DOST-Bicol launches DOST’s first mobile lab for safe drinking water, to hit road in 2026

From the DOST public archive. Original source publication date: 2025-09-23. Captured 2026-09-04. Read the original DOST source.

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Communities in Bicol will soon access on-the-spot water testing as the Department of Science and Technology-Bicol (DOST-Bicol) launched LabMove, the first Mobile Laboratory for water potability in the entire DOST system, at the 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week in Bicol (2025 RSTW in Bicol).

The LabMove Project marks a major step in DOST-Bicol’s ongoing mission to deliver science, technology, and innovation for maximum social and economic benefit. It is designed to provide on-site chemical and microbiological testing services, particularly to geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and underserved areas (GIDAs) in the region.

For years, the DOST-Bicol Regional Standards and Testing Laboratories (RSTL) has ensured the safety and quality of drinking water through laboratory analysis. However, many customers, including rural health offices, water districts, and water refilling stations, have had to make long, repeated trips to the main laboratory in Legazpi City just to submit samples and claim results. LabMove solves this by bringing the laboratory directly to communities, cutting travel time, reducing costs, and enabling faster public health response.

Equipped with parameters based on the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water of 2017 (PNSDW 2017), LabMove can conduct both physico-chemical and microbiological analyses on-site. The mobile laboratory is capable of:

• measuring pH to determine hydrogen ion concentration to evaluate the acidity or alkalinity;
• assessing turbidity to check water clarity;
• evaluating apparent color to identify discoloration;
• Quantifying total dissolved solids (TDS) to measure the presence of dissolved substances;
• analyzing nitrate levels to detect possible contamination;
• determining residual chlorine to verify adequate disinfection;
• estimating general bacterial presence through heterotrophic plate count (HPC);
• detecting total coliform bacteria to identify fecal contamination; and
• confirming the presence of thermotolerant coliform or Escherichia coli (E. coli), which signal potentially pathogenic bacteria.

These parameters are essential in verifying whether drinking water is safe and compliant with health standards, particularly for areas without ready access to laboratory facilities.

Target customers include local government units, rural water districts, barangay water systems, schools, hospitals, and private establishments in remote locations, particularly those that lack regular access to accredited testing facilities.

As the 2024 map above shows, DOST-Bicol RSTL customers are spread throughout the region. The clusters of green dots — representing water refilling stations, the most common clients — highlight the strong demand for water quality testing and underscore the relevance and timeliness of the mobile laboratory.

While the vehicle has already been delivered, preparations are still underway to make it fully operational. These include procuring testing instruments, reagents, consumables, and maintenance supplies, as well as securing the necessary accreditations from relevant authorities. LabMove is expected to begin service in the first semester of 2026.

DOST-Bicol Regional Director Rommel Serrano, CESO III, said the project reflects the organization’s commitment to make science and technology services more accessible.

“At DOST–Bicol, we uphold our commitment to Siyensyang Maasahan sa Kabikolan — science that Bicolanos can truly depend on,” he said, adding that the launch of LabMove takes this promise further by bringing drinking water testing directly to communities, allowing faster response and wider reach.

“Because safe water is a fundamental right, and everyone deserves to have it always within reach and in sight,” he added.

The mobile lab for safe drinking water is one of the many initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions, Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.dost.gov.ph. (By Blaize Aurellius B. Cordenete and Jay Ray M. Masayda, DOST-Bicol)

Photo of the ‘LabMove’ during its launching at the 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) in Bicol held on August 13, 20225 in Legazpi City, Albay. (Photo from DOST-Bicol)