By Dhel Sue Cabiara
An innovation aimed at quickly detecting African Swine Fever (ASF) became the top entry of four Silliman University DOST scholars as they landed third in the Scholars Technopreneurship Training Program (STTP) last August.
The invention, dubbed “Swine Sight,” is a camera system with sensors that detect clinical symptoms of ASF in pigs and send alerts to authorities to prevent outbreaks.
ASF is a contagious and viral disease affecting both farm-raised and wild pigs, manifested by skin blotches, hemorrhaging, high fever, and lethargy.
It reached the Philippines last July 2019 in Rizal province, Metro Manila, with over 1,000 active cases at the city level today, according to the National ASF Prevention and Control Program.
According to scholar Mark Gelson Panganoron, they saw the vital need to address pressing issues such as animal health because it is “essential to the well-being and sustainability” of the country.
“Developing solutions in these areas addresses immediate challenges and also strengthens the long-term resilience of our agriculture and food systems,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gian Ross Wennette Asunan explained they found a societal issue they were passionate about, made a solution to address it, and built a sustainable startup project.
“I believe it is important because individual efforts aren’t enough to address these issues. I want this [project] to influence other DOST scholars to pursue innovation for the sake of improving the Philippines,” he said.
The winning team, composed of Panganoron, Asunan, Sheikha Encabo, and John Alek Nacaytuna, were awarded during the DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) Demo Day at Cebu City.
They were also joined by fellow scholars from Cebu Institute of Technology.
The STTP is a 5-month training program composing bootcamps, design thinking guides, and workshops to equip DOST scholars across Region 6 with skills and knowledge in technopreneurship.
A total of five modules spanning July to October gave the participants the chance to learn various topics such as solution brainstorming, issue excavation, basics of business and accounting, and tech planter demos.
Following this, the technopreneurs presented their pitch decks with some chosen innovations receiving support from DOST to incorporate their ideas into startup companies.
The training was provided by “Leave A Nest Philippines,” a social enterprise committed to leveraging and harmonizing science and technology for the empowerment of Filipinos.
