INNOVATORS from the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera regions pitched their disaster preparedness solutions to leaders and key officials of government, academe, private sector, and civil society organizations during the Pasundayag Northern Luzon Innovation Fair, held on February 20, 2019 in the country’s summer capital.
The third leg of the nationwide innovation fair is in response to the country being a disaster prone area thus needing the support for research and development in terms of disaster preparedness.
Angelo Melencio, consortium manager of Tuklas, said the innovations are for everyone regardless of educational attainment and social status.
“People from communities can innovate and inspire innovation, this event showcases innovative solutions for disaster preparedness that have been developed for and with communities from Northern Luzon,” Melencio said.
Pasundayag National Innovation Fair is a one-day event which featured pitch sessions, inspiring talks, panel discussions, and an exhibit that features and celebrates innovations supported by Tuklas Northern Luzon Lab.
“We can have the best maps and technology, but if these technologies are not owned by the community, they’re useless. Communities are the sustaining force to everything the academe and the government does,” said University of the Philippines Baguio Chancellor Raymundo Rovillos who affirmed the need to support communities in developing disaster preparedness innovations.
The event is part of a series of Pasundayag Regional Innovation Fairs organized by Tuklas Innovation Labs nationwide, with Pasundayag National Innovation Fair to be held on March 29, 2019 in Quezon City.
Tuklas Northern Luzon Lab supported 10 innovations developed for and together with disaster-affected communities throughout Northern Luzon with each innovation given a minimum of P250,000 to P1 million worth of seed funding, training, and mentorship to test and refine their solutions with their partner communities.
Some innovations showcased include Quick Data, a mobile app for disaster response, and Foresight, a disaster preparedness strategy board game.
Throughout the Philippines, Tuklas supports 40 innovative solutions that helps communities better prepare for disasters.
Tuklas is implemented by a consortium of four non-government organizations: Plan International, Action Against Hunger, CARE International, and the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center.
It is part of the Disasters & Emergencies Preparedness Programme (DEPP) Innovation Labs, a global network of labs that is funded with UK aid from the UK government, and managed collaboratively by the Start Network and the Communications with Disaster Affected Communities (CDAC) Network.