research Asia. She holds the Filemon RodriguezProfessorial Chair in Computer Science.167
Driving Change: Lessons on the Electrification andModernization of Jeepneys in the PhilippinesThis paper investigates the adoption dynamics and operational challenges of electric jeepneys(E-jeepneys) within the framework of the Philippine Public Utility Vehicle ModernizationProgram (PUVMP). Through qualitative case studies of 4 jeepney entities, the study exploresprimary motivations, business models and challenges encountered during the transition fromtraditional to E-jeepneys. Key findings emphasize the pivotal role of government subsidies,alternative financing schemes and local government support in facilitating vehicle acquisition,route planning, and smooth operations. Operational benefits, such as reduced costs andenhanced service capabilities through cooperative alliances, are identified as critical factorscontributing to successful E-jeepney integration. However, challenges remain in infrastructuredevelopment, operational sustainability, and regulatory alignment across diverse localities. Theresearch underscores the importance of tailored policy frameworks, robust infrastructureinvestments, and sustainable business models to support ongoing transport modernizationefforts. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders navigatingsimilar initiatives globally.GASPAY, SANDY MAE A.FELICISIMO V. OPLE AND FELICISIMO S. OPLE, JR. PROFESSORIAL CHAIRIN ENGINEERINGDr. Sandy Mae A. Gaspay is an Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines-Diliman Instituteof Civil Engineering. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in UP Diliman and her Masters and PhD at TheUniversity of Tokyo. She currently heads the Traffic Engineering and Management Group of the NationalCenter for Transportation Studies which focuses on traffic efficiency and safety studies. She is also atransportation consultant specializing in urban transportation, transportation planning, policy and projectdevelopment.She used to work at the Philippine Department of Transportation wherein she was involved in the study,development, an implementation of various infrastructure projects as well as the public transportationreform program. She is currently doing research on mobility in urban areas, focusing on the efficiencyand accessibility of public transportation services and infrastructure, as well as on the safety of a diversegroup of road users including cyclists and pedestrians.168
A LADM-Based Digital Platform for Spatially Enabled LandAdministration in Local GovernmentThe San Jose del Monte – Land Information Portal or SJDM-LIP is a city-level land informationsystems developed following the philosophy and premises of the land administration domainmodel or LADM. Its main objective is to integrate spatial planning regulations, zoningordinances and land development information into legal land data such as tax maps andcadastral databases, allowing a more accurate and up-to-date tool in local governance. Theinitial prototype is in creating digital systems to revise and automate the locational clearanceprocedure, which is one of the most critical opening processes in land use regulation anddevelopment. SJDM-LIP replaces many of the fragmented and manual steps in this process byan interactive tool that embeds some of the analytical computations such as spatial zoningvalidation, information checking, document submission and interpretation. More importantly, thesystem integrates all its data and derivatives into a centralized LADM-based database ensuringup-to-date and accurate representation that is scalable to other land administration functions.Technically, SJDM-LIP is built with a PostgreSQL/PostGIS database, Node.js/Express API, and aReact frontend using Vite. Its central land database is designed following LADM’s core packages(LA_Party, LA_SpatialUnit, LA_RRR, LA_BAUnit) to manage versioned spatial units, tenurerights, and administrative records. Key features include spatial queries for zoning validation,version-controlled tracking of land documents and zoning maps, and a modular design forfuture expansion to workflows such as land tenure recognition and permitting, landdevelopment project monitoring and community-level data integration. The SJDM-LIP projectdemonstrates how standardized land data models (e.g. LADM-based data models) and spatialtechnology can leverage transparent, scalable and sustainable land administration.MACAPINLAC, OLIVER T.DAVID M. CONSUNJI PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGEngr. Oliver Macapinlac is the recipient of the David M. Consunji (DMCI) Professorial Chair Award. Withover 15 years of experience in GIS, he specializes in project management, program design, GIS and webmapping applications, data modeling, and integrating spatial data products.As a faculty member at the University of the Philippines – Diliman, Department of Geodetic Engineering,and the Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry (UP-TCAGP), he teaches GIS forDisaster Risk Reduction (DRR), land-use planning, agricultural mapping, Remote Sensing (RS), and GISfor real estate applications. He also promotes the use of free and open-source software (FOSS) and webmapping technologies.Engr. Macapinlac holds an M.Sc. in Remote Sensing and a B.Sc. in Geodetic Engineering, both from theUniversity of the Philippines – Diliman. His work has significantly advanced GIS applications in variousfields especially in land administration.169
