Fall in love with problem, not solutions

IN A bid to develop more appropriate solutions tailor fitted to stakeholder needs, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Cagayan Valley, in partnership with academic institutions and innovation stakeholders, officially launched Hack4Resilience 2025: AI and Big Data for Disaster Risk Reduction Management on May 21, 2025, at Mango Suites Hotel, Cauayan City, Isabela.

The initiative gathered researchers and local leaders to co-create innovative, data-driven solutions for disaster resilience in one of the country’s most hazard-prone regions.

Organized by DOST-Cagayan Valley through the DOST-ISU Smart City (DISC) TBI, Hack4Resilience opened a region-wide hackathon focused on harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data to strengthen local disaster preparedness and response.

It promoted homegrown science and technology as essential tools in addressing regional challenges.

In his keynote address, DOST Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. emphasized the role of science and community engagement in building disaster-resilient societies.

“We need systems that reach the farthest, most disadvantaged communities — early warnings via basic phones, AI-powered forecasts for farmers, multilingual chatbots, and barangay-level dashboards that enable swift action,” he said.

“Fall in love with the problem, not your solutions, identify stakeholder needs,” he added.

From numerous applicants, 10 teams were selected to pitch technologies addressing flood monitoring, emergency communication, evacuation analytics, and localized disaster information systems.

Each team presented before a panel of evaluators from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Cagayan Valley, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)-Cagayan Valley, and Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI).

Projects will be assessed based on scientific rigor, community relevance, sustainability, and scalability.

The winning team will be given P50,000 cash prize and earn an incubation opportunity through Startup THRiVE, DOST’s Technology Business Incubator hosted at ISU-Cauayan.

Second and third placers will be given P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.

Also present at the launch were DOST Undersecretary Engr. Sancho Mabborang, Regional Director Virginia Bilgera, Dr. Nancy Bantog (DOST-Cordillera), DICT Regional Director Dr. Pinky Jimenez, OCD Ronald L. Villa, ISU President Dr. Boyet Batang, CSU vice president Dr. Junel B. Guzman, JCI National Executive Vice president Atty. Patrick Maglinao, and ISU-BIRD-C Director Dr. Betchie C. Aguinaldo.

The program offers technical mentorship, business development support, and access to funding to help bring the solution from prototype to implementation.

Hack4Resilience 2025 is not just a competition but part of a broader push toward technological sovereignty and science-based governance. The selected innovations will be supported through LGU partnerships, incubation, and policy integration, ensuring real-world application and long-term impact.

Cagayan Valley continues to position itself as a leader in community-centered, data-driven disaster innovation, showcasing how local expertise and digital tools can transform risk into resilience. (PR)