Geneva—An invention that instantly makes water from sources such as rivers and deep wells potable and a tech startup that matches Filipino women jobseekers with global entrepreneurs have received international recognition in separate events in Geneva.
Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador Evan Garcia hailed the awards, stressing that Filipino ingenuity had continued to provide solutions to both global and local challenges.
“The Philippine Government continues to encourage, support, and partner with creative minds and socially aware risk-takers to help ensure that today’s fast-changing technology is able to present concrete and accessible solutions to old and new challenges, solutions that positively affect the everyday lives of Filipinos,” he said.
For creating a potable water treatment device that can be used to provide safe drinking water to communities, especially when access to potable water becomes difficult such as during disaster situations, Filipino inventor Rodrigo Duque was awarded the Bronze prize on April 12 by the organizers of the 47th International Exhibition of Inventions, which was held in Geneva on April 10 to 14, 2019.
Duque’s invention, which is able to remove contaminants and sterilize water in large amounts through an easily-transportable device protected by a fiber-reinforced case, received acclaim for its practical application during calamities when potable water supply becomes limited or compromised, according to officials.
The Department of Science and Technology has been helping the Filipino inventor develop his product, which is now ready for market production.
Meanwhile, Connected Women was recognized as a Champion for e-Employment by the World Summit for Information Society (WSIS) Forum held in Geneva on April 8-12.
The social impact startup developed a platform that uses algorithms to make a precise match between Filipino women interested in engaging in remote work and global entrepreneurs in need of virtual assistance.
“It is an honor for Connected Women to be representing the country in the international stage and to be recognized by a panel of global change-makers as a solution to improving women’s economic empowerment and gender equality through the use of information and communications technology (ICT),” Connected Women co-founder Ruth Yu-Owen said.
For Connected Women, a partner of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, technology offers limitless opportunities for job creation and the promotion of gender equality.
The annual contest by the WSIS awards best practices related to ICT that help support the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.