CLARK FREEPORT ZONE — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is shifting Handa Pilipinas from a technology exposition into a sustained capacity-building initiative to help local government units (LGUs) strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience.
This, as the three-day Handa Pilipinas 2026 Luzon leg brings together national and local government agencies, researchers, academic institutions, private sector representatives, and disaster risk reduction practitioners to advance science-based solutions for safer communities.
In his keynote message, DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. said the initiative builds on previous editions by focusing on practical applications of science and technology rather than simply showcasing innovations.
“Handa Pilipinas is evolving. Handa Pilipinas 2026 takes the next step from an exposition-based platform into a more structured, sustained, and institutionalized capacity-building program. And this evolution is important because resilience cannot be built through a one-time event,” he said.
The program aims to help LGUs identify their specific needs, determine appropriate scientific solutions, and integrate effective technologies into local planning and operations.
DOST Region 3 Director and Handa Pilipinas Luzon Leg Project Leader Julius Caesar V. Sicat said the initiative requires sustained partnerships and institutional commitment beyond the event itself.
“This is a journey that requires continuity, accountability, and collaboration because resilience cannot be built in three days. It is built through consistent preparation, sustained partnerships, informed decisions, and the determination to keep moving even when the immediate threat had passed,” Sicat said.
The multi-year approach seeks to establish pathways for technology adoption, strengthen local capabilities, and support the integration of effective disaster risk reduction practices into local systems.
Mabalacat City Mayor Gerald Aquino welcomed the participating institutions and emphasized the importance of collective action in protecting communities against disasters and climate-related hazards.
“Resilience is not the responsibility of one institution alone. It requires strong collaboration among national and local governments, scientific communities, academic institutions, the private sector, and our communities,” the mayor said.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 3 Director Araceli San Jose likewise affirmed the importance of collaboration in preparing communities for emergencies.
The event also provides opportunities for stakeholders to exchange experiences, establish partnerships, and explore solutions applicable to their respective areas.
Through its regional implementation, Handa Pilipinas seeks to bring scientific knowledge and technological innovations closer to communities that need them.
The initiative’s longer-term objective is to help local governments move from awareness of available technologies toward their practical and sustained use in disaster preparedness.
By strengthening cooperation among government, science institutions, and communities, Handa Pilipinas aims to contribute to a safer and more disaster-resilient Philippines.
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