By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – Six students from two public high schools in Negros Occidental won major awards at the 9th World Innovative Technology (WIT) Challenge, an international robotics competition held at Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea, on Nov. 2 and 3.
Marciela Valdez and Erich Joy Grande from Ramon Torres National High School (RTNHS) in Bago City won gold medals for their project, “Deploy, Discover, Declare: A Multi-Device System for Comprehensive Monitoring and Data-Driven Protection of Irrawaddy Dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris).”
Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo expressed pride in the students’ achievement and announced plans by the city government to provide incentives in recognition of the pride and honor they brought to the city and the Philippines.
Winning silver medals were Lettynia Mellisze Sorongon and Jorge Nathalie Dequilla from Doña Montserrat Lopez Memorial High School (DMLMHS) in Silay City. Bronze medalists were Lyn Piedad and Akysha Nicole Grande, also from DMLMHS.
Sorongon and Dequilla showcased their skills with their robot, “AmBOT: Autonomous Marine Robot for Oil Spill Cleanup with Integrated Desalination System.”
Piedad and Grande demonstrated their innovation through “FiFee: Solar Powered Automatic Fish Feeder with Real-time Water Condition Monitoring and Response System.”
These young innovators from DMLMHS were supported by their mentors, Jake Joaquin and John Andre Ramos.
Before competing internationally, these Grade 10 students participated in the innovative project ideas category of the Provincial Robotics Competition: 4th Battle of Bots 2024, organized by the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC) and Pinoy Robot Games (PRG), as well as in PRG’s National Robotics Competition.
NOLITC stated that the students’ victory strengthens the reputation of Negros Occidental as a nurturing ground for future scientists, creative thinkers, and technology leaders.
Their success not only brings honor to their schools and cities but also inspires future generations.
