Transportation Engineering (TRE) Students at the 25th Annual National Conference of Transportation Science Society of the Philippines (TSSP)

DLSU delegation to TSSP: [L-R back row] Monorom Rith, Jhun Castro, Krister Roquel and Daniel Ang. [L-R front row] Sherwin Calumba, Christine Tan, Kathleen Alucilja, Dr. Alexis Fillone, Raymund Abad, Kervin Lucas, and Riches Bacero.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – From July 26-27, the Transportation Science Society of the Philippines (TSSP) held its 25^th Annual National Conference at the Southeast Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute (SEARSOLIN), Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro. The event is a gathering of local experts in the field of transportation engineering and planning as well as faculty and students from various academic institutions in the Philippines.

For the first time, a pre-Conference event engaged early career researchers and students in the field of transportation. The Young Researchers Forum invited professionals in transportation to give talks about the importance of research and the process of getting published. The afternoon session of the forum focused on career opportunities and challenges in the transport field. Esteemed guests for the career opportunities panel discussion included Dr. Cresencio Montalbo, Avalyn A. Cahulogan, and LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III. 

The conference, sponsored by NLEX corporation, URCS, and MPTC, had the theme: “Enhancing Disaster Preparedness & Resilience Through Transportation Engineering and Planning”. The keynote lecture of Dr. Atsushi Fukuda, professor at Nihon University, started the conference presentations. Dr. Fukuda shared the transportation research needs in preparation for a national disaster. This was followed by a panel discussion wherein guests from the academe, government, and private sectors were invited. In the technical session, graduate students from DLSU presented seven (7) out of the fourteen (14) papers in the conference. These are:

·         Operational Characterization of Habal-habal in Selected Municipalities in North Cotabato by Kathleen Mae B. Alucilja (PhD student) and Alexis M. Fillone

·         Resilience Assessment of Freight Transport Optimization Programs for the Philippine Greater Capital Region Krister Ian Daniel Z. Roquel (PhD student), Alexis M. Fillone, and Krista Yu

·         Mode Choice Analysis of Commuters in Intramuros, Manila by Riches Bacero (PhD student), André Del Rosario, Nicanor R. Roxas, and Alexis M. Fillone

·         Factors affecting travel behavior during flood events in Metro Manila, Philippines by Raymund Paolo B. Abad (PhD student) and Alexis M. Fillone

·         Joint Model of Private Passenger Vehicle Type Ownership and Fuel Consumption in Metro Manila: Analysis and Simulation of Discrete-Continuous Choice Model by Monorom Rith (PhD student), Jose Bienvenido M. Biona, Alexis M. Fillone, Kenji Doi, and Hiroti Inoi

·         Determining the Value of Time for a Proposed Expressway Along C-5 by Gene Pique, MSCE and Alexis M. Fillone

·         Road Capacity Imbalance at Exit Points of the Metro Manila Skyway and Adjoining Roads by Daniel Ang (BS-MS student) and Alexis M. Fillone

Outgoing president of the TSSP, Dr. Alexis M. Fillone, closed the proceedings with some final remarks and reminders for the upcoming EASTS conference in Sri Lanka.

CE Faculty/Alumnus at PICE Midyear Technical Conference and 15th NCR RTC 2018

PICE Natonal Technical Conference organizers present Dr. Oreta and Engr. Yu token of appreciation at ICC

Prof. Andres Winston Oreta Of CE Dept. and Engr. Kirk Yu, Asst Structural Engineer of Arcadis-Manila and BSMS-CE graduate at DLSU were one of the plenary speakers in the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Midyear National  Technical Conference (NTC) held at Iloilo City last June 13-14, 2018.

Dr. Oreta at ICC

 Oreta and Yu delivered a two-part lecture on the topic, "Structural Engineering and Heritage Preservation." Oreta presented the basic definitions on heritage conservation, the impact of disasters on heritage structures and the role of civil engineers in heritage preservation. Yu presented a research on multi-hazard risk assessment of heritage buildings in Iloilo City CBD and examples of NDT and semi-destructive testing for determining material properties of heritage structures.

Engr. Yu at CPU

Incidentally, DLSU CE Dept. professional lecture, Engr. Erick Sison also was a lecturer on the topic, "Highlights of the NSCP 2015".  DLSU CE Dept. member of the Board of Adviser for CE, Engr. Carlos Villaraza lectured on "Commentary on the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Map in relation to NSCP 2015."

The technical conference was held in three venues - Iloilo Convention Center (ICC), Central Philippine University (CPU) and Diversion 21 Hotel - meaning the lectures were delivered three times. About 9,000 CE participants attended the conference. Read related blog at Digital Structures.

Engr. Villaraza (DLSU CE BOA member) and Dr. Oreta at ICC

Meanwhile, Dr. Oreta and Dr. Bernardo Lejano were also resource speakers in the 15th PICE National Capital Region Technical Conference held on Oct 5-6, 2018 at Century Park Hotel Manila. Dr Lejano talked about "Experiemtnal verifcation of the code-based compressive strength of the C and Z section cold-formed steel," while Dr. Oreta presented on the "Ten essentials for making cities resilient."

DLSU PHDCE Student Won Best Poster in the 7th ERDT Congress

[L-R] PHDCE Students: Engr. Raymund Abad, Engr. Erica Uy and Engr. Krister Roquel

MANILA, Philippines – Last 13^th of July 2018, the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) program of the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) held its 7^th annual Congress at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) with the theme, “The Human Engineer”. The event is a gathering of all DOST-ERDT-affiliated faculty and scholars from 8 partner universities, namely Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), De La Salle University (DLSU), Mapua University (MU), Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), University of Philippines – Diliman (UPD), University of the Philippines – Los Banos (UPLB), and University of San Carlos (USC).

Dr. Rizalinda L. De Leon, Dean of the College of Engineering of UPD, opened the Congress while current DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevarra delivered the keynote speech about the past and current researches and projects funded by the Department’s various councils and agencies. Dr. Jazmin B. Llana, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts of DLSU, gave a talk on Humanitarian Engineering, where scholars were encouraged to put a conscious effort in developing technologies while engaging other disciplines for a more holistic approach in the application of engineering principles in bettering the quality of life of the people.

The following ERDT scholars from the Civil Engineering Department of DLSU also presented posters of their respective researches:

Abad, Raymund Paolo B. – Identifying Factors Affecting Behavior of Metro Manila Travelers During Flood Events

Ang, Daniel Lawrence C. – Road Capacity Imbalance at Exit Points of the Metro Manila Skyway and Adjoining Roads

Bacero, Riches S. – Strategic Route Planning of Truck Traffic in Metro Manila

Roquel, Krister Ian Daniel Z. – Inter-Regional Logistics Optimization in the Philippine Greater Capital Region

Uy, Erica Elise S. – Full-Field Estimation of Strain Parameter-Triggering Liquefaction

After the poster session, Prof. Leonardo C. Rosete, Dean of the College of Fine Arts of UPD, Prof. Jerry R. Yapo, Director of the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts and Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences of UPLB, and Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J., Professor in the School of Science and Engineering and Former President, ADMU, delivered plenary talks on Arts in Engineering, Humanities in Engineering, and Engineering for Social Change, respectively.

A scholar from the Civil Engineering Department, Krister Ian Daniel Z. Roquel, was awarded Best Poster in the Environment and Infrastructure R&D Track. Dr. Josette T. Biyo, Director of DOST-SEI closed the Congress shortly afterwards.