The 2026 Luzon Regional Scientific Meeting (RSM) successfully convened on 7–8 April 2026 in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, with hybrid participation via Zoom and Facebook Live. Anchored on the theme “UN SDGs: Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development,” the two-day event brought together scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to advance evidence-based solutions toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This event was organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Offices Luzon Cluster led by DOST - National Capital Region.
The Luzon RSM aimed to serve as a strategic platform for assessing Luzon’s progress on the SDGs and generating science, technology, and innovation-driven recommendations for policy and program development. As a preparatory activity for the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of NAST PHL, the event emphasized translating research outputs into actionable, scalable interventions to address climate resilience, inclusive growth, urban sustainability, and energy transition challenges.
In his opening remarks, Acd. Jaime C. Montoya, President of NAST PHL, urged participants to translate science into “operational impact,” stressing that innovation must move beyond abstraction into tangible, scalable solutions. He underscored circular waste systems, inclusive growth pathways, and disaster resilience as urgent priorities, while pressing for greater integration of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies in addressing complex societal risks. He further called for stronger convergence among academia, government, industry, and civil society to ensure that innovation directly serves both people and the planet.
Reinforcing national direction, Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., DOST Secretary, spotlighted the RSM as a critical mechanism for channeling regional scientific intelligence into national ST&I policy. He acknowledged Luzon’s intersecting vulnerabilities, such as climate shocks, urban congestion, and environmental degradation, but emphasized its vast capacity for innovation-driven transformation through robust research ecosystems. He reiterated DOST’s four strategic pillars and called for synchronized action under the “One DOST4U” framework to accelerate inclusive, ethical, and resilient development.
Advancing localized innovation narratives, Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations, showcased how regional programs are operationalizing SDG commitments on the ground. He detailed the expansion of the Smart and Sustainable Cities Program, anchored on the ILAW framework, alongside climate-resilient agriculture initiatives such as Project SARAI and the development of KIST ecozones. He emphasized that science must be “felt at the grassroots,” as interventions in mobility, water systems, and education continue to reshape communities across Luzon.
Deepening the policy-implementation discourse, Dr. Napoleon K. Juanillo Jr., DOST Assistant Secretary for Technology Transfer, Communications, and Commercialization, pushed for systemic transformation through the STI4SDGs framework. He criticized fragmented program execution and advocated for institutional convergence across higher education, government, and industry. Framing universities as “engines of change,” he outlined an integrated model spanning curriculum reform, research alignment, campus sustainability, and governance innovation, all anchored on MEAL-based monitoring systems to ensure measurable SDG outcomes.
One of the highlights of the event is the keynote address by Mr. Michael O. Sinocruz, Director of the Energy Policy and Planning Bureau of the Department of Energy, in which he reiterated the call for an accelerated energy transition aligned with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). He charted the country’s progress in renewable energy expansion while confronting persistent structural gaps in infrastructure and policy execution. Stressing the urgency of grid modernization, energy efficiency, and resilient systems, he positioned electrification not merely as infrastructure development but as a catalyst for inclusive economic transformation and national competitiveness.
Providing a critical data lens, Ms. Carmel P. Matabang, Regional Director of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) - Region IV-A, dissected the uneven trajectory of SDG performance across the Philippines and Luzon. She revealed persistent disparities across sectors, citing both progress and regression across multiple goals. Calling for sharper data systems and localized monitoring tools, she emphasized that evidence-based governance remains essential to closing development gaps and sustaining momentum toward the 2030 agenda.
The opening ceremony concluded with the opening and viewing of scientific posters, showcasing research outputs across diverse fields aligned with the RSM theme. A total of 22 posters were presented during the meeting, representing the different regions of Luzon and highlighting region-specific innovations, technologies, and development initiatives. Following this, a press conference was held during the event's lunch break, where DOST Secretary Solidum, Assistant Secretary Juanillo Jr., NAST PHL President Acd. Montoya, and DOST Luzon Cluster Regional Directors addressed media queries and highlighted the significance of the RSM in advancing science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development in Luzon.
The first day featured two plenary sessions and focused discussions on key strategic areas. Plenary Session 1 ignited discussions on passive cooling strategies, presenting climate-responsive design as a cost-effective pathway to sustainable urban development. Experts underscored how natural ventilation, shading systems, and thermal design can drastically reduce energy demand while enhancing livability. Plenary Session 2 advanced this momentum, mapping the Philippines’ potential pathways to net-zero emissions through renewable energy expansion, carbon capture technologies, and AI-enabled optimization systems, while confronting the economic and governance trade-offs of decarbonization.
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During the second day of the event, two additional plenary sessions were held. Plenary Session 3 highlighted the bioplastics and waste management dialogue, which exposed the escalating scale of plastic pollution while advocating for a domestic bioplastics industry supported by legislative reform, material innovation, and behavioral change. Meanwhile, Plenary Session 4 focused on AI-driven disaster forecasting, where research demonstrated how machine learning models are improving tropical cyclone rainfall prediction, reinforcing the role of artificial intelligence as a powerful complement, not a replacement, to traditional meteorological systems.
During the closing ceremonies, the best scientific posters were awarded as follows:
First Place – Central Luzon State University (Central Luzon) for the paper titled “Influence of Steeping Duration and the Conveyor-to-Roller Speed Ratio on the Mechanical Separation of Pili (Canarium ovatum Engl.) Mesocarp from Exocarp.”
Second Place – University of the Assumption (Central Luzon) for “Wound Healing Property of Tropical Ointment Formulation of Alim, Melanolepis multiglandulosa Fam. Euphorbiaceae Leaf Crude Extract in Albino Rats.”
Third Place – Camarines Norte State College (Bicol Region) for “The Potential of ‘Queen’ Pineapple Fiber-based Aerogel Produced Using Ambient Pressure Drying in the Treatment of Mining Wastewater.”
Third Place – Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (National Capital Region) for “Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and Determination of Viral Neutralization Characteristics of Antibodies Detected in Communities in the Philippines.”
The 2026 Luzon RSM resolutions were also presented during the Closing Ceremonies. The resolutions were formally received by Ms. Shiela Gail Satura-Quingco, Director III of the Office of the Assistant General Manager for Planning of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), represented by Ms. Mary Helene V. Alzona.
The event concluded with the formal turnover of the 2027 Luzon Regional Scientific Meeting (RSM) hosting to the DOST-Regional Office I (Ilocos Region), led by Engr. Romelen T. Tresvalles, Regional Director of DOST-NCR. The ceremonial handover marked the continued strengthening of regional collaboration in advancing science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) for sustainable development across Luzon. The program closed with the acceptance message and closing remarks of Dr. Teresita A. Tabaog, Regional Director of DOST-Regional Office I, underscoring the Ilocos Region’s commitment to carry forward the momentum of science-driven development initiatives in the next RSM cycle (John Nikko V. Espiritu/NAST PHL).
The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines, is an attached agency to the Department of Science and Technology, mandated by law (Executive Order 818 s.1982) to serve as an adviser to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the cabinet on policies concerning science and technology in the country. For more updates, follow NAST Philippines’ (@nastphl) social media accounts.