5 engineer-scientists get Manila Water’s first engineering award

Five engineer-scientists were awarded the first Engineering Excellence Prize of the Manila Water Foundation (MWF).

They are Enrico Paringit of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)’s DREAM (Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation), Rex Demafelis of University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB), Merlinda Palencia of Adamson University, Joel Joseph Marciano and Evelyn Taboada, dean of the University of San Carlos of Cebu College of Engineering.

They were selected by a board of judges formed by the MWF, with the DOST screening a list of outstanding Filipino engineers.

Paringit was awarded for successfully leading DREAM in developing the country’s capability in cