Student research presented at PICE-USA webinar series
By Stephanie Camille Ilar
In line with the university’s pursuit of internationalization, four student research from the Department of Civil Engineering were presented by four MMSU faculty members during the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. - United States of America Chapter (PICE USA) 2025 Webinar Series.
Representing their students, now alumni, were Engr. Mellisa Pungtilan, Engr. Jerose Solmerin, Engr. Arbie Mariz Revilla, and Engr. Jonas Paul Dela Cruz.
The webinar convened Filipino civil engineers, educators and student researchers from various institutions around the world. Themed “Participate, Grow, Lead: sPICE up your Potential,” the series showcased innovations and sustainable solutions in the field of civil engineering.
In the third webinar of the series held on September 7, Engr. Pungtilan presented “Sustainable Self-Healing Concrete: Evaluating the Potential of Corn Cob Ash (CCA) as a Partial Cement Replacement on Healing Efficiency and Carbon Footprint Reduction.”
This study explored how corn cob ash, a type of agricultural waste, can partially replace cement in concrete to improve its self-repairing capacity and help lower the carbon emissions from construction. It was conducted by Shantelle Therese Daguro, Karina Ganiron, Christian Gaudia, and Althea Lagadan.
Meanwhile, during the fifth webinar series on September 21, Engr. Solmerin presented “Optimizing Water Security in Agriculture: A Comparative Design of Cost-Efficient Rainwater Harvesting Systems.”
This study compared different rainwater collection systems to find the most cost-effective way to collect and store rainwater, improving water availability among farmers to support sustainable agriculture, and strengthen climate resilience. Researchers included Christian Bagunu, Joshua Bitagon, Kenneth Jade Garcia, Franzell Gail Sahagun, and Karl Justin Taasan.
On the same day, Engr. Revilla presented “Physical-Mechanical Evaluation and Comparative Analysis of Acacia and Bayog Cross-Laminated Bamboo-Timber.”
This research assessed the structural potential of locally sourced bamboo and timber materials as sustainable alternatives to conventional engineered wood, supporting innovation in green construction. The study was authored by Krizen John Agres, Janina Aguinaldo, Hazel Jane Galang, and Joana Elyne Bolibol.
Finally, in the sixth webinar on October 19, Engr. Dela Cruz presented “Hazard Assessment Under Combined Effects of River Discharge and Tidal Water Dynamics through HEC-RAS Hydraulic Simulations in Padsan River, Laoag City.”
This study aimed to enhance flood hazard prediction and improve disaster management strategies, ensuring safety in flood-prone areas in the city. It was conducted by Jennica Gayle Bawalan, Luke Einstein Fagaragan, Brian Cezar Penic, and Jansen Yere.
Presenters were required to present Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)-issued IDs, since the event was accredited under the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program.
The participation of MMSU faculty and students in the PICE-USA webinar series aligns with the university’s objective to strengthen its global presence in research in various disciplines.
Nov, 05, 2025 09:00:am
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STRATCOM
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