Students from two public high schools in Negros Occidental won top awards in the just-concluded 9th World Innovative Technology (WIT) Challenge held at Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea.
The WIT, through the competition on November 2 and 3, is “dedicated to nurturing the development and advancement of innovative and creative technologies among young students.”
Erich Joy Grande and Marciela Valdez of Ramon Torres National High School (RTNHS)-Main in Bago City took home the gold medal in the symposium category for their project, “Deploy, Discover, Declare: A Multi-Device System for Comprehensive Monitoring and Data-Driven Protection of Irrawaddy Dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in Bago City.”
Lettynia Mellisze Sorongon and Jorge Nathalie Dequilla of Doña Montserrat Lopez Memorial High School (DMLMHS) in Silay City bagged the silver medal in the same category.
Their robot is called “AmBOT: Autonomous Marine Robot for Oil Spill Cleanup with Integrated Desalination System.”
Lyn Piedad and Akysha Nicole Grande were awarded the bronze medal for their robot, “FiFee: Solar Powered Automatic Fish Feeder with Real-time Water Condition Monitoring and Response System.”
Before competing in this year’s WIT Challenge, the Grade 10 science, technology, and engineering students from Negros Occidental competed in the innovative project ideas category of the Provincial Robotics Competition: 4th Battle of Bots 2024 organized by the provincial government-run Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC) and Pinoy Robot Games (PRG) as well as in the PRG’s National Robotics Competition.
NOLITC vocational school administrator Ma. Cristina Orbecido said on Tuesday the feat of the Negrense students is an indication that the provincial government’s robotics program is gaining momentum even in the international arena.
“We are truly proud of the robotics teams from Bago and Silay who made a sweeping victory in the international competition in South Korea,” she told the Philippine News Agency.
Orbecido said the NOLITC started the innovative project ideas category this year to encourage young Negrenses to create innovative solutions to pressing problems in the community.
“Part of the project is to endorse the winners in the international competition. These remarkable achievements are a testament to the dedication and hard work of the students and their mentors with the support of the local community,” she added.
In an interview, Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo said he takes pride in the achievement of the students and coaches of RTNHS, supported by the city government in their participation in the 9th WIT Challenge.
“At their young age, we see the big potential of these students. All they need is just an exposure and a break to discover that they are world-class,” he added.*PNA
