Three innovators from the Visayas have advanced to the national finals of the 2025 Filipinnovation Awards.
The finalists topped the Sub-National Competition, organized by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Regional Office 7 in partnership with the National Innovation Council (NIC), on July 17.
The three finalists are:
• GRADECHUM: An AI grading assistant from CodeChum Software Solutions Inc. (Region 7) that automates the checking of handwritten exams.
• Rezbin: A smart recycling system for communities from Rezbin Waste Technology Inc. (Region 6).
• The OBTD (Oil-based Thermal Disinfection): A technology for hospital waste management from FILARB Waste Management Services (Region 6).
The finalists were selected from a pool of 11 semi-finalists who pitched innovative solutions to challenges in food and agribusiness, education, and health.
“To our students and young people here today, you must take part. Start with a change in mindset. Cultivate a drive to create something better, whether it’s something new or something impactful,” said DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
Balisacan cited innovation as a key pillar of the country’s socioeconomic transformation, calling for a unified effort from all sectors, especially the youth, to build a more inclusive, competitive, and innovation-led Philippines.
DEPDev Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos described the awards as a celebration of Filipino resilience and creativity. “Progress requires all hands on deck. With the private sector’s dynamism, academe’s brilliance, and civil society’s heart, we will turn the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 into tangible results,” he said.
The event included live pitching and demonstration sessions where participants showcased the real-world applications of their innovations.
Tirso Ronquillo, executive member of the NIC, said Filipinnovation is also about cultural transformation.
“It challenges all sectors, institutions, and individuals to view innovation as essential in how we solve problems, grow our economies, and build resilient communities,” he said.
Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, who chairs the Visayas Sub-National Committee, noted the government’s role in cultivating an ecosystem where ideas can thrive and become real-world solutions. “The Filipinnovation Awards is a tool and platform for change… a manifestation of a growing resolve to advance progress,” he said.
The Filipinnovation Awards are a flagship initiative of the NIC under the Philippine Innovation Act (Republic Act No. 11293). The competition is designed to promote inclusive and transformative innovation nationwide. It features a two-stage format with participants grouped into four geographic clusters: NCR, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Finalists from each cluster will compete at the national level.
The NCR Sub-National Competition was held in April, followed by Luzon in June. The Mindanao competition is scheduled for August. Eastern Visayas is slated to host the 2026 Visayas Sub-National Competition.
