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.