Is the Must-Offer Rule a Must? Analyzing the Effect ofRemoving the Offered Capacity Compliance in the PhilippineWholesale Electricity MarketThe Must-Offer Rule (MOR) is a regulatory requirement in the Philippine Wholesale ElectricitySpot Market (WESM) mandating generators to offer their maximum available capacity,preventing capacity withholding, and maximizing capacity offers in order to improve marketclearing prices. However, generators may bypass this by lowering ramp rates or disconnecting,while variable renewables are exempt due to intermittency. The study evaluated the necessity ofthe MOR under various market conditions using iPool®. March to May 2024 data served as thebase case, which was used to simulate the removal of MOR by removing offers at 32000PHP/MWh, and an increase in DSB participation. The system model was projected to the year2050 based on the REF scenario of the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050. Results showed thatremoving the MOR under current conditions increased prices by 2.02% and showed anelevated risk of supply scarcity during high-demand periods. In contrast, implementing DSB byremoving 750 MW of demand during peak periods in the removed MOR scenario mitigated aprice increase. The 2050 with high RE scenario showed decreased prices even when MOR wasremoved, however, increased outages during non-solar hours were observed. Such scarcity canbe addressed using wider adoption of storage technologies. This study showed that while MORhelps lower prices, such a requirement is less critical as RE with relevant storage, and DSBmechanisms are adopted. Eventually, a gradual MOR reform may allow offers below maximumavailable capacity.ORILLAZA, JORDAN REL C.PETROENERGY RESOURCES PROF CHAIR IN ENERGY ENGINEERINGJordan is a professor at the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute where he handles courses onpower systems and electric power quality, and electrical machines. He heads the Electricity MarketResearch Laboratory where he advises graduate and undergraduate students on research that involvesthe effect of electricity markets on the operation of the grid and the distribution network. This issupported by his experiences as a member of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) governancecommittee. He earned his PhD in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Canterbury in2012. He and his wife, Louella together with their daughter, Aila resides in Quezon City.170
Integrating Evidence-Based Tools for Safer SchoolEnvironments: SR4S and Walkability Insights from Naga City,PhilippinesRoad traffic injuries are a persistent threat to school-aged children in urban areas, where mixedtraffic, inadequate pedestrian infrastructure, and poor road design expose them to daily risks. Toproject its 2028 vision of a “Walkable, Orderly, and Secure City,” Naga City adopted twodiagnostic tools: the iRAPs Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) and the Clean Air Asia–AsianDevelopment Bank (ADB) Walkability Assessment Tools. SR4S assessments were carried out inthree pilot schools—Camarines Sur National High School, Naga Central School, andUniversidad de Sta. Isabel—through structured evaluations of different road attributes. Resultsrevealed that two schools received low ratings (1–2 stars), reflecting unsafe conditions such asinadequate crossings and lack of signage. Recommended interventions, including reducedoperating speeds, designated crossings, parking restrictions, sidewalk improvements, andcrossing supervisors, demonstrated strong potential to raise conditions to 4–5 stars.Complementary walkability surveys in the city’s central business district and surroundingcorridors indicated an average score of 53/100, with institutional and residential areasperforming moderately but commercial and transport zones revealing significant gaps. Together,these assessments provide a robust evidence base for prioritizing child-centered, cost-effectiveinterventions that advance safer, more inclusive mobility.REGIDOR, JOSE REGIN F.SMC INFRASTRUCTURE PROFESSORIAL CHAIRIN TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERINGDr. Jose Regin F. Regidor graduated with a degree in BS and MS in Civil Engineering at the University ofthe Philippines Diliman in 1993 and 1995. He holds a Doctor of Engineering degree from YokohamaNational University, Japan (1999). Dr. Regidor was Visiting Scientist at the then Tokyo Institute ofTechnology (1996) and Saitama University (2001 and 2008). He is currently Director of the Institute ofCivil Engineering of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Engineering, and he is also aResearch and Extension Fellow at the National Center for Transportation Studies where he was Directorfrom 2006 to 2012. Dr. Regidor’s current research interests are on sustainable transport and road safety.His most recent engagements were as Deputy Program Lead on the Child Road Traffic Injury Prevention(CRTIP) program for UNICEF and as Project Lead on the formulation of Transport Plan for the City ofNaga.171
