Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC), in partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP) and the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UPERDFI), has launched the country’s first academe-based Failure Analysis (FA) Hub to strengthen local engineering capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign outsourcing.

The project was formalized through a partnership agreement signed on July 17 and builds on SMPC’s earlier donation of specialized equipment to the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (DMMME) in 2023. The FA Hub will be housed within UP Diliman and operated independently with its own funding and operational structure.

Failure analysis is a technical process used to investigate material and structural breakdowns, thus enabling engineers to predict and prevent equipment failures, especially critical in power generation and heavy industries. Until now, limited access to local failure analysis services has led many Philippine utilities and manufacturers to outsource diagnostics abroad, which incurs higher costs and longer downtimes.

Through the FA Hub, engineers and researchers will be able to conduct these assessments domestically, thus enhancing operational resilience and reducing turnaround times for essential infrastructure.

“This Failure Analysis Hub is more than just a new facility- it is a strategic investment in the future of Philippine engineering,” said UP Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II. He stressed that the project enhances the university’s capacity to serve both industry and the broader public.

UPERDFI President Angelito D. Bermudo noted that the hub could help address unplanned power plant outages by improving access to material diagnostics and performance reviews.

SMPC Vice President and Power Complex Manager Charlie V. Robles highlighted the company’s long-term approach to capacity-building. “Genuinely empowering people is not a one-time act of support, but a continuous effort that fosters self-sufficiency and long-term stability,” he said.

The FA Hub is expected to nurture a new generation of Filipino engineers with hands-on experience in materials testing and diagnostics. This contributes to both industry innovation and nation-building.

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