INNOVATE Iloilo Expo featured some of the best innovative products that Iloilo has to offer on Oct. 21 to 25. Among these are technologies designed to accommodate transportation and infrastructure projects. For example, the Hybrid Electric Train which is considered in planning for the Panay Railway Project and the Hybrid Electric Road Train, a “road vehicle train composed of five interconnected coaches.”
Another interesting item was the Hybrid Trimaran – a passenger cargo vessel – currently being developed by Aklan State University to enhance the province’s trade and transport.
For the farming and fisheries sectors, the Innovate Iloilo Expo has also featured several new technologies for aquaponics and fishery incubators. One such item was “Robust Optical Aerosol Monitor” which can estimate particulate matter concentration in an immediate area.
Delegates from the University of the Philippines also showed off the latest technologies in genomic research here in the Philippines.
And of course, the expo also featured the inventions of several bright Ilonggo students. A couple of good examples include the bottleneck lifejacket, the mobile lechon manok griller, which showed a new mechanism for grilling chicken.
Other interesting student inventions included the enhanced tricycle designs for added safety, the biomass fish dryer, the ultrasonic walking blind stick and the calamansi juice extractor.
Finally, the expo also featured one of the rare three-dimensional (3D) printers available here in the province. 3D printers are devices used to create prototype items using computer aided designs. Ramon Alguidano of Iloilo Science and Technology University was in charge of the booth that featured the 3D printer and he had this to say. “Normally ang 3D printer ginagamit ni siya for rapid prototyping and modelling. Kung gusto mag model bag-o nga bagay or design diri ni siya ga-agi.”
The expo’s goal was to showcase Iloilo’s potential as an innovative and technological hub for the country./PN
