The College of Engineering (COE) of the University of the Cordilleras (UC) strengthened its presence on the international research stage as faculty members and graduate researchers from the Department of Civil Engineering participated in the 17th International Conference on Concrete Engineering and Technology (CONCET 2026), held on August 17–21, 2026, at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia.
The international conference provided an important platform for UC-COE faculty to present their research, engage with international experts, and contribute to global conversations on sustainable and intelligent approaches to the built environment. Their participation highlights the College of Engineering’s continuing commitment to developing research that addresses local engineering challenges while contributing to the broader international scientific community.
More significantly, Engr. Jan Nicholas Baldo, together with his co-authors Engr. Dexter Apnoyan and Engr. Grant Lawaguey, brought distinction to the University after their research received the Best Paper Award in Structural Analysis, Design, and Engineering as one of the notable recognitions presented during CONCET 2026.
Their award-winning paper, “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,” explores the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in structural engineering. The study demonstrates how surrogate modeling and artificial neural networks can support the prediction of Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) drift ratios, contributing to more efficient approaches to seismic vulnerability assessment and structural resilience, particularly for regional structural frameworks.
The Best Paper Award serves as a significant recognition of the quality and relevance of research being undertaken by UC-COE faculty. Beyond recognizing the researchers’ technical contribution, the award reflects the College’s growing capacity to produce research that is competitive within an international academic and engineering forum.
Also representing UC-COE was Engr. Brian Jhay Guzman, whose research contributed to the conference’s discussions on structural rehabilitation and concrete integrity. His study, “Experimental Investigation on the Performance of Various Epoxy Injections on the Repair of Shear Cracks of Concrete Beams,” investigates the performance of different epoxy injection approaches for repairing shear cracks in concrete beams. The research advances practical knowledge that can contribute to improved structural repair, rehabilitation, and retrofitting practices.
Demonstrating the department’s strong emphasis on graduate research mentorship, MSCE student Engr. Henry Mikael Gando, advised and co-authored by Engr. Baldo, successfully submitted and presented his paper, “Evaluating Structural Seismic Performance of PMA Cadet Barracks Using Incremental Dynamic Analysis.” The investigation applies advanced non-linear dynamic simulation to evaluate and enhance the structural resilience of critical institutional facilities.
CONCET 2026 was organized biennially by the Centre for Innovative Construction Technology (CICT) of Universiti Malaya under the theme, “Advancing Concrete Construction: Sustainability, Integrity, and Artificial Intelligence for Smarter Built Environments.” The theme provided a timely setting for UC researchers whose studies similarly explore the intersection of engineering, technology, structural integrity, and intelligent approaches to addressing challenges in the built environment.
Adding further value to the researchers’ international participation, all peer-reviewed and accepted research from CONCET 2026 will be published in the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. The publication is indexed in Scopus, providing the researchers with opportunities for broader academic visibility, citation reach, and continued contribution to the international body of scientific and engineering literature.
The successful participation of UC-COE faculty and graduate researchers at CONCET 2026, highlighted by the Best Paper Award received by Engr. Jan Nicholas Baldo and his co-authors, reflects the College’s sustained efforts to foster a culture of research, innovation, collaboration, and graduate mentorship. It further demonstrates how research conducted within the University can respond to concrete challenges in the Philippines while reaching and contributing to international academic communities.
The milestone also contributes to the University’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The researchers’ work strongly aligns with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, particularly through the application of artificial intelligence, advanced simulation, and innovative engineering techniques toward safer and more resilient infrastructure. Their focus on structural seismic performance, rehabilitation, and concrete integrity also supports SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, as resilient and safe buildings are essential to creating communities that can better withstand natural hazards. In addition, the emphasis on sustainable and intelligent approaches to the built environment resonates with SDG 4: Quality Education through the active involvement of faculty and graduate researchers in internationally presented research, strengthening advanced learning, research mentorship, and knowledge creation within the University.
