Manila Central University (MCU) celebrates its
120th founding anniversary by hosting the first-ever Filemon D. Tanchoco (FDT)
Scientific Discoverer Award Ceremony. Held on December 4 at the MCU Helix
Auditorium, the event highlighted the university’s legacy of driving innovation
and academic excellence forward.
 |
| From Left to Right: Dr. Renato C. Tanchoco, Jr., MCU President, Ms. Giandelu Carissa Santos, Academic Affairs Director, Engr. Engel Ryan G. Ibarra, Engr. Dante C. Vergara, Engr. Rodelma D. Perez, Engr. Rochelle L. Retamar, Engr. Prima Joy F. Margarito, Engr. Reynaldo L. Esguerra, Dr. Gaio Tanchoco Gonzalez - Trustee, FDT Trust Board, Ms. Chynna Roxanne R. Gonzalez, Executive Vice President, Atty. Juan Crisostomo M. Echiverri, Executive Vice Chairman |
Recognizing
Filipino Scientific Excellence
The FDT Scientific Discoverer Award was
established to honor individuals whose groundbreaking discoveries advance
knowledge and “redound the welfare of the Filipino people.” At the first-ever
award ceremony, MCU named Engr. Prima Joy F. Margarito, Engr. Reynaldo L.
Esguerra, Engr. Rochelle L. Retamar, Engr. Dante C. Vergara, Engr. Rodelma D.
Perez, Engr. Engel Ryan G. Ibarra, and Mr. Reymundo K. Adan as the pioneer FDT
Scientific Discoverer Awardees for their revolutionary mobile water
disinfection system, “SafeWaTrS.”
The “SafeWaTrS” mobile water treatment system
is a compact, mobile, and energy self-sufficient innovation designed to address
water scarcity in disaster-stricken and remote areas. The groundbreaking system
serves as a lifeline for communities struck by calamities, emergencies,
disruptions in water supplies, and communities residing in rural areas where
clean water is scarce. Unlike traditional systems dependent on fixed
infrastructure and electricity, SafeWaTrs operates on solar energy. This makes
the system resilient and versatile even in the most resource-constrained
environments. Through a multi-step process, SafeWaTrs combines chemical
treatment, advanced filtration, and UV sterilization to clean water.
The chemical treatment process clumps together
pollutants for easy removal. This is then followed by a three-step
post-filtration system with an activated carbon filter to eliminate particles,
odors, and color. A UV sterilizer then ensures the water is germ-free without
additional chemicals. Compact, mobile, and user-friendly, the system operates
in batches and can produce up to 170 liters of safe drinking water per
treatment cycle. This, along with its castor wheels, makes SafeWaTrs portable
and allows it to deliver clean water swiftly and efficiently to areas with
water scarcity.
 |
| MCU officials and Inventors of the SafeWaTr Mobile Water Disinfection System |
Beyond its innovative design and
functionality, SafeWaTrs addresses the critical global challenge of water
scarcity by providing reliable access to clean water during emergencies and in
rural areas with limited resources. By meeting the Philippine National
Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) of 2017, the system ensures the safety and
quality of its treated water. Aside from immediate relief, the SafeWaTrs system
is able to contribute to long-term goals including United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goal (UNSDG) 6, which seeks to ensure universal access to clean
water and sanitation for all.
The team expressed their gratitude for the
recognition, saying, “We are deeply honored and humbled by this recognition. We
are grateful for the trust and generosity extended to us by MCU through this
award which is inspired by Atty. Tanchoco’s admirable legacy.” They continued,
“This award is a testament to our commitment to persevere and develop more
technologies for the service of the nation to prove that we are deserving of
such recognition. We hope that through this award, more people would be inspired
to create innovative solutions that would tackle humanity’s greatest
challenges.”
Celebrating
120 Years of Nurturing the Next Generation
The FDT Scientific Discoverer Award Ceremony
coincided with MCU’s milestone 120th founding anniversary. The celebration
underscored MCU’s enduring commitment to forwarding education and promoting
innovation. The event also paid tribute to Atty. Tanchoco, who championed
education, research, and innovation as invaluable tools to uplift Filipino
communities.
 |
| Dr. Renato C. Tanchoco Jr. - MCU President |
“Today signifies a momentous occasion—the
inaugural Filemon D. Tanchoco, Sr. Scientific Discoverer Award,” stated Dr.
Gaio Tanchoco Gonzalez. “This award recognizes an exceptional accomplishment
and pays homage to Atty. Tanchoco’s vision is to utilize science and education
to enhance the welfare of humanity. SafeWaTrS, an innovative water treatment
system, epitomizes the core ideals that this award aims to honor, with its
capacity to safeguard, nurture, and elevate lives globally."
MCU remains steadfast in its dedication to
excellence and service as it embarks on its next century. The university
promises to reinforce its role as a catalyst for transformative change by
empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators.
To know more about Manila Central University
and the FDT Scientific Discoverer Award, visit MCU’s official website.
Follow MCU’s social media page (Facebook) for the latest news and updates.
Post a Comment