DLSU Civil Engineering Students Present Research at 19th ATRANS Annual Conference: Young Researchers’ Forum 2026 in Bangkok

 

DLSU Civil Engineering student researchers, Mr. Delos Santos, Ms. Obillo, and Mr. De Guzman, pose alongside Dr. Atsushi Fukuda, the ATRANS Honorable Advisor

Students from De La Salle University–Manila represented the University at the 19th ATRANS Annual Conference: Young Researchers’ Forum (AYRF) 2026, held on August 28, 2026 (Friday) at the Chatrium Grand Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.

Held under the theme “Resilient Mobility and Transportation Beyond Disruption,” the international conference brought together young researchers, academics, and transportation professionals to exchange ideas and present research addressing the evolving challenges of mobility and transportation. The theme emphasized the importance of developing transportation systems that can remain accessible, adaptable, and responsive amid disruptions and changing urban needs.

Representing DLSU’s Civil Engineering program, the three students presented studies that addressed key transportation issues in the Philippine context, ranging from airport access and public transportation to urban development and equitable access to essential services.

The DLSU delegation consisted of Mr. John Owen Niccolou B. De Guzman, Ms. Francine Louise Balones Obillo, and Mr. Christian Ericson P. Delos Santos, all specializing in Transportation Engineering.

Advancing Transportation Research Through Young Researchers

Mr. John Owen Niccolou B. De Guzman, a BS Civil Engineering student specializing in Transportation Engineering, presented his group’s research titled “Airport Ground Access Mode Choice and Potential Shift to UBE Airport Bus at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.” His group consists of Mr. Nigel Andre Canonoy, Ms. Jannah Allyssa Li, and Ms. Rheina Velasquez, guided by Dr. Maria Cecilia Paringit and Dr. Alexis Fillone.

Their study examined how travelers access Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), focusing on their transportation preferences and the potential for shifting travelers toward the UBE Airport Bus service. The research contributes to discussions on improving airport accessibility while encouraging more efficient and sustainable ground transportation options.

Meanwhile, Ms. Francine Louise B. Obillo, also a BS Civil Engineering student specializing in Transportation Engineering, presented “Assessing Commuter Preferences and Transit Oriented Development Potential of the Pasig River Ferry Stations.” The study was completed with her groupmates, Ms. Maria Michaela Barillos, Ms. Erin Julia Martin, and Ms. Jowena Refugio, as advisees of Dr. Maria Cecilia Paringit.

Their research explored commuter preferences surrounding the Pasig River Ferry system and examined the potential of its stations to support Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). The study highlights how public transportation infrastructure can contribute to more connected, accessible, and sustainable urban communities.

Representing the BS/MS Civil Engineering program with a specialization in Transportation Engineering, Mr. Christian Ericson P. Delos Santos presented “A Comparative Analysis of Floating Catchment Area Methods to Assess Healthcare Accessibility in Metropolitan Iloilo-Guimaras.” The study was completed through the guidance of Dr. Alexis Fillone.

The study compared different Floating Catchment Area (FCA) methods in measuring spatial accessibility to healthcare services across Metropolitan Iloilo-Guimaras. By examining how different approaches capture variations in accessibility, the research aims to support more informed transportation and health-service planning, particularly in identifying communities that may experience challenges in reaching healthcare facilities.

Recognized with Best Paper Award

Adding to the delegation’s accomplishments, Mr. Delos Santos was also among the recipients of the conference’s Special Individual Award for Best Paper for his study on healthcare accessibility.

The recognition highlights the relevance and quality of his research and underscores the role of transportation engineering in addressing broader societal concerns, including equitable access to essential services.

The participation of the three DLSU students at AYRF 2026 demonstrates the University’s commitment to nurturing young engineers and researchers who contribute to transportation and mobility discussions both in the Philippines and on the international stage.

Their respective studies also reflect the spirit of the conference theme, “Resilient Mobility and Transportation Beyond Disruption,” by examining ways in which transportation systems can become more accessible, sustainable, responsive, and inclusive.

Through their participation, De Guzman, Obillo, and Delos Santos showcased the work of DLSU’s young transportation researchers and demonstrated how engineering research can help address real-world challenges in mobility, urban development, and access to essential services.

DLSU CE Faculty, Students & Alumni at CONCET2026 – KL, Malaysia

 

CONCET is a biennial international conference, and CONCET 2026 is organized by the Centre for Innovative Construction Technology (CICT), Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya (UM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. CONCET 2026  with the theme  'Advancing Concrete Construction: Sustainability, Integrity, and Artificial Intelligence for Smarter Built Environments' will be held on August 17-21, 2026. The conference is aimed at providing fresh perspectives on the latest developments in concrete engineering and technology towards sustainability.

From L-R: DLSU Delegates - Guzman, Baldo, Gapuz, Buraga, Cisnero, Oreta, Talagtag & Tinga-Tinga (UPICE)

Faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students and alumni will present CONCET 2026 in several themed parallel sessions on August 19-20, 2026. The list of presentations are listed below:

·         Experimental investigation on the performance of various epoxy injections on the repair of shear cracks of concrete beams – Brian Jhay Guzman (Presentor, MSCE student) and Andres Winston Oreta

·         A RAG-Based Artificial Intelligence Framework for Concrete Code Compliance – Rogel Exequiel Talagtag (Presentor, MSCE student) and and Andres Winston Oreta

·         Mechanical Strength Performance and Carbon Absorption of Biochar Modified Geopolymer Hollow Blocks – Emerzon Gapuz (Presentor, PhD Student & MSCE Alumnus)

·         The CTM–DRR Compliance Assessment Tool: Guiding Contractors and Construction Engineers Toward Seismic Resilient Reinforced Concrete Practice – Carlos Centeno (Presentor) and Andres Winston Oreta

·         Prediction of IDA Drift Ratio in Low-Rise Reinforced Concrete Structures in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines using Surrogate Modeling and MatLab-Based Artificial Neural Networks – Nicholas Baldo (Presentor, PhD Student & MSCE Alumnus)

·         Investigating the Material Properties of Mortar Incorporating Recycled Plastic (Polyethylene Terephthalate) Aggregates - Ange’le Mae Cisnero (Presentor), Alaine Paul Geronimo,  Julia Christine Buraga (BSCE students) and Andres Winston Oreta (Adviser)

Dr. Andres Winston Oreta chaired the session on STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS, DESIGN, AND ENGINEERING on 19 August 2026 (3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m).

All peer-reviewed and accepted articles in CONCET2026 will be published in the Scopus-indexed IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science.

Best Papers are selected for each parallel session. The paper presented by Engr. Nicholas Baldo (DLSU Phd Student and Faculty of the University of the Cordilleras) was selected as the best paper in the session on Structural Analysis, Design and Engineering.