Proven in the Philippines: DOST and CHED Unite to Certify World-Class Filipino Innovations

DOST’s Vision for the Philippines: Building a Global Standard of Trust

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) envisions a Philippines where every local innovation bears the mark of reliability through its new national validation system—PHI-TEST (Philippine Higher Education Validation and Innovation Testbed).

Unveiled at Inno.Venta 2025: Transforming Discoveries into Economic Impact, the initiative marks a bold step toward transforming Filipino R&D into globally recognized technologies. Assistant Secretary Dr. Napoleon K. Juanillo Jr. emphasized that credibility in technology requires proof through numbers, scientific rigor, and user validation.

“If we can demonstrate through rigorous testing that tens of thousands have validated a technology, we can confidently tell the world it works. That’s credibility,” Juanillo said.

Iligan’s Role in Strengthening National Innovation Credibility

The DOST’s collaboration with CHED mobilizes state universities and colleges (SUCs) across the country—including research-driven hubs like Iligan—to create a unified testing ecosystem. This will:

• Standardize validation based on international benchmarks (ISO, CE, JIS, KS).
• Certify technologies as “Proven in the Philippines”, elevating Filipino innovation globally.
• Empower SUCs and regional institutions to lead commercialization and R&D validation efforts.

DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. underlined the role of universities in bridging research and real-world impact, stating that the “finish line is commercialization.”

Through this initiative, Iligan’s strong science and technology community is expected to contribute actively to testing, refining, and validating locally developed technologies—anchoring the region’s position as a key partner in national innovation efforts.

Driving Economic Growth Through Science-Based Innovation

Once fully operational, PHI-TEST will accelerate the acceptance of Filipino technologies in sectors such as health, agriculture, manufacturing, and energy, enabling local innovators to compete globally. The framework will also:

• Enhance the Global Innovation Index ranking of the Philippines.
• Open international market pathways for Filipino-developed products.
• Strengthen public-private partnerships for sustainable economic growth.

As Dr. Juanillo affirmed, “We’re not only validating innovations—we’re validating the country’s future.”

Empower the Future of Filipino Innovation

PHI-TEST is more than a certification system—it’s a national declaration of trust. By institutionalizing rigorous validation and creating collaboration hubs in cities like Iligan, DOST is transforming Filipino ingenuity into globally trusted technology. Innovators, universities, and businesses are encouraged to take part in this growing movement to make Philippine innovation synonymous with credibility and excellence.