Filipino gets bronze in Swiss competition for ‘potable’ water invention
Credit to Author: BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO| Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2019 11:40:13 +0000
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said a Filipino inventor won in an international competition in Geneva, Switzerland for a device that could instantly make water “potable” whether sourced from rivers and deep wells.
The DFA also said that a tech startup that matched Filipino women jobseekers with global entrepreneurs also received international recognition in Geneva.
Rodrigo Duque was awarded the Bronze prize on April 12 by the organizers of the 47th International Exhibition of Inventions, held in Geneva from April 10 to 14.
He created a portable water treatment device that could be used to provide safe drinking water to communities, especially when access to potable water would become difficult such as in disaster situations.
Permanent Representative to the Untied Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Evan Garcia, hailed the awards, stressing that Filipino ingenuity continues to provide solutions to both global and local challenges.
“Mr. Duque’s invention, which is able to remove contaminants and sterilize water in large amounts through an easily-transportable device protected by a fiber-reinforced case, received acclaim for its practical application during calamities when potable water supply becomes limited or compromised,” he said.
The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) has been helping Duque to further develop his product, which is now ready for market production.
Meanwhile, Connected Women was recognized as a Champion for e-Employment by the World Summit for Information Society (WSIS) Forum in Geneva from April 8 to 12.
The social impact start-up developed a platform that used algorithms to make a precise match between Filipino women interested in engaging in remote work and global entrepreneurs in need of virtual assistance.
“The Philippine government continues to encourage, support, and partner with creative minds and socially aware risk-takers to help ensure that today’s fast-changing technology is able to present concrete and accessible solutions to old and new challenges, solutions that positively affect the everyday lives of Filipinos,” Garcia said. BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO
The post Filipino gets bronze in Swiss <br> competition for ‘potable’ water invention appeared first on The Manila Times Online.