Disaster preparedness has become a priority for everyone, as students in the Negros Island Region contribute their ideas to foster safer and more resilient communities through technology.
During the last leg of the 2025 Handa Pilipinas: Innovations in Climate and Disaster Resilience Visayas leg—organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its newly created DOST-Negros Island Region—held in SMX Convention Center, SM City Bacolod, Negros Occidental from October 26-29, 2025, students ran their pitching skills and showcase their creativity in developing technologies at the Brains and Breakthrough Pitching Competition.
The pitching competition is among the activities presented at the 4-day climate and disaster exposition that helps promote DOST’s efforts in mitigating the impacts of disaster with knowledge and technology. The pitching competition features technologies on disaster preparedness developed by students from participating universities in the Negros Island Region. The technologies presented were grouped under the four subthemes on disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, response, and recovery and rehabilitation.
Among the technologies pitched are Project AFLOATS, developed by students from the University of St. La Salle Bacolod. The project is composed of machine learning, flood prediction, rerouting navigation, and a flood reporting device that aims to collect ground-based data on soil moisture, water level, and precipitation rate, which are integrated in a GPS device.
Another is the alert and reporting system called Tanaw, developed by students from the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos that aims to visualize climate risks, provide climate impact analytics, display nearest emergency facilities, and report climate-related events.
Interestingly, Project Greenshield by the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos, offers to reduce disaster risks and empower communities by employing eco-engineering solutions such as rain gardens, swales, and green roofings that will be installed initially in the nearby communities of the university.
Also, Project ATIPAN, or the Adaptive Toolkit for Immediate Preparedness and Assistance in Natural Disasters, is a modular waterproof and floatable bag using 840D TPU-coated Nylon tarpaulin. It has a built-in solar power bank, flashlight, and AM/FM radio, with an Independent Alert System (SMS/mobile) without the use of a smartphone, among others.
Aside from this, Project FLARE developed by students from the Asian College is an integrated, low-cost communication system for disaster response using AI-based hazard prediction, IOT Mesh Communication Network, and community dashboard and mobile application, while ResQ Pulse developed by the John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation students, which is an emergency response signaling bracelet that uses low-power radio frequency (LoRa) technology that enables signal transmission without the need for internet or cellular networks.
Project DALANET, on the other hand, is a resilient, decentralized communication platform for disaster response developed by the Siquijor State College. Dalanet is a smartphone application designed to create a resilient, peer-to-peer, offline communication network when all communication lines are down during emergencies.
Also, Project S.A.F.E., or the Smart Action for Future Emergencies, developed by John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation - Bacolod, is an offline community-based platform that ensures continuous disaster communication, prediction, and responses. Another is the RESQ SCAN, A QR-based emergency identification system developed by the students from the Negros Oriental State University. ResQ Scan is a QR-based emergency ID system that stores personal and medical details and can be accessed offline.
Lastly, Project BANGON by the La Consolacion College Bacolod is a web-based GIS dashboard that maps impact zones, relief centers, and damaged areas — with a coordination interface for faster, unified disaster response.
The team from the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos that developed Tanaw emerged as the champion, besting the 10 qualifying teams, and took home the grand prize. They were followed by Project AFLOATS from the University of St. La Salle, placing first, while Project FLARE of the Asian College was declared second best. Winners received a plaque and a gift certificate worth Php7,000 for the champion, Php5,000 and Php3,000 for the first and second runners-up, respectively.
The 2025 Handa Pilipinas: Innovations in Climate and Disaster Resilience is a strategic initiative to promote the various technologies and projects that contribute to the preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery efforts of the government during disasters. It 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 and Opportunities for All. For more information, visit https://handapilipinas.dost.gov.ph. (By Joy M. Lazcano, DOST-STII)
Pitching Winners of the Brains and Breakthroughs Pitching Competition during the awarding ceremony. Students from the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos bags the top plum with their Tanaw pitch, while students from the University of St. La Salle and Asian College placed first and second respectively. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Alfonso, DOST-STII)
