Pitogo HS secures TagRobo four-peat win

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Pitogo High School picked up where it left off as it secures the championship title in the Tagisang Robotics: Design. Build. Play as the competition returns this 2022 using a hybrid format.

After winning The Best Team Award in 2019, the Best Rookie Team and Best Team in 2013, and again as Best Team in 2014, Pitogo High School once more showed that they are still the team-to-beat in the returning robotics competition held last May 27.

Pitogo HS scored a total of 3,000 points and recorded the shortest time to complete the final task, which is to sense, lift and deliver colored pallets to their designated places on the playing field.

Pitogo HS Team, composed of students Allen Reilan Bustamante, Nathan Enzo Saludo, Rose Nelyn Andalajao, and Gaudy Lhuan Macato, will receive P120,000 cash grant and a trophy. Their coach, Florante Ferrer, one of the veteran coaches of the competition, will receive P30,000 cash award.

Meanwhile, Caloocan National Science and Technology High School (CalNatSci) was hailed as first runner-up with 2,800 points, while Taguig City Science High School finished as second runner up with 2,600 points.

Students of CalNatSci Angelo Paolo Atip, Gabriel Peter Pacoma, Danielle Faye Alba, Anjae Maria Bejerano bagged a trophy and P80,000 cash grant. Taguig City Science HS students Jaisa Julene Mataac, Julyenne Alexander Borais, Steven Andrei Fontiveros and Anastacia Freyja Cabugon will receive Php 40,000 cash and a trophy. The coaches of the first runner-up and second runner-up will be receiving P20,000 and P10,000 cash prize, respectively.

Rizal National Science High School, meanwhile, bagged The Most Valuable Team title after garnering the highest combined scores from the qualifying heat matches held in series before the final match. Through these matches, the Top 8 finalists were selected and allowed to compete in the hybrid championship game.

The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) has been conducting the Tagisang Robotics since 2011 to ignite the interest of high school students in robotics for them to discover their potentials in the fields of engineering and information technology.

“Potential is something that is always there especially when talking about the Filipino youth. The only challenge is on how we can hone and harness it, and make sure that effective programs are implemented for it to be realized, “ said DOST-SEI’s Chief of the Science and Technology Manpower Education Research and Promotions Division, Dr. Ruby R. Cristobal.

With the new format of the Tagisang Robotics competition, participating teams were allowed to upload their previously tested codes remotely, to autonomously run the robot onsite and fulfill the task of efficiently delivering the colored pallets to the designated positions on the playing field in the shortest possible time. This new game format heralds an innovative way of delivering technology-based competitions amid prevailing restrictions due to the pandemic. Likewise, it offers a creative solution to future challenges of running highly engaging competitions despite having participants who are remotely located.

The importance of Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

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A person's safety during calamities is mainly dependent on their community's disaster preparedness. No matter how ready they are for all possible catastrophic scenarios, every bit of preparation can go down the drain if their community cannot respond effectively to such events.

It is why a community-based disaster risk reduction and management plan (CBDRRMP) is essential. It places the responsibility of being prepared for calamities and other emergencies on the community as a whole, ensuring that organizations, households and individuals can work together in making their community more resilient in the face of disaster.

CBDRRMP is important, especially for countries highly vulnerable to disasters, such as the Philippines. Situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire and typhoon belt, the Philippines is frequented by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and typhoons respectively. The country ranked 9th in the world in terms of vulnerability to calamities in the 2020 World Risk Index.

One of the most common events experienced by the Philippines is flooding, which underscores the importance of effective floodwater management. There are many ways that local government units are doing this. Efforts range from structural measures such as sizeable underground drainage systems, floodways, pumping stations, flood warning systems, and urban greening to non-structural measures such as minimizing plastic waste, a primary culprit in urban flooding.

With the country situated on five active fault lines, Filipinos must also prepare for earthquakes. It is why many buildings are equipped with earthquake-resistance features. Taking earthquake resilience in the country further are the periodic earthquake drills implemented at the national and organizational levels.

These are good examples of effective CBDRR, where both the authorities and the citizens work together to ensure the safety of life and property in their communities.

SM City Masinag has a rainwater collection tank that can store 17,681 cubic meters of water.

As a trusted and responsible developer of integrated properties, SM has always been committed to promoting Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) in its communities, which is evident in many of its malls that employ infrastructure design centered on disaster resilience. SM allocates 10% of its capital expenditures to incorporate disaster-resilient features, of which installing water management design features is one of them.

Artist's illustration of SM's rainwater collection facility in 22 SM Malls nationwide.

A few examples of these are SM City Marikina, elevated by several rows of concrete stilts to protect tenants and mall-goers during extreme floods. SM Mall of Asia was built with a storm surge barrier for added protection during storm surges, and several malls employ catchment tanks for recycling rainwater.

Across the country, there are 22 SM Malls that have rainwater collection tanks under the mall. All these malls combined can catch and store 79,880 cubic meters of rainwater, equivalent to 32 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

“Wherever SM is, we try to help our communities become resilient to changing weather patterns,” explains Arch. Fides Garcia-Hsu, Vice President of SM Engineering, Design and Development. “Nationwide, we have 22 malls equipped with rainwater catchment facilities that help rain water management to avoid flash floods for surrounding communities.”

SM City Olongapo Central's rainwater collection tank can hold up to 14,580 cubic meters of water.

Supporting these are several initiatives focused capacity-building for its stakeholders. It includes workshops & learning sessions on Disaster Risk Resilience Management and regular participation in the quarterly national simultaneous earthquake drills for its employees, and the annual Emergency Preparedness Forum for persons with disabilities and the elderly, two of the most vulnerable sectors of society during disasters.

Similarly, in line with its multi-stakeholder approach, SM Prime has also continuously built long-term partnerships with organizations that advocate for a disaster-resilient Philippines. It includes collaborations with ARISE-Philippines, the National Resilience Council, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Office of Civil Defense, and the Bureau of Fire Protection, to name a few.

SM City San Mateo's rainwater collection tank can collect 10,800 cubic meters of potential floodwater.


ABOUT SM PRIME HOLDINGS

SM Prime, one of the leading integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, remains committed to its role as a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities, thereby enriching the quality of life of millions of people. Sustainability and Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience form part of SM Prime's core business strategies. It ensures that its risk-informed investments catalyze sustainable development and positive change in the communities where it operates.

For more information on SM Prime Holdings and its other programs towards disaster preparedness, visit their website at www.smprime.com.

PLDT Enterprise activates BEYOND FIBER connectivity to Odiongan, Romblon

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PLDT Enterprise partners with the municipal government of Odiongan, Romblon to provide free BEYOND FIBER connectivity to support the daily online activities of its employees and constituents.

IN PHOTO (L-R): Orven Oyonque, Junior Manager of PLDT Regional Customer Development Luzon; Rene Anthony Santiago, AVP and Center Head of PLDT Regional Customer Development, Trina Firmalo-Fabic, Odiongan, Romblon Municipal Mayor; Euan Rex D. Toralballa, PLDT Enterprise Head of SMBiz Regional Luzon; and Nerwin Tan, CEO of K&WIN Telco.


PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the country’s largest fully integrated telecommunications provider PLDT, has extended its BEYOND FIBER solution to Odiongan, Romblon municipal government in its bid to aid its delivery of online public services.

Vic Tria, PLDT Enterprise First Vice President and Enterprise Revenue Group Head, said that the group will provide three-month free BEYOND FIBER connectivity to Odiongan Municipal Hall which will enable its employees to complete their online undertakings efficiently.

“A robust internet connection is essential to our government offices to facilitate the swift transmission of data and also the delivery of our government services. Our BEYOND FIBER solution is the perfect technology we offer to Odiongan, Romblon municipal government as it is designed to provide fast and superior reliability for their operations,” said Tria.

Likewise, PLDT Enterprise Vice President for Small and MicroBiz Chito Franco said that the initiative will also benefit the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within the vicinity.

“Aside from the online processes of our government employees, this free connectivity will also support the online operations of the businesses around the area. We are delighted to provide this service as this will enable them to be always connected and be more efficient to grow their businesses,” Franco shared.

Meanwhile, Euan Rex D. Toralballa, PLDT Enterprise Head of SMBiz Regional Luzon, also noted that the company has been committed to providing technological solutions, such as BEYOND FIBER, to enable local and municipal government units to bolster their online capabilities.

“It is one of our imperatives in PLDT Enterprise to empower municipalities as they embrace digital transformation to power their online processes. PLDT Enterprise is committed to assisting them through their journey in empowering a digitally-enabled environment to improve their delivery of public services to their constituents,” said Toralballa.

Recently, the group also rolled out a fiber optic facility in the municipality which covers nine barangays as of now.

BEYOND FIBER is an all-in-one digital solution anchored on business-grade fiber that supports the digital operations of offices, businesses, and remote work employees.

It features the 90-90 Advantage, where users can get a boosted minimum speed of 90 percent of their subscribed speed at 90 percent reliability, providing uninterrupted online transactions to organizations while eliminating the fear of internet slowdown during peak working hours.

This means users can get a minimum of 90 Mbps at 90 percent reliability for their 100 Mbps subscription.

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com.