A Public Policy-Enhanced Multi-Objective Optimization OfPhilippine Energy Infrastructure: A 2040 OutlookThe global transition to sustainable energy systems presents significant challenges fordeveloping countries in optimizing energy allocation while balancing economic constraints andrenewable energy targets. This study proposes a multi-objective optimization model thatminimizes total allocation costs while maximizing renewable energy distribution acrossindustrial sectors. The model integrates Feed-in Tariff rates and Renewable Energy Portfoliorequirements to evaluate policy intervention impacts. Furthermore, the proposed computationalframework addresses critical gaps in the domain literature by incorporating policyconsiderations and emerging renewable energy technologies alongside established sources. Acase study of Philippine energy infrastructure was conducted, simulating nine scenarios across2025-, 2030-, and 2040-time horizons. Scenarios examined various policy combinations andtheir effects on achieving 35% and 50% renewable energy targets. The optimization modelsuccessfully achieved targeted values for each scenario, with Pareto analyses revealing expectedtrade-offs between higher renewable energy shares and increased costs. The resultsdemonstrate that ongoing renewable energy projects possess sufficient capacity to support therenewable energy target, emphasizing stakeholder support importance. Policy interventionsconsistently showed positive impacts in reducing allocation costs and maximizing renewableenergy allocation, though implementation requires government subsidization and additionalsupport mechanisms. This data-driven approach provides a robust analytical tool for developingcountries pursuing sustainable energy transitions while maintaining economic viability andindustrial competitiveness.RESURRECCION, JOANNA Z.HYDRO RESOURCES CONTRACTORS CORPORATION PROFESSORIAL CHAIRIN ENGINEERINGDr. Joanna Z. Resurreccion is an Associate Professor at the UP Department of Industrial Engineering andOperations Research. She currently serves as its graduate program coordinator and head of the KaizenInnovation Makerspace Laboratory. She is also affiliated with the IE Optimization Laboratory and theEnvironmental Engineering program with the latter being its Systems Track Head. She received both herbachelor's and master's degrees in Industrial Engineering from the University of the Philippines Dilimanand her PhD degree in Systems Engineering from the George Washington University, USA. Herspecialization includes input-output analysis, disaster and operational risk analysis, optimization andenvironmental sustainability modeling.172
Advancing Philippine Local Governance through GeospatialArtificial IntelligenceThe convergence of geospatial technologies and artificial intelligence, referred to as GeospatialArtificial Intelligence (GeoAI), is transforming how local governments make decisions anddeliver public services. This paper examines the role of GeoAI in improving local governance inthe Philippines, focusing on its ability to address gaps in data integration, digital maturity, andinstitutional coordination. By combining spatial data from remote sensing, drones, and groundbased sensors with machine learning and predictive analytics, GeoAI enables real-timemonitoring, simulation, and decision support for applications such as urban planning,infrastructure management, and environmental resilience. Drawing on case studies from theUniversity of the Philippines National Engineering Center, including digital twin development,smart region systems, and digital governance capacity-building programs, this study identifiesboth the opportunities and constraints in adopting GeoAI within the public sector. The analysisemphasizes that technical innovation must be accompanied by organizational readiness,leadership commitment, and human capacity development to achieve lasting transformation.The findings underscore that while technology provides the foundation for smarter systems, it ispeople, institutions, and collaboration that sustain them. The paper concludes with an adoptionand implementation roadmap that integrates spatial intelligence, policy alignment, andparticipatory digitalization to promote transparent, resilient, and citizen-centered governance.SARMIENTO, CZAR JAKIRI S.ARISTON I. DE LOS REYES ENGINEERING CENTENNIAL PROFESSORIAL CHAIRDr. Jak Sarmiento is a Professor of Geodetic Engineering in UP Diliman and a Faculty Affiliate of the UP AI Program. He holds aPh.D. in Surveying and Spatial Information Systems from the University of New South Wales, and leads research projects inGeodesy, Smart Cities, Space Applications, and Archaeology. He has consulted for the UN and various international aidorganizations and has actively contributed to updating the Manual of Land Surveys and developing next-generation Philippinereference systems.He is currently the Deputy Executive Director of the National Engineering Center and previously served as Chair of the UPDepartment of Geodetic Engineering and Director of TCAGP. He is a member of the Department of Agriculture's Pool of Experts. Heis a member of the International Association of Geodesy, a UP Scientist I, and serves on UP’s Research Ethics Board.Dr. Sarmiento founded The Research and Development Laboratory for Computational Geodesy, and Lungsod Gabai Solutions, Inc.whose team recently received the Gawad Pangulo para sa Natatanging Inobasyon. His recognitions include the 2024 NationalOutstanding Geodetic Engineer in the Academe, 2024 UP College of Engineering Outstanding Professor, 2023 NCR OutstandingGeodetic Engineer in the Academe, and the 2022 UP Alumni Engineers Professional Degree Award.173
