Further strengthening international collaboration in research and education networking, the 61st Meeting of the Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN 61) was hosted by BdREN, Bangladesh’s national research and education network (NREN), from 26 to 30 January 2026 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 

APAN 61 convened a diverse community of researchers, educators, and network experts from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Through its annual meetings, APAN provides a platform for member economies to share practices, present case studies, and collaboratively explore emerging trends in advanced networking, digital infrastructure, and network-enabled applications. 

The five-day meeting featured parallel technical working group sessions, focused meetings and discussions, and interactive workshops designed to foster both knowledge exchange and practical collaboration. 

The DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) was represented by Director Franz A. de Leon and Mr. Bayani Benjamin Lara.  

The delegation participated in several working group sessions, including those on open and sharing data, network engineering, agriculture and disaster mitigation—areas related to activities conducted by DOST-ASTI’s PREGINET, the Philippine’s NREN. 

 

Dr. Franz de Leon (sixth from the left) and Mr. Bayani Lara (leftmost) of DOST-ASTI with on-site participants of the Disaster Mitigation Working Group session during APAN 61

 

At APAN 61, Director de Leon led the DMWG session with the aim of strengthening hazard risk analysis by sharing and examining case studies to promote deeper understanding and better disaster preparedness.

The session featured eight presentations from four economies, with strong representation from the Philippines.

Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol, Director of DOST-PHIVOLCS, presented their agency’s programs and projects in mitigating hazards arising from geotectonic phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. This was followed by a presentation from Mr. Michael Bala of DOST-PAGASA, who discussed their agency’s mandate and initiatives in minimizing the impacts of extreme weather events and climate-related hazards.

 

Dr. Teresito Bacolcol (left) of DOST-PHIVOLCS and Mr. Michael Bala (right) of DOST-PAGASA presenting their respective agencies’ programs and projects during the DMWG session

 

Ms. Raquel de Leon of the Office of Civil Defense discussed the Philippine government’s frontline disaster response activities. Representing DOSTI-ASTI, Mr. Bayani Lara presented the Institute’s disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) initiatives, particularly on the ICT backbone and network services that support data sharing, coordination, and decision-making for disaster resilience in the Philippines.

 

Dr. Franz de Leon (Session Chair) and Mr. Bayani Lara of DOST-ASTI with other presenters at the Disaster Mitigation Working Group Session

 

DOST-ASTI also supported the Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons (PALES) session chaired by the Telemedicine Network of the Philippines (TNP). The symposium was a joint project of TNP and Telemedicine Development Center of Asia (TEMDEC) of Kyushu University, with the theme “Minimally Invasive Surgery for GI surgery.” 

The symposium sought to understand significant developments in telemedicine, demonstrating its application in different health programs.

 

Dr. Jeffrey Domino of the Telemedicine Network of the Philippines presiding the Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons session conducted during 61st APAN Meeting 

 

Through DOST-ASTI’s participation in APAN 61, the Institute contributes to regional dialogue and knowledge exchange while gaining access to emerging practices and technical expertise that enhance the Philippines’ research and education network. These exchanges directly support priority sectors such as DRR, climate monitoring, agriculture, and health, where reliable network infrastructure enables timely data sharing and coordinated action. 

The Philippines, through DOST-ASTI, is expected to host the 67th APAN Meeting in February 2029. 

About APAN 

APAN coordinates network technologies, services, and applications among member countries and with international partners. It promotes network-enabled research and education activities, including research collaboration, knowledge sharing, tele-health, and disaster mitigation. 

APAN hosts two meetings each year where members and participants discuss progress, showcase technologies, and plan future activities. Meeting venues rotate among member countries.