by Jund Rian A. Doringo
In the newest installment of the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE), the most outstanding inventions and researches were revealed during the Awarding Ceremonies in Regions VI and III on 24-26 November 2021, simultaneous with the 2021 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW).
The conduct of RICE in Western Visayas and Central Luzon on 24-26 November 2021 revealed the regional winners in each category that would move on to the NICE in 2022
Co-organized by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Offices VI and III, RICE provides due recognition to Filipino inventors, makers, and researchers through a form of competition.
With cash prizes, certificates, and the chance to represent their regions to the National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE) in 2022, RICE also commends the best and the brightest entries with their evident contribution to national development through science, technology, and innovation.
“For years, RICE has been a viable component for the many lives of our Filipino inventors who have competed in the coveted contest – from a budding inventor to a household name in their chosen industry,” said DOST-TAPI Director Marion Ivy D. Decena.
She also mentioned that there are six major categories to compete in, such as the invention, utility model, industrial design, creative research for professionals, and creative research among college and high school students.
“Past winners of RICE have availed of other leading programs of DOST-TAPI in commercializing their invention and creating an impact to society by creating livelihood projects in the community,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña.
With the holistic inventor-related development programs, inventors and researchers may continue on enhancing their prototypes, conducting market and pilot testing, and commercializing their inventions or technologies.
Creativeness and innovativeness shine through in Western Visayas
Western Visayas has been very keen on celebrating scientific breakthroughs as the NSTW in Region VI opened on 23 November 2021 with their combined physical and virtual platforms which held webinars and exhibits, including RICE.
“The 2021 RICE has shown that Filipinos are truly remarkable that instead of being restricted from the pandemic, it has even brought out creativeness and innovativeness among us,” said DOST-VI Regional Director Rowen R. Gelonga.
The intelligent packaging for detecting spoilage in foodstuff, the valve servicing device, and the mounted establishment disinfection system were announced as the regional winners in their respective categories.
For the complete list of winners in Region VI, please refer to the following:
Unlad Award for Outstanding Utility Model
- First Prize Winner: Mxsense: Intelligent Packaging for Detecting Spoilage in Foodstuff by Sherwin Escayo and Jay O. Martizano
- Second Prize Winner: Compact Glass Crusher by Rafael P. Rebutada
- Third Prize Winner: Cable Stripper by Engr. Joseph O. Golingay
Likha Award for Outstanding Creative Research
- First Prize Winner: Valve Servicing Device by Christoper V. Gregorio
- Second Prize Winner: Modular Reversible Flow/Collapsible Flatbed Dryer by Jimbo P. Garsula
- Third Prize Winner: Chewy Bar Made of Mongo, Rice, and Muscovado Sugar by Dr. Marie Ann J. Raymaro
Sibol Award for Outstanding High School Student Creative Research
- First Prize Winner: Project M.E.D.S: Mounted Establishment Disinfection System by Vinson Josaiah P. Kasilag, Ezekiel P. Quanico, and Benjamin Ford M. Cepe of the Antique National High School
- Second Prize Winner: IWAS BAGSAK: iHelmet Pro Max with GPS Control by Ron Yro Froid A. Gonzaga of the Antique National High School
- Third Prize Winner: AuDiSy: Automatic Tricycle Disinfection System by D Tamita Perez of the Antique National High School
Resourcefulness of Central Luzon to turn harsh experiences to ingenuity
The 2021 RICE, which started on 10 August 2021 in MIMAROPA, is conducted in all of the regions to find the qualifiers to the national contest in the following year.
“The conduct of RICE and NICE is a continuing activity that we need to pursue only due to the fact that Filipinos are arguably the most creative and innovative people in the world, and that despite very limited resources, Filipino ingenuity always finds a way to excel,” said DOST-III Regional Director Julius Caesar V. Sicat.
He also mentioned that the Filipinos' diverse and sometimes harsh experiences give our inventors a unique and fresh perspective to fill in the needs of our fellow men through inventions and technologies that can change lives and the world.
The greenhouse-type solar dryer system, ground heat exchanger system, computer vision system, fire suppression and emergency escape device, and tanguile wood detachable prototype furniture were announced as the regional winners in their respective categories.
For the complete list of winners in Region III, please refer to the following:
Tuklas Award for Outstanding Invention
- First Prize Winner: Greenhouse-Type Solar Dryer System Retrofitted with Biomass Furnace by Robelyn E. Daquila, Ms. Maria Elizabeth V. Ramos, and Dr. Romualdo C. Martinez
Banghay Award for Outstanding Industrial Design
- First Prize Winner: A Ground Heat Exchanger System for Aeroponics by Christopher S. Pascual
- Second Prize Winner: A Market Bagpack by Aliza Carillo
Likha Award for Outstanding Creative Research
- First Prize Winner: Computer Vision System (CVS) for Mango Sorting and Grading by Arlene C. Joaquin, Richard P. Avila, Ma. Elizabeth V. Ramos, and Romualdo C. Martinez
- Second Prize Winner: Sucrose-Capped Silver Nanoparticles as Sensor Probes for the Visual Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide by Darwin F. Reyes
Sibol Award for Outstanding College Student Creative Research
- First Prize Winner: Fire Suppression and Emergency Escape Device for Automobile by Mark Vincent L. Dela Paz, Alfred Sica, Nelson R. Nantiza, Jr., and Jhomar Sunglao of the Don Honorio Ventura State University
- Second Prize Winner: Electric Food Dehydrator with Solar-Thermal Converter by Robert B. Miranda, Jr., Prince Ralph Emmanuel T. Ramirez, and Roderick L. Fetalbero of the Wesleyan University Philippines
- Third Prize Winner: Design and Development of Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) for Maize by Michael Angelo S. Adriano, Rafael C. Aquino, Christian Jello T. Barrion, Allein Franz C. Constantino, Jillmer M. Daquiz, Acer M. Laguinto, and Mark James B. Layson of the Don Honorio Ventura State University
Sibol Award for Outstanding High School Student Creative Research
- First Prize Winner: Development of Tanguile (Shorea polysperma) Wood Detachable Prototype Furniture by Hannah Noreen Nicdao, Michaela Nicole Alfonso Myrrhiel Marie David, Aichon Lyne Dayrit, Winchelle Heart Magtoto, Ciarita Ainah Naluz, Jessica Joyce Perez, Annalyn Usman, and Haizelyn Yalung of the Don Honorio Ventura State University
- Second Prize Winner: Free Fatty Acid Reduction of Used Cooking Oil using Activated Carbon derived from Coconut Husks by Haven S. Magno, Steven Charlie R. Manese, Renz Jerick Y. Mascareñas, Jeremy Andrew C. Montemayor, Joanna Leene G. Ocampo, and Micah A. Perez of the Don Honorio Ventura State University
- Third Prize Winner: Arduino-Based Automatic Fishpond Sluice Gate by Paulo M. Magpayo, Daniella Anne O. Dalmas, Shawn Ashley S. De Guzman, Almer John C. Dimabuyu, and Rico Angelo L. Sabado of the Don Honorio Ventura State University
The next RICE will be conducted in Zamboanga Peninsula on 01-03 December 2021 via the virtual platform and DOST-TAPI Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DOST.TAPI.
For more information, please contact 8837 2071 locals 2157 and 2167, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