MasquerAge: Anonymous Age Verification Using the ModularOpen Source Identity PlatformTraditional identity verification methods pose significant challenges to user privacy and security,often requiring individuals to disclose more personal information than necessary for manualverification. As the country advances toward a digital economy, the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) provides an opportunity to shift from physical document checks to a unifiedand secure digital identity framework. This paper introduces MasquerAge, an age verificationsystem leveraging the Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP). The system utilizes MOSIP-based IDs, containing QR codes aligned with PhilSys specifications, to perform secureage verification. A web application was developed to facilitate scanning QR codes andauthenticating users via MOSIP APIs. Performance testing showed the system to be generallyefficient; however, cryptographic processes required by MOSIP introduced noticeable latency.The results highlight the viability of a privacy-preserving age verification system whileidentifying areas for optimizations and security enhancements in real-world implementations.TAN, WILSON M.FOCUS GLOBAL INC. PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGWilson M. Tan, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Science, College of Engineering, University ofthe Philippines-Diliman. He has led several research projects funded by the Department of Science andTechnology, and the Commission on Higher Education. He has also collaborated in research efforts withinstitutions such as the Advanced Science and Technology Institute, Samsung Research Philippines, andthe Department of Transportation. In addition to his post in the Department of Computer Science, Dr. Tanis also currently a Research Fellow in the National Center of Transportation Studies. His research interestsinclude general networking technologies, as well as Internet of Things, Future Internet Technologies, andtransportation analytics.174
Ethical Conundrums in Geotechnical EngineeringEthical conundrums are frequently encountered in the practice of Geotechnical Engineering.Situations considered in this paper where ethical conundrums occur include: circumstances inwhich there is no consensus regarding what is ethical or unethical behavior; conflicting moralprinciples make the right course not obvious; and understanding why individuals choose toengage in behavior despite their knowledge that such behavior is unethical. The paper beginswith a discussion of the philosophical foundations of Ethics as they relate to the fundamentalprinciples and canons of Engineering Ethics. Examples based on real world cases encounteredin Geotechnical Engineering practice are presented to illustrated each of the seven fundamentalcannons of engineering ethics. Examples are analyzed from the Philosophical, Psycho-Social,and Socio-Political Perspective.ZARCO, MARK ALBERT H.DAVID Y. TAN PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERINGMark Albert H. Zarco is a Professor of Civil Engineering and the head of the Geotechnical EngineeringGroup, Institute of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman. He is currently President of thePhilippine Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, chair of the GeotechnicalEngineering Specialty Division of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE). He is a PICE fellow, anhonorary member of the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP), and a director ofthe International Press-in Association (IPA).Prof. Zarco holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (cum laude) and a Master of Science in CivilEngineering from the University of the Philippines Diliman, and a Doctor of Philosophy in CivilEngineering majoring in Geotechnical Engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateUniversity.175
Using an Agent – based Model in Simulating the Results of the2028 Presidential Elections based on the results of the 2025Senatorial ElectionsThis study employs an agent-based modeling (ABM) approach to simulate potential outcomesof the 2028 Philippine presidential election, using the 2025 senatorial results as baseline data.Candidate proxies—pink (Aquino, Pangilinan), green (Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa), and blue(Erwin Tulfo)—are modeled to capture coalition strengths without predicting specific individuals.Municipal-level vote counts are generated from normal distributions, with means calibratedfrom 2025 results and variances reflecting electoral solidity. Municipalities are further classifiedas solid, likely, leaning, or swing, enabling analysis of structural strongholds versus competitiveareas. Results from the two-candidate model show a north-south divide: pink dominant inNorthern and Central Luzon, green in Mindanao and parts of Southern Luzon, with swingprovinces proving decisive. The three-candidate model introduces greater fragmentation, asblue reduces pink consolidation while reinforcing green’s lead. The findings demonstrate ABM’svalue as an exploratory tool for understanding electoral geography, bailiwicks, and emergentdynamics in Philippine elections.ZUÑIGA, PHILIP CHRISTIAN C.UP ALUMNI ENGINEERS PROFESSORIAL CHAIR IN ENGINEERINGPhilip Christian C. Zuñiga is a faculty member and researcher whose work spans formal methods, digital healthinteroperability, and large-scale information system design in the public sector. His academic agenda centers ondeveloping rigorous, mathematical foundations for secure interoperability, particularly in health and governmentinformation exchanges. He is currently pursuing his dissertation, A Formal Characterization of Secure Interoperabilityin Information Exchanges, which integrates algebraic structures, set-theoretic modeling, and security properties suchas access control, consent, and authentication into a unified framework.He has supervised and conducted research across digital health architectures, HL7® FHIR®-based nationalstandards, agent-based modeling, and data governance, regularly producing scholarly outputs for conferences,journals, and government-funded initiatives. As an educator, he teaches discrete mathematics, number theory, anddigital health, embedding formal reasoning into applied system design. His academic work is complemented byongoing engagements in national digital transformation projects, where he links theoretical models to real-worldimplementations.176
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