The Philippine healthcare system is marked by a duality: urban centers like Metro Manila have access to world-class hospitals, while rural provinces struggle with underfunded health infrastructure and shortages of medical staff and supplies. According to the Department of Health, about 60% of Filipinos die without seeing a health professional*.  

Key local issues include: 

• Healthcare workforce shortages, especially in remote areas, exacerbated by migration of skilled workers (what is commonly known as “brain drain”). 

• High out-of-pocket spending on healthcare, creating barriers to early diagnosis and treatment. 

• Lack of locally adapted medical technologies, with imported devices often unaffordable or unsuited for tropical, off-grid conditions. 

• Disaster-prone health systems, where typhoons and earthquakes regularly disrupt hospitals and access to medicines. 

• Emerging health threats, including climate-sensitive diseases like dengue and leptospirosis, which require faster detection and response. 

Biomedical and engineering innovations are urgently needed, ranging from low-cost diagnostic devices to modular health infrastructure and telemedicine tools. There is strong potential to apply AI, data science, and biotechnology to expand access, reduce costs, and strengthen healthcare resilience, particularly in underserved islands and remote regions. 

* Philippine Institute for Development Studies. (n.d.). Primary health care is your right. https://pids.gov.ph/details/primary-health-care-is-your-right

Agriculture employs around 24% of the Philippine workforce but contributes just 9% to GDP*, which highlights structural inefficiencies and rural inequality. Climate change poses a severe threat, with typhoons, floods, and droughts regularly destroying crops and livelihoods. At the same time, food insecurity is on the rise, and the country is heavily reliant on imported staples like rice. 

Key challenges include: 

• Smallholder vulnerability, as over 90% of farms are under 3 hectares and lack access to mechanization or digital tools.** 

• Post-harvest losses of up to 30%, due to poor storage, logistics, and preservation technology.*** 

• Climate variability, especially in typhoon corridors like Eastern Visayas and Bicol. 

• Youth disengagement, with farming often seen as outdated or economically unviable. 

• Nutrition challenges, particularly stunting and undernutrition among children in rural and Indigenous communities. 

Climate-smart agriculture, AI/IoT-based farm management, urban farming, and circular food systems that turn waste into inputs, as well as innovation in alternative proteins to reduce dependence on imported meat could be some of the themes to explore in the Innovation Lab.

* Global Tenders. (n.d.). Economy of Philippines. https://www.globaltenders.com/economy-of-philippines
** David, C. C. (2020, May 1). Small farms, large farms. Inquirer.net. https://opinion.inquirer.net/130246/small-farms-large-farms
*** GMA Integrated News. (2024, February 29). DA: 30% of PH produce wasted due to poor logistics. GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/894307/da-30-of-ph-produce-wasted-due-to-poor-logistics/story/

Across the Philippine archipelago, the built environment—homes, roads, energy systems, public spaces—faces increasing pressure from rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure, and intensifying climate risks. Over 4.5 million families live in informal settlements, many in high-risk areas vulnerable to typhoons, floods, landslides, and earthquakes. Meanwhile, thousands of remote barangays remain disconnected from reliable energy, transport, water, and sanitation systems. 

With its dynamic population and high vulnerability, the Philippines urgently needs innovations that make cities and communities more livable, equitable, and resilient. From modular housing for disaster-prone areas to off-grid renewable energy systems and AI-enabled transport tools, science and engineering can play a central role in shaping sustainable urban futures. 

Key infrastructure issues include: 

• Housing insecurity, especially in hazard-prone informal settlements, where structural integrity, tenure, and safety are major concerns. 

• Fragile energy systems in off-grid barangays and mountainous regions, often reliant on expensive diesel and subject to frequent blackouts. 

• Transport and mobility gaps limit economic opportunity, with rural areas suffering from poor road connectivity and urban centers burdened by traffic and pollution. 

• Inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure, particularly in peri-urban and rapidly urbanizing regions. 

• Escalating waste generation—over 61,000 tons daily—combined with low recycling rates and limited landfill alternatives. 

Engineering-led solutions are essential to address these intersecting challenges. There is strong potential to design inclusive and future-proof infrastructure, whether through circular construction materials, community-scale clean energy systems, flood-resilient transport routes, or mobile technologies that enhance urban planning and service delivery.