John Carlo Luna Reyes from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman has won the 20th James Dyson Award in the Philippines for his invention, SolAsin.
The device is a compact, sustainable unit for farming flaky salt. It is designed to empower coastal communities and help revitalize the country’s salt industry.
The two national runners-up were from Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT): ChillWise, a passive energy-regulating cooling panel system made from agricultural waste, and Lambooply, a sustainably engineered material using bamboo and Lampakanay grass.
All three inventions will move on to the international stage of the James Dyson Award, where they will compete for a prize of about P2,168,000.
The Philippines, a nation with one of the world’s longest coastlines, imports 93 percent of its salt despite a law aimed at developing the local salt industry. This year’s winning invention tackles the lack of sustainable and viable livelihood options in coastal communities.
The decline of local salt production has been driven by a combination of factors, including climate change, limited technological advancements, inconsistent government support and the urbanization and reclamation of bay areas.
These pressures, along with a waning interest in salt farming among younger generations, have left coastal communities struggling to maintain what was once a vital source of income.
Inspired by his hometown of Pangasinan, which translates to “a place where salt is made,” Reyes, an industrial design student, developed SolAsin to help coastal communities revive a livelihood that was once central to their identity.
“Growing up in Pangasinan, I saw firsthand how coastal communities struggled to access sustainable livelihood opportunities,” Reyes said.
“As a designer and an Iskolar ng Bayan [scholar of the nation], I have always felt a responsibility to use my skills to empower my own community,” he said.
Unlike traditional salt beds that require vast land and capital, SolAsin is a compact, sustainable and easy-to-use device. It uses filtered seawater and sunlight to produce flaky salt, a high-value variant that can be sold in small quantities to local businesses, hotels, and tourists.
Reyes developed and tested SolAsin in close consultation with coastal residents, local government and the provincial environmental office. He refined the design through multiple prototypes and months of fieldwork, gathering feedback that confirmed its usability and income-generating potential.
Reyes will receive P361,300 as the national prize, which he plans to use to further develop the design, improve materials and prepare for mass production.
Dr. Jaine Cadoc-Reyes, a national judge and professor from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, said: “SolAsin stood out for its simplicity scalability, and social impact. It’s a brilliant example of how design can empower communities and revive local industries.”
Melvin John Dela Peña, a national judge and senior program manager at Dyson, said: “This invention exemplifies Dyson’s engineering ethos—problem-solving through iterative design. SolAsin’s thoughtful integration of local resources and community feedback makes it a standout solution.”
“This recognition is more than just a personal achievement—it is a win for the communities that inspired SolAsin,” Reyes said.
“My goal has always been to design with and for the people, and this award gives me the opportunity to further develop the project so it can truly uplift local salt farmers. I hope this inspires more young Filipino designers to look to our own communities and industries for solutions that can create lasting change,” he said.
The James Dyson Award is an international design competition that inspires and celebrates the next generation of design engineers. Now in its 20th year, the competition has supported more than 400 problem-solving inventions with over PO70 million in prize money. It operates across 28 countries and regions and is run by the James Dyson Foundation, Sir James Dyson’s engineering-education charity.
