By: Zen Trinidad

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Calabarzon, through its Management Information System (MIS) Unit, is set to launch its first "hackathon" series titled “Hack4AProgress: Creating Innovative Solutions to Address Local Government Challenges.”

A "hackathon", also called codefest, is a social coding event for computer programmers to create or improve a software program.

Scheduled Sept. 23-25 at Sol Y Viento Hotels and Resorts in Calamba City, it aims to generate smarter, more sustainable solutions for the local government units (LGUs) of Santa Rosa City, Laguna, and Carmona City, Cavite.

Participants will develop minimum viable products (MVPs) to address the pressing issues faced by these communities, supporting the national program for Smart and Sustainable Communities.

Harley Margallo, spokesperson for DOST-Calabarzon's Public Affairs, Relations, and Communications Unit (PARCU), shared in a phone interview that eight teams from various institutions in the region have been selected to compete in the 48-hour hackathon's final round.

The finalists are konek.dev – University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); HealthConnect – National University (NU) - Laguna; Team Basu-Heroes – National University (NU) - Laguna; CodeKnights – Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba; PNC-ACOES – Pamantasan ng Cabuyao; Team 8 – National University (NU) - Laguna; Dash2Attack – Cavite State University - Main Campus; and Algoholics – National University (NU) - Dasmariñas.

The challenges to be addressed include a smart health coordination solution, a smart waste management system, an urban air quality monitoring system, an accident reporting tool, and a real-time traffic violation detection system.

Margallo explained that the selected teams would present their products to a panel of judges on the final day.

The top three teams will win cash prizes for their innovative solutions, and the champion team's MVP will be considered for funding by DOST agencies or local governments.

“This Hack4AProgress is part of the DOST Calabarzon 2024 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTIW) celebration in October to be held in Carmona City,” Margallo said. (PNA)