(PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – A disaster-preparedness innovation developed by the Samar State University’s Samar Island GIS and Data Analytics Center (SIGISDAC) emerged as the top winner in the Likha Award for Outstanding Creative Research during the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits by Cluster (ClusteRICE) – Visayas Cluster held on August 27–28, 2025, at the Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas Campus in Palo, Leyte.
The project, ‘Tanaw: 3D-Printed Urban Model with Geohazard Simulations Using Virtual Environment and AR Projection Mapping’, stood out among more than 40 inventive entries across the Visayas.
Organized by the regional office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-8) through its Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), the event showcased the ingenuity of Filipino inventors ahead of the upcoming Regional Science and Technology Week (RSTW) on September 3–5, 2025.
Project Tanaw provides communities and decision-makers with a scaled, interactive 3D model of urban areas that integrates geohazard simulations and augmented reality features, making it possible to visualize potential disaster scenarios such as flooding and landslides. By combining digital mapping, 3D printing, and AR projection, it aims to strengthen disaster readiness in vulnerable areas.
The innovation was developed by a team led by Engr. Raven Tabiongan with Ar. Lhimarose Tanseco (Architect III), Catherine Carcellar, LPT (Project Dev. Officer), Yvonne Chui (Project Admin. Officer), James Cortel (Motion and Effects Designer), and Sonny Boy Ellema (Computer Programmer).
“We envision a Region 8 that produces more inventors, thinkers, and problem-solvers—people whose ideas can improve lives, strengthen our economy, and make our communities more competitive,” said DOST-8 Regional Director John Glenn Ocaña.
Other regional winners included Region VI’s Coirmach: A Coco Fiber Twining Machine (Tuklas Award for Outstanding Invention – Government Funded), Seed Planter (Unlad Award for Outstanding Utility Model), and various student research projects.
Winners of the Visayas cluster contest will represent the region at the 2026 National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE), where they will compete for national recognition and showcase their work on a broader stage.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
