The Central Bicol State University of Agriculture proudly congratulates Assistant Professor John Ben Santiago Temones for securing Second Place in the Oral Research Presentation (Professional Category) during the 2026 Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development (BCHRD) Health Research Competition, held on November 5, 2026, at the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) Auditorium.
His winning study, entitled βExplainable Machine Learning and Risk Stratification of Pediatric Ascariasis Using Accessible Community-Based Risk Indicators for Rural Health Triage,β explores the application of machine learning in addressing operational challenges associated with laboratory-based ascariasis diagnosis, particularly in rural and resource-constrained communities.
Using secondary data from pediatric observations in a rural municipality in Camarines Sur, the study developed an explainable, categorical-aware, weighted k-nearest neighbors (kNN) model incorporating five accessible community-based risk indicators. Through feature weighting and weighted Gower dissimilarity, the model generates individual risk estimates and classifies children into preliminary low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups.
Beyond its predictive capabilities, the research highlights the potential of machine learning to strengthen rural health triage by helping Barangay Health Stations (BHS) and Rural Health Units (RHUs) identify and prioritize children who may require further assessment. By supporting targeted referrals, surveillance, and more efficient allocation of limited diagnostic resources, the model offers a promising complementary approach to existing public health practices. Importantly, it is intended to supportβnot replaceβconventional parasitological examination.
This achievement reflects CBSUA’s continuing commitment to research, innovation, and the development of evidence-based solutions that address pressing community and public health concerns.
