The 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) in Bicol opened with a strong start in Legazpi City, unveiling bold initiatives that embed science and technology into key areas of development: health, learning, enterprise, and governance. Know more about it here.
In health, the spotlight was on the launch of “Lab Move,” the first Mobile Laboratory Unit of DOST. This pioneering facility focuses on water potability testing, ensuring that communities, especially those in remote and underserved areas, can access safe and clean drinking water without the burden of traveling to central offices. Watch more about it here.
The unit, set to be fully operational next year, is essential because many far-flung areas in the Philippines still lack reliable access to safe drinking water. Contaminated water can carry harmful bacteria, microbes, and other pathogens that lead to serious illnesses such as diarrhea, cholera, and other waterborne diseases. With the Mobile Lab’s on-site chemical and microbiological testing services, communities can detect contamination early, take corrective action immediately, and prevent outbreaks before they spread. This makes the Mobile Laboratory not just a testing facility, but a frontline defense for public health. Watch more about it here.
Driving Safe Water Access in Bicol
DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr. described the project as a breakthrough for the region:
“This Mobile Laboratory is for the Bicolanos. We hope they will maximize its services. The Lab Move is fully equipped and compliant with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water of 2017. Its goal is to make water quality testing faster and more accessible, especially for far-flung areas where safe drinking water is difficult to access.”
While all these initiatives mark progress for the region, the Mobile Laboratory holds a unique role in protecting public health. For years, water testing required traveling to DOST’s Rawis office—an inconvenience that often discouraged communities from ensuring the safety of their drinking water.
With the mobile lab, these services now travel directly to barangays, making testing faster, more affordable, and more inclusive.
“Instead of people coming to us, kami na mismo ang pupunta sa kanila para madala sa kanila ang services na pinakailangan nila,” shared a DOST Bicol representative during the turnover interview.
What’s Inside the Mobile Lab?
The unit is currently equipped for water potability testing, including a residual chlorine kit to verify whether water has been properly treated. This is a crucial safeguard against harmful bacteria and waterborne diseases.
Looking ahead, DOST Bicol plans to expand the lab’s capabilities with additional testing parameters, building a stronger shield for community health.
Impact Beyond the Individual
At the heart of the Mobile Laboratory is a dependable vehicle platform from Autokid Mobility Solutions, but collaboration and careful innovation truly power this project. From the very beginning, our team worked closely with DOST, listening intently to their requirements and understanding the unique challenges of on-site water testing. This wasn’t a ready-made unit that could be bought off the shelf; the Lab Move required extensive research and development, because such a mobile laboratory didn’t exist anywhere else.
The process was meticulous. Autokid’s engineers and designers carefully studied what the DOST team needed and then aligned those requirements with what could realistically be implemented in a mobile environment. Every choice, from the layout of the testing equipment to roadworthy adaptations, was evaluated to ensure that the lab would be fully operational, safe, and functional on the road, even in the farthest barangays of Bicol.
It wasn’t just about building a vehicle. Our people worked side by side with the DOST team on the manufacturing floor, guiding them through inspections, welcoming frequent visits, and adjusting designs based on real-time feedback. Every discussion, every inspection, every modification became part of shaping a laboratory on wheels that communities can rely on for safe drinking water.
For Autokid, this hands-on partnership is what nation-building looks like: it’s not just delivering trucks, but creating purpose-driven solutions, hand in hand with our partners, that bring tangible benefits and lasting impact to Filipino lives.
Why Choose Autokid for Specialized Government Projects?
Autokid delivers turnkey solutions for agencies and institutions looking to extend their services beyond offices and into communities.
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Whether in health, education, enterprise, or governance, Autokid is ready to help bring science and service closer to the people.
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Let’s drive innovation forward—bringing science, safety, and solutions to every Filipino community.
