EMPLOYEES of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines–Cagayan de Oro bagged 1st runner-up honors in the 2025 IEEE Smart Mobility Hackathon held earlier this month at the MSU–Iligan Institute of Technology.

Team Coral Vision, composed of Noel Jhumel Blanco, John Lemar Gonzales, and John Michael Angelo Binonggo, was recognized for their project “Smart Unmanned Submersible Rover for Coral Health Monitoring.”

The project harnesses robotics and sensor technology to streamline coral reef health monitoring, helping protect fragile marine ecosystems.

The team was coached by Engr. Jay Noel N. Rojo.

“Team Coral Vision’s success highlights USTP’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals,” the school said in a statement.

“Congratulations again to Team Coral Vision for bringing pride to USTP on the national stage!” it added.

The national hackathon gathered innovators addressing challenges in mobility, sustainability, and the environment.