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| (Image Source: Facebook/Batangas State University) |
Young innovators from Batangas State University Integrated School (BatStateU-IS) have once again brought pride to the Red Spartan community after securing 1st and 2nd place finishes in the Research Category of the Pilipinas RoboSports Tournament (PRST) 2026 held last January 31, 2026 at the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute (DLSMHSI) in Dasmariñas, Cavite. The PRST is a nationally recognized robotics competition that integrates engineering, research, and athletic-inspired challenges to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education. The event gathers student innovators and mentors from across the country, encouraging research-driven robotics solutions to real-world problems.
Competing in the Agricultural and Industrial Innovation Category, Team SCOPE emerged as Champion, ranking 1st out of 17 teams. Team members Apoll Marc Venedict Hernandez, Edwin Macuha Jr., and Sherwin Vien Hienzo Melo impressed the judges with a solution grounded in both technical precision and real-world relevance. Their project, S.C.O.P.E (Safeguarding Construction Optimizing Pollutant Elimination), is an advanced robotic system designed to improve safety and environmental conditions in construction sites. Using 3D-printed components, an Arduino microcontroller, and AI-assisted programming, the robot autonomously clears obstacles, reduces slip hazards, and mitigates the harmful effects of cement dust, contributing to safer working environments for construction personnel and surrounding communities. Equally noteworthy was another strong showing from BatStateU-IS as Team SYLAX secured 2nd place out of 14 teams nationwide in the Health and Wellness Category. Team members Gracie Benedicto, Zac Angelo Leyco, and Andrhia Joy Perez presented a research-driven assistive technology project that addresses mobility challenges among children with cerebral palsy. Their project, SYLAX (System for Youth Locomotor Assistance and Xploration), introduces a low-cost assistive mobility device that combines features of a wheelchair and an exoskeleton. Designed with accessibility and affordability in mind, SYLAX incorporates adaptive walking modes, user-responsive controls, and health monitoring functions. Built using open-source platforms and locally available components, the innovation offers a practical rehabilitation solution for communities with limited access to advanced medical technology.
The Pilipinas RoboSports Tournament aims to foster research excellence, teamwork, and critical thinking while providing a national platform for emerging engineers and scientists. Guided by their coach and mentor Jomari Montalbo, BatStateU IS students demonstrated not only technical competence but also a clear understanding of how robotics can respond to pressing societal needs in construction safety and healthcare accessibility. University President Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo commended the students for exemplifying the University’s mission of innovation with purpose. He emphasized that these achievements reflect BatStateU’s commitment to developing learners who apply science and engineering to real-world challenges — true to its mandate as the Philippines’ National Engineering University. Indeed, this milestone affirms that Batang-IS are mahusay, mabuti, at mapanagutan — young innovators who design not merely for competition, but for communities, safety, and human dignity. Through achievements such as this, BatStateU Integrated School strengthens its role in shaping the next generation of engineers and scientists — learners who transform ideas into solutions and innovation into meaningful societal impact.
