By Mirielle Vacal
IN PHOTO (from left to right): BOJ Composition Atty. Jerry Serapion, IPM-ITSO Manager of PHILRICE, Mr. Jan Ralph Ebora, Program Consultant of New Energy Nexus, Mr. Noel Deplomo, President of Erouvotika Robotics and Automation Solutions, Ms. Alwyn Rosel, Executive Director of QBO Innovation, Ms. Lyn A. Fernandez, Assistant Regional Director - DOST-IVA, Mr. Rex Forteza, PSHS Campus Director, Ms. Jelyn E. Doctor, DOST-IVB, and Mr. Mark Anthony C. Bigayan, DOST-TAPI TIPD Chief Science Research Specialist.
Batangas City - The Department of Science and Technology - Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) successfully staged the Southern Luzon Cluster Leg of the 2025 Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits by Cluster (ClusteRICE) on October 1-2, 2025, at the Philippine Science High School CALABARZON Region Campus.
With dozens of inventive entries from the Regions IV-A (CALABARZON), IV-B (MIMAROPA), and V (Bicol Region), the two-day event featured pitching sessions and live demonstrations, capped by an awarding ceremony which recognized the ingenuity and potential of local talents.
Southern Luzon’s Official NICE 2026 Qualifiers
IN PHOTO (from left to right): Ms. Felina Malabanan, Provincial S&T Director, DOST-Batangas, Mr. Mark Anthony C. Bigayan, DOST-TAPI TIPD Chief Science Research Specialist, Ms. Emelita P. Bagsit, Regional Director of DOST-CALABARZON, Inv. James Camacho, Winner of Unlad or Outstanding Utility Model Category, Atty. Israel Jacob R. Zaragoza, DOST-TAPI Head of Legal Unit, and Mr. Rex Forteza, PSHS Campus Director.
The top-performing entries from the Southern Luzon Cluster earned the right to advance to the 2026 National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE):
|
Entry Title |
Category |
Region |
|
Nano Foldable Crutches |
Unlad Award for Outstanding Utility Model |
Region IV-A |
|
Multi-Grain Precision Seeder with Fertilizer Applicator |
Banghay Award for Outstanding Industrial Design |
Region IV-B |
|
KArbon: Kaong Activated Carbon Products |
Likha Award for Outstanding Creative Research |
Region IV-A |
|
IoShroom: IoT-Integrated Smart Mushroom Monitoring Device |
Sibol Award for Outstanding Student Creative Research for the College Category |
Region IV-A |
|
Bio-Pigment from Golden Apple Snail Eggs (Pomacea canaliculata): A Sustainable Input to Dyes Green Economy |
Sibol Award for Outstanding Student Creative Research for the High-School Category |
Region IV-A |
These winners will represent the Southern Luzon Cluster in the national finals, wherein they will compete against other regional champions for the NICE 2026 titles. The national winners may also benefit from the DOST-TAPI’s support programs, including product development funding, commercialization assistance, and intellectual property (IP) protection, and may even be chosen to represent the Philippines in international invention expos.
The Institute also extended its appreciation to the DOST-CALABARZON and the Philippine Science High School - CALABARZON Region Campus for co-hosting the Southern Luzon leg of ClusteRICE 2025.
Continuing the Road to NICE 2026
Following the Southern Luzon leg, the ClusteRICE 2025 will move on to the Mindanao Cluster (October 7-8, 2025) and the North Luzon Cluster (October 14-15, 2025).
ClusteRICE is part of DOST-TAPI’s Institutional Support for Technology Exposition (ISTE) Program, implemented through the Technology Information and Promotion Division (TIPD). The program serves as a strategic platform to promote DOST-developed technologies and local inventions, anchored on Republic Act 7459, or the Inventors and Invention Incentives Act of the Philippines.
The Department of Science and Technology - Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) is among the DOST’s service agencies tasked to promote technology commercialization and innovation support services, created under the Executive Order No.128 on 30 January 1987.
For more information about DOST-TAPI’s programs and services, you may email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., call (02) 8582 1450, or visit the official DOST-TAPI Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DOST.TAPI.
