The development of a space-focused Technology Business Incubator (TBI) represents a strategic response to the need for space innovation and commercialization within the Philippine space sector, driven by the rapid growth of the global space economy in the next decade.

This study begins with getting inspiration from two of the most successful space TBI programs globally, the European Space Agency (ESA) Business Incubation and the UK Space Agency (UKSA) Accelerator programs. Their varying incubation strategies and startup support activities, such as mentoring programs, access to funding, provision of incentives, and networking activities, can effectively accelerate the growth of space-related enterprises across the region.

To apply in the local setting, a review of the local startup ecosystem and macro assessment of the political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal (PESTEL) factors was conducted. Insights from these analyses informed the Logical Framework (Log Frame), which defines the strategic goals, outcomes, outputs, and activities for the space startup TBI program. A cause-and-effect analysis underpins the log frame, ensuring interventions address the root problem and lead to impactful results.

The program features tailored mentoring and capacity-building activities, supported by space science and technology applications (SSTA) and industry experts, to help academic researchers, technology entrepreneurs, professionals, and startups scale up. Successful implementation requires strong organizational teams, infrastructure, and collaboration among key stakeholders—such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), universities, industry associations, and venture capitalists—for funding, mentoring, market access, and investments. Initial participants could include university researchers and students with existing space R&D projects to accelerate R&D commercialization. Clear guidelines on PhilSA intellectual property (IP) and technology transfer must also be established to encourage technology licensing and knowledge sharing.

These efforts aim to accelerate innovation and commercialization of space technologies and services, thereby contributing to economic growth and competitiveness of the Philippines in the global space sector.

On 18 August 2025, Marikina City Mayor Marjorie Ann Teodoro announced that the LGU is gearing up for digital transformation. This initiative aims in reforming Marikina City’s existing operations – affirming fast, efficient, and transparent delivery of government services to its residents. In the advent of rapid innovation of technologies that can support different use cases, including the public sector, cities and municipalities have transformed on how they implement, communicate, and deliver services. This evolution has led to the adoption of smart city frameworks across the globe. The concept of smart cities started from 1970s Los Angeles, where contemporary equipment of the time collects data and information which is then utilized for informed decision making and policy creation. It has paved the way for different smart city frameworks to be curated to address the need of a locale. Successful smart city implementations include Tallinn, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and New York. The Philippines, being a third world country, is on catch up mode in the smart cities theme.

This capstone project aims in exploring the different factors that affect how a jurisdiction tackles digital transformation initiatives. Through the ten-stage technology foresighting method, the study identified key drivers, challenges, and strategic opportunities influencing Marikina City’s digital cum smart city transformation. Findings reveal that the city possesses a strong foundation in governance in terms of efficiency, disaster resilience, and community engagement – crucial enablers for digital advancement of the target locale. However, gaps persist in areas such as ICT infrastructure modernization, data governance, and institutional capacity. Through scenario building, four potential futures were developed; and strategic plans were delivered to give individuals and organizations guidance for policy creation and implementation.

The digital infrastructure landscape in the Philippines remains unequal, with the Visayas region underserved due to the absence of an international submarine cable landing station (CLS) or gateways. The international gateways are heavily concentrated in the Luzon area and some in Mindanao, thereby creating digital disparity and regional economic bottlenecks.

The study utilized technology foresight by examining the managerial, political, economic, social, technological, and environmental dimensions of establishing an international CLS in the region. This approach integrated a focused literature review, key informant interviews from various stakeholders, and benchmarking lessons from comparable CLS deployments in Da Nang, Vietnam; Batam, Indonesia; and Johor, Malaysia.

Results from international benchmarking highlighted that CLS facilities improved broadband connectivity by enhancing network resilience through route diversity and expanding bandwidth capacity, consequently reducing latency. Such technological advancements supported economic growth in the region by attracting hyperscaler investments that developed data center ecosystems and expanded digital services. Furthermore, successful CLS deployment, coupled with effective policy frameworks, regulatory support, reliable energy supply, and strong governance, significantly improved digital competitiveness and equitable regional access.

By establishing an international CLS in the Visayas, the weaknesses mentioned were projected to be addressed by connecting the region to global submarine cable networks, complementing national broadband initiatives, and aligning with the ASEAN digital economy goals. The findings underscored the importance of cohesive policies, institutional coordination, infrastructure planning, and workforce development in unlocking the transformative potential of a Visayas CLS and positioning the region as a strategic digital hub.

This research advanced evidence-based foresight for digital inclusion, resilience, and long-term economic competitiveness in the Philippines and similar archipelagic geographies, with implications for policy-makers, infrastructure developers, and investors seeking effective strategies for digital regional development.

Meralco’s communication systems are critical for managing outages, field operations, and day-to-day grid activities. However, the company still relies on aging networks such as Narrowband and WiMAX, which now experience frequent signal loss, unstable connections, and rising equipment failures. Incident data and survey feedback from 50 personnel confirm that these
legacy systems can no longer support Meralco’s real-time needs, slowing down outage response and affecting service reliability. This growing strain highlights the need for a more modern, secure, and high-capacity communication backbone.

This study examines Private LTE as Meralco’s potential next-generation network. pLTE offers stronger coverage, higher bandwidth, enhanced cybersecurity, and the ability to support thousands of smart grid devices, including AMI meters, sensors, and automation equipment. These features can speed up outage detection, reduce restoration time, and improve both operational efficiency and customer service.

Using a technology foresight approach based on the 10-stage Scenario Planning Model, the study develops four possible futures, from fast-track success to stalled implementation. These scenarios help Meralco understand the risks, opportunities, and key decisions involved in transitioning to pLTE. The study also provides a practical roadmap outlining steps for phased migration, workforce training, regulatory preparation, and long-term upgrade paths.

Overall, the results show that shifting to Private LTE is both timely and necessary for Meralco. It strengthens reliability, boosts cybersecurity, and prepares the company for a more digital, automated, and resilient power grid. The foresight framework provides Meralco with a structured guide for planning the transition while remaining ready for future challenges.

Imagine a world where medical professionals, financial institutions, and workplaces no longer rely solely on human judgment. A world in which artificial intelligence (AI) systems play a central role in decision-making, analyzing complex patterns, identifying risks, and providing real-time recommendations. From diagnosing illnesses to approving loans to answering customer inquiries, AI is steadily moving from the periphery into the heart of decision-making.

But along with this potential lies a fundamental question that cuts across industries and societies: can we trust the machine?

Globally, artificial intelligence is praised for its rapid processing and efficiency, but it also faces criticism due to its lack of transparency and potential biases. Despite their accuracy, black-box models frequently do not provide explanations for their decision-making processes. This can lead to uncertainty for medical professionals regarding critical healthcare recommendations, difficulties for financial institutions in justifying credit evaluations, and customer dissatisfaction with chatbots that appear assured yet often deliver incorrect responses. The primary challenge extends beyond enhancing AI intelligence; it involves ensuring AI systems are comprehensible, accountable, and in alignment with human values.

In the Philippines, where digital adoption is rapidly increasing in multiple sectors, the issue of trust plays an essential role. It goes beyond being a technical necessity; it serves as a social contract that connects individuals, institutions and intelligent systems. Without trust, the rate of adoption will diminish, skepticism will rise and chances for innovation will be missed.

This research seeks to fill the current gap by applying technology foresight and scenario planning to explore how Explainable AI (XAI) can build trust in Agentic AI (AAI). The study aims to present different potential, probability, and preferred future scenarios for integrating Agentic AI in the Philippines. This will assist policymakers, industries, and communities in nurturing a future where human-machine collaboration is confident and effective