October 28-30, 2025 — The 6th Western Visayas Health Research Conference gathered national and regional leaders, researchers, and innovators for a three-day event centered on the theme “AI for Health Research in Western Visayas.” The conference underscored the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing health research while emphasizing the importance of ethical governance and community-centered innovation.
Organized by the Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC) in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VI and the DOST–Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), the annual conference served as a platform for collaboration among the country’s top scientists, policymakers, and health professionals.
Day 1: Strengthening the Foundation for AI in Health Research
The opening day highlighted a unified national direction for AI integration in health. Representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), DOST, and DOST–PCHRD reaffirmed their shared commitment to responsible and people-centered technological advancement.
UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Michael L. Tee delivered the keynote address, emphasizing AI’s potential to enhance health research while reminding participants that “technology must complement, not replace, human empathy and ethics.”
Ms. Roxanne S. Aviñante of DOST-ASTI also presented the Philippine AI Framework, including national initiatives such as Cerv.ai, demonstrating how localized applications of AI can transform healthcare services.
The day also featured the opening of scientific poster exhibits, press conferences, and the 3-Minute Pitch to Policymakers and Oral Research Presentation Competitions, which showcased the region’s emerging talents and projects in AI-driven research.
Day 2: Upholding Ethical Governance and Showcasing Filipino Research
The second day focused on ethical governance and Filipino-led health innovations. Atty. Ma. Tanya Karina A. Lat opened the discussions with her presentation “AI and Nanotechnology in Health Care: Triaging Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Considerations,” reminding participants that “AI should never replace human intelligence, empathy, and spirit.”
The day continued with a series of Research Fora highlighting regional innovations supported by DOST-PCHRD, including studies on nutrition environments in Iloilo schools, bioactive compounds from local plants, dementia care systems, and marine-based health products.
These presentations reflected the region’s growing expertise in translating research into practical, community-benefiting applications. The sessions concluded with PCHRD reaffirming its commitment to support ethical, sustainable, and inclusive health research across the country.
Day 3: Exploring Validation, Language, and the AI Frontier
The final day of the conference centered on the responsible use and validation of AI tools in healthcare.
Dr. Iris Thiele C. Isip-Tan discussed “The Validation Challenge,” emphasizing data integrity, clinical accuracy, and transparency in AI implementation. Dr. Mideth B. Abisado presented “Lingua AI,” advocating for the integration of Filipino and local languages into AI systems to promote equitable access to care.
In his presentation “Smarter Surveillance,” Dr. DJ Darwin R. Bandoy showcased how AI and genomics enhance epidemic intelligence and early disease detection, noting that “with the right prompts, AI can help solve many problems.”
The event culminated in an awarding ceremony recognizing the best scientific posters, oral presentations, and the contributions of research ethics committees and consortium leaders across the region.
Championing Ethical and Inclusive Health Research
The 6th Western Visayas Health Research Conference reinforced the importance of balancing innovation with responsibility. It highlighted that while artificial intelligence continues to shape the future of healthcare, human values—ethics, empathy, and inclusivity—must remain at its core.
Through continued collaboration among government agencies, academic institutions, and researchers, Western Visayas continues to strengthen its position as a leading hub for ethical and AI-driven health research in the Philippines.
📸 Photo Credits: WVHRDC, DOST VI, DOST-PCHRD
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