This year’s Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week in the National Capital Region culminates with a recognition of local ingenuity, excellence, and impact of the Department of Science and Technology-National Capital Region’s (DOST-NCR) flagship programs and initiatives such as the SETUP 4.0 Awards, Best CEST Awards, Best Grassroot Innovation and Circular Economy Award.
Brgy. Potrero, Malabon City emerged as one of the biggest winners at this year’s CEST Community Awards, taking home the Special Award for Sustainable Circular Economy Initiative and being hailed as the Best CEST Regional Awardee, while also securing the 1st Runner-Up honor at the national level. Their success highlights the community’s strong commitment to sustainability, innovation, and inclusive development through the DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program. (Photo from DOST-STII Audio-Visual Section)
Here is the list of awardees for each award:
● 2025 SETUP 4.0 Awards
I-READY Award Regional Winner: COGNITIF Inc.
Regional ICON Awardee: Premier Physic Metrologie Co.
Regional 2025 CIRCLE Awardees:
● Patchmed Cosmetic Trading
● Fruit Magic Company, Inc.
● Danilyn’s Enterprises Inc.
● SETUP Praise Award:
2nd Runner Up: Pao Ying Food Inc.
1st Runner Up: Miracle Soybean Food International Corporation
Regional Winner: The Merry Cooks, Inc.
● CEST Community Award:
Special Award for Sustainable Livelihoods: Brgy. Putatan, Muntinlupa City
Special Award for Sustainable Science and Technology Culture and Education:
Brgy. Payatas, Quezon City
Special Award for Sustainable Health and Nutrition: Brgy. Fortune, Marikina City
Special Award for Sustainable Circular Economy Initiative: Brgy. Potrero,
Malabon City
Best CEST Regional Award and 1st Runner Up in the National Awarding: Brgy.
Potrero, Malabon City
● 2025 Best GI and CE Solutions
Grassroot Innovation Category
Third Place: Samahang Pantawid Pamilya Mushroom ng Maybunga / Improvised Mushroom Pasteurization Drum
Second Place: Samahan ng Mandaragat ng Isla Puting Bato / Like a Flipper (Tabla sa Paa)
First Place: MRF Balangkas Community Garden / Banana Peel Burger Patties
Circular Economy Category
Third Place: Ricardo P. Cruz, Sr. Elementary School (Risk Reduction Alarm Facility)
Second Place: Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium & Naglalala Weavers (Weaved Wire Cables)
First Place: Caybiga High School (P.A.P.E.R Wi-Fi)
2025 Project SARAI CeNTRO Partner
Lyceum of Alabang
DOST-NCR’s Assistant Regional Director for Technical Support Services Bianca Claudette R. Canlas, highlighted in her closing remarks how innovation thrives when everyone works together.
“It thrives when government provides support, when industries open opportunities, when educators cultivate curiosity, and when researchers and innovators dare to imagine something better and create solutions for real-world problems,” she said.
She also thanked the Technological Institute of the Philippines for hosting the said celebration and all the partners, collaborators, exhibitors, speakers, judges, and participants for making it meaningful and impactful.
“Your presence and your passion affirm that we can move Metro Manila forward for it to continue to be a dynamic hub for science, technology, and innovation,” she ended.
Key programs and services, such as PROPEL and TECHGROW, were also presented to help innovators, start-ups, and enterprises transform research outputs into viable products and services.
PROPEL is the DOST’s flagship commercialization initiative as its key strategies include accelerating technology transfer.
Moreover, TECHGROW, short for Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship Collaboration and Harmonization of Growing Regional Opportunities on Wealth Creation, is a three-year program that is designed to enhance competencies and expand technology transfer and commercialization initiatives among Local Universities and Colleges, State Universities and Colleges, Higher Education Institutions, and Research and Development Institutes across the country. Participants also gained insights from IPOPHL on intellectual property management, protection, and licensing—critical elements for maximizing the commercial value of innovations.
The 2025 RSTW celebration is one of the many initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.dost.gov.ph.
