FIVE teams composed of Engineering and Architecture students from both campuses of the Technological Institute of the Philippines claimed major awards at the 4th Asia Pacific Conference on Industrial Engineering Operations and Management held recently in Vietnam.

A team from TIP Manila composed of fresh graduates Mary Jo Santiago, Christine Joy Olanosa and Angel Martin, placed first in the competition’s Senior Design Project category for designing a technology-based service that will enable students to rent out temporarily essential devices needed by fellow students.

The team said that “Helpy: A Mobile Application System for Engineering and Architecture Tools Rental Business” will enable students who cannot afford to buy new devices to use the tools they need at a lower cost. It will also serve as an avenue for engineering and architecture students to earn extra cash by renting out their devices.

Meanwhile, another team composed of Thea Espinueva, Jhia Angelyck Mavy Cruz and Vincent Matthew Labrador placed third in the same competition for the project titled “Filtrar: A Canal Solid Waste Collector and Compactor Machine.”

The group created an innovative prototype using Arduino technology that can stand as an alternative solution to collect discarded materials in urban waterways.

Espinueva said their project hopes to aid sanitation workers in addressing this perennial environmental problem.

Both teams were guided by Dr. Maria Teresa Mendoza.

They also teamed up and collaborated with Engr. Janina Elyse Reyes in an academic paper that looked into the effectiveness of virtual work immersion for senior high school graduates.

The study focused on the influence of remote working culture on select number of SHS respondents when deciding which college program or career path to take. It earned them third place in the Undergraduate Student Paper category.

Two teams from TIP Quezon City, meanwhile, bagged awards in the Undergraduate Research competition.

Engineer Jaypy Tenerife and his students Jan Marielle Bidayan, Arjen Guila Cruz, John Rei Garchitorena, Erika Mae Ople, and Carl Joseph Quintana took second place for developing a food container with spoilage detector called “WasteNot.” It is a tech-enabled storage container that seeks to address issues related to food waste management and food safety.

Lastly, Engineer Ma. Teodora Gutierrez and her students Mac Friedrich Dantes, Antonio Mari Garcia, Carlo Gonzalez, John Matthew Halog, Alliyah Jade Paguio, and Marinell Santos claimed third place for their project that caters to the elderly and persons with disabilities (PWD).

The group submitted “Ergo Let,” which aims to ease the accessibility of senior citizens and PWDs to conventional public restrooms in Metro Manila.

The 4th Asia Pacific Conference on IEOM is an annual program that fosters networking and collaboration opportunities among student and professional participants in the field of industrial engineering.