The innovation contest featured the projects of 20 finalists selected from 89 schools that participated in the program. The teams composed of students and teacher-coach dedicated 90 days to designing, building, and testing their project prototypes. The program promotes creative and collaborative mindsets among students by enabling them to solve actual problems in their communities or achieve a particular purpose using critical thinking, experimentation, risk analysis, engineering, and technical skills. Three schools, chosen by a distinguished Board of Judges, each received the Youth Innovation Award at the Final Presentation and Awarding Ceremony held on July 27 to 28.

The DOST-SEI conferred the prestigious award to three school teams whose technologies exhibited novelty and patentability, functionality and unique selling point, collaboration, design and feasibility, extensibility, and practicability.

Cavite Science Integrated School - “Project KALINGA: Geolocation Estimation of Forest Activities Using Triangulation and Sound Classification.” The project aims to address the long-standing issue of illegal logging and deforestation in the Philippines and aid forest rangers in monitoring them. It works by using the triangulation method and sound classification to estimate the geographical location of sounds- specifically, to detect sounds of equipment used in illegal forest activities. Team members are Uno A. Café, Rainier M. Guinto, Sigmund Francis S. Manalo, and Precious A. Zapanta, with coach Ms. Elain E. Malones.

Philippine Science High School - CALABARZON Region Campus - “SAMGIOP: Development of an IoT-based Sensory Device for Leaf Damage and Abiotic Factors in Cabbage” As an innovative response to the pest infestation problem in cabbages, their technology works via a two-part system: the SAMGIOP rover which detects leaf damage, and the SAMGIOP slave which detects abiotic factors - non-living chemical and physical aspects of an environment. The monitoring device relies on the Internet of Things (IoT) mechanisms with a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) embedded in the Raspberry Pi. Team members are Harvae C. De La Cruz, Joanna Daniella C. Fajardo, Ma. Hannah Isabel L. Suguitan, and Anjirehl Ernest Godfrei C. Zapata, with coach Ms. Marizel B. Villanueva.

Vinzons Pilot High School - “E-QUIA: Remotely Operated Electrostatic Collector of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Microplastics in Freshwater Environment” Addressing the environmental damage caused by microplastics, particularly in freshwater, E-QUIA is a remote-controlled device that collects microplastics from freshwater environments via an electrostatic filtration system. The device uses an environmental-friendly method of separating microplastics from freshwater via electrostatic charges. Team members are Alliyah C. Cambronero, Reynier Francis E. Espinola, Allen Misty B. Jalina, and Lea Monina G. Pioquinto, with coach Mr. Jason N. Bargo.

DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette T. Biyo congratulated all the winners and participants and urged them to continue to nurture their creativity to help solve problems in their community. She also thanked DOST-SEI's partners – Honda Cars, Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, C&E Publishing, and the coaches - for sharing the advocacy and for supporting the vital role of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) in national development.

“May our young Filipino innovators continue to become bearers of hope for the country, and never give up trying to help solve different problems through technology and innovation. Always remember that you can dream big dreams and that you have the power to realize a better life for your family and your communities,” said Atty. Louie Soriano, Vice President, HCPI. He also commended the DOST-SEI for being impactful mentors to the students through programs like the imake.wemake.