Saint Louis University (SLU), through its School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA), held the Innovation Olympics, a hackathon inviting universities across the city to propose solutions for urban mobility on 17 July 2024 at Fr. Gevers Hall, SLU Main Campus. This event, organized in partnership with the Baguio City Government and Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), also showcased the Baguio Smart Urban Mobility Project.
Under the theme “Future is Now: Fostering Student-Led Innovation for Baguio Mobility,” the hackathon aimed to spark meaningful discussions around smart urban mobility and generate practical solutions to pressing transportation issues. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, SLU Vice President For Academic Affairs Felina P. Espique, PhD, along with faculty and students from SLU, University of Cordilleras, and University of Baguio participated alongside MPTC and ST Engineering representatives.
Participants presented a range of innovative projects addressing the city’s traffic congestion, public parking challenges, and sustainable traffic management systems. Proposals included mobile applications and smart devices designed to enhance transportation efficiency. The judging panel included Arch. Donna Tabangin, Head of Baguio City Planning and Development and Sustainability Office; Engr. Glenn C. Campos, Vice President for Technology at NLEX Corporation; and Dr. Chong Chee Chung, Vice President of ITS Architecting at ST Engineering.
SLU’s team won 2nd place for their AI-powered traffic management system, “Kesil: The Quick Way to Go,” while UC secured both 1st and 3rd places.
With this competition, MPTC extends grants to further help research and innovation of the students who presented their projects. A Memorandum of Agreement was then signed between SLU and MPTC through Executive Assistant to the President Joselito C. Gutierrez, PhD, SEA Dean Engr. Jeffrey Des Binwag, SEA Associate Dean Engr. Caroline B. Moncado, MPTC President and CEO Rogelio L. Singson, and Vice President of MPT Mobility Mark De Leon.
To conclude the discussions and presentations, Dean Binwag gave his synthesis of the program highlighting the approach to the solutions presented which is the coming together of the academe, industry, and government. “These are what we have to see more for us to realize the potential of these solutions in whether it be Breathe Baguio or Better Baguio. It’s that we are all in these together – students, professionals, and government,” he said.
Article by Mae Janica Palkit (UIO Volunteer)
Photos by Antonio Lim Jr. (UIO Volunteer)
