(PIA) — Cordillerans have proven once again their creativity and ingenuity with two regional finalists winning in the National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE) held last August 14 to 16 at Le Pavillon Metropolitan Park, Pasay City.
Engr. Rodrigo Duque of Marcoville, Baguio City emerged the winner in the Outstanding Utility Model Category for his invention called “Portable Uni-housed Water Purification and Sterilization Apparatus”.
For the SIBOL (Outstanding Creative Research) College Category, the “Façade – integrated Fog Collector: A supplementary Residential Water Supply” of a group of Saint Louis University students won second place.
The creative research of SLU architecture students Jireh Grace Pihoc, Jay – arr Urbano, John Carlo Marquez, Julienne Cristy Saiwan, Reina Joy Alip, Sydneton Barri As –il and Mica Joy Baldonado delved into harvesting “fog”, a regular/natural phenomenon in the Baguio–Benguet area.
Portable Water Purification and Sterilization Apparatus
Duque’s utility model aims to address the problem of potable water during times of disaster or calamity, as his portable apparatus provides instant source of safe drinking water from utility source, deepwell, rain, spring or river water using special filtration process to remove water contaminants and sterilization using Ozone/UV Advance Oxidation process, killing all types of bacteria, viruses and oxidizing chemical contaminants.
Powered by 12 volts DV car battery and housed in a heavy duty, water proof and shock resistant carrying case with heavy duty handles, door locks and wheels, the apparatus can be easily carried by two persons to a disaster site.
For winning first place in the Outstanding Utility Model category, Duque was awarded with a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) medal and a P200,000 cash prize.
The Utility Model Category refers to ‘any technological solutions of a problem in any field of human activity which is new and industrially applicable.’
Fog collector
The SLU student group’s creative research involves the collection of “fog” as an alternative and economical water source that can also help in ensuring sustainable water supply capacity amidst the growing demand through innovation of alternative utilities adapting nature’s mechanism.
In the experimental for exploration studies performed by the group in two project sites, the study shows predicted yields of 66 – 95 liters per month in Irisan, Baguio City and 40 – 88 liter per month in Kabuyao, Tuba, Benguet.
The SLU group received a certificate of participation and P50,000 cash prize for their work.
Strong NICE Performance
Cordillera has two more regional entries in the 2018 NICE, the “Bantay Krimen: A Real Time Crime Prevention Information System” by Nathaniel Lubrica of the University of the Cordilleras for the LIKHA Creative Research category; and the “Remote Monitoring Device for Household Lighting Systems and Charging Gadgets” of Ellen Rose Banglayan and Apple Faith Lapangan of Easter College Inc. for the SIBOL High School category.
DOST – Cordillera Regional Director Nancy Bantog lauded the strong performance of CAR in the 2018 NICE as she challenged the region’s researchers and inventors to continue in pushing for science and technology and innovations as a driver of development for the region.
All the entries and participants in the 2018 NICE were all winners of the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) conducted in 2017 by the different DOST regional offices in partnership with Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI).
The DOST – TAPI led annual contests aim to give due recognition to Filipino inventors and highlight their role in nation building as well as to increase awareness on the value of S&T and innovation on the socio–economic growth of every Filipino family and community especially in the countryside.
This is pursuant to Republic Act 7459 or the Investors and Invention Incentives Act of the Philippines
In addition, DOST-TAPI is also providing technical and financial assistance in getting the Intellectual Property rights of work of inventors patented or registered at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines or IPOPHil.
As Bantog acknowledged the growing number of Cordillerans joining R&Ds, innovations and invention contests/exhibits, she assured that DOST will continue to provide support to research and development through establishments of innovation centers and capacity building activities in the region. **PIA CAR
