CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY

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CPU welcomes first RD Leader to accelerate Engineering and Technology Research

by | Feb 6, 2026 | Centralian Link

By Office of the Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension (OVPRDE)


Central Philippine University welcomes its first Research and Development Leader, Engr. Jeremias A. Gonzaga of De La Salle University, marking a milestone in advancing engineering and technology research under the OVPRDE’s WEAVE Program.

ILOILO CITY — Central Philippine University (CPU) has reached a historic milestone in its research and innovation journey with the formal engagement of its first Research and Development (RD) Leader, marking a significant step in strengthening the University’s engineering and technology research capabilities.

This milestone engagement traces its roots to November 2025, when CPU—through the Office of the Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension (OVPRDE) and with the endorsement of the Department of Science and Technology Region VI (DOST VI)—formally submitted to the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) the proposal

“AdvancE TECH: Advancing Engineering and Technology Research and Development Capabilities at Central Philippine University (CPU).” The proposal was designed to elevate the University’s research capabilities in engineering and technology, in alignment with both national and regional development agendas.

Following a rigorous evaluation process under the DOST–NRCP RDLead Program, the proposal was approved, paving the way for CPU’s first-ever participation in the RDLead mechanism for institutional research capability building. The engagement is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the NRCP and is implemented as a strategic initiative under the WEAVE Program of the OVPRDE—CPU’s institutional framework for strengthening faculty capacity, research systems, and innovation outcomes.

Under this landmark partnership, Engr. Jeremias A. Gonzaga of De La Salle University has been appointed as CPU’s RD Leader. The engagement is formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement among CPU, the NRCP, and the RD Leader, with CPU serving as the Host Institution. The approved RDLead engagement shall officially run from February 1, 2026 to May 30, 2026, during which all agreed outputs and deliverables will be implemented.

RDLead as a WEAVE Capability-Building Strategy

The RDLead engagement serves as a flagship intervention under OVPRDE’s WEAVE Program, CPU’s continuing strategy for faculty and institutional development through Workload Optimization, Expertise Enhancement, Access to Assets, Velocity Amplification, and Ecosystem Engagement. Through WEAVE, CPU systematically strengthens its research human capital, improves the utilization of advanced research facilities, deepens partnerships with national agencies and industry, and accelerates the pace and quality of research outputs.

The AdvancE TECH project directly operationalizes the Expertise Enhancement and Access to Assets pillars of WEAVE by embedding high-level research leadership and mentoring within CPU’s engineering and technology ecosystem. Central to this effort is the optimization of the University’s Wind Energy R&D Facility—the only academic wind tunnel facility in Western Visayas—a strategic research asset with strong potential for renewable energy, aerodynamics, disaster-resilient infrastructure, and applied engineering innovation.

Accelerating Engineering and Technology Research

During the engagement period, Engr. Gonzaga will provide technical leadership and hands-on mentoring to CPU faculty and researchers, focusing on:

  • research proposal development and project conceptualization;
  • scientific writing, peer review, and publication in local and international journals;
  • training on computational fluid dynamics and airfoil and wind tunnel simulations;
  • assessment, calibration, and optimization of the Wind Energy R&D Facility;
  • assistance in the development of manuals, protocols, and training modules related to wind tunnel operations; and
  • assistance in the development of a research roadmap and agenda for the Wind Energy R&D Facility.

These activities are designed not only to generate immediate and measurable research outputs, but also to institutionalize structured, sustainable, and nationally aligned R&D systems, consistent with the Harmonized National R&D Agenda (HNRDA) and the Philippine Development Plan.

A First for CPU, A Strategic Signal Forward

As CPU’s first RD Leader engagement, the AdvancE TECH–RDLead initiative represents a defining moment in the University’s transition toward becoming a recognized regional leader in engineering and technology research and innovation. Anchored on the OVPRDE’s WEAVE Program, the engagement reflects CPU’s deliberate shift from project-based research activities toward capability-driven, leadership-enabled, and system-oriented R&D development.

Through this milestone, CPU affirms its long-term commitment to research excellence, innovation leadership, and the delivery of engineering and technological solutions that address pressing societal and development challenges in Western Visayas and beyond.