DOST-TAPI’s PhilippiNEXT exhibit is now open at Okada Manila, running until July 16. This international conference and exposition puts a spotlight on Filipino-made technologies, focusing on real-world problems in energy, agriculture, disaster resilience, climate response, and healthcare.
The event brings together inventors, entrepreneurs, and researchers with policymakers, investors, and the media, making it a platform for ideas that aim to make a difference and scale up through partnerships and policy support.
The Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) under the Department of Science and Technology leads this initiative. During the media launch, officials explained why the Philippines is now positioning itself as a regional meeting point for innovation. PhilippineNEXT aims to strengthen connections among industries, academic institutions, startups, and governments in the Asia-Pacific region.
TAPI’s promotions and media team also called on journalists and content creators to help tell the stories behind these innovations. Speakers at the event highlighted how the media can help bridge the gap between science and the public, especially in building awareness and support for local technology.
Five Voices, One Future
The centerpiece of the media launch was a live segment featuring five innovators who pitched and shared the stories behind their technologies. Each one tackled a problem close to home, using local knowledge and experience to come up with new solutions.
Patrick Roland de Guzman, founder of Saltric Electric Generation Services, introduced the Marissa Turbine, named after his late mother. The small water-powered device can generate electricity from rivers, canals, and other flowing water sources—offering a more reliable alternative to solar in off-grid areas. De Guzman shared how his mother’s experience growing up without power inspired the project. The technology is already being tested in Palawan and Samar, with plans to expand in partnership with national agencies.
Alvin “TV Artemis” Valdes, founder of Farmesto Technologies, grew up tinkering with wires and circuits. His latest project is a smart greenhouse system powered by AI and sensors. It’s designed to help farmers monitor and manage their crops with better accuracy. He said the idea came after watching his father, a retired engineer, take up farming full time during the pandemic. For Valdes, modern farming should be easier and more attractive to the next generation.
Christina Macari, who returned from Silicon Valley to settle in Tagaytay, created Alerto PH, an all-in-one safety app designed to keep you and your loved ones protected anytime, anywhere. Families can connect security devices such as smoke detectors, contact emergency services, and get real-time alerts through the app. With support from DOST-TAPI, the project has reached 15,000 homes and is now being tested in high-risk communities. Macari said her goal is to make basic safety tools accessible, especially for families that can’t afford commercial-grade systems.
Justin Zhang, a visiting innovator from TackEvo in Singapore invited by the DOST as part of a group of international innovators, shared FloodFinder, a palm-sized device that monitors flood levels in real time using solar power and cloud connectivity. He recalled a personal experience with flooding in Singapore as the starting point for the project. FloodFinder is already being used to test how cities can respond faster and plan better in areas prone to sudden rainfall and road flooding. Zhang noted that DOST-TAPI invited his team to showcase the technology in Manila, connecting them to potential partners.
Noel Gary Del Castillo, founder of SeeYou Doc Corporation, built SeeYouDOC medicine platform, a hospital information and telemedicine system. His frustration with long wait times at clinics pushed him to look into tech-based healthcare services. Codoc now assists several hospitals in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, where residents can book appointments and receive free medicine deliveries through local health centers. The system also includes electronic medical records and referral tracking for doctors. Del Castillo said their goal is to help both hospitals and LGUs modernize patient services.
All five credited DOST-TAPI’s programs for providing grants, guidance, and connections that helped them move from prototypes to actual deployments. These included support for patent applications, access to zero-interest loans, and help joining international exhibitions such as the Geneva Invention Fair. Several noted that TAPI helped them connect with media outlets, LGUs, and potential commercial partners.
Organizers say PhilippiNEXT will be held every two years moving forward, with the goal of making it a regular venue for Filipino-led innovation to connect with the world.
As the event continues this week, visitors are encouraged to interact with the innovators and explore the technologies on display. There’s also a dedicated QR code system where media attendees can send questions in real time and join in raffle activities.
PhilippineNEXT 2025 shows how local stories can lead to global conversations. The real question now is: how many of these ideas will grow, scale, and succeed with the support they need?
Will you be one of the voices helping them get there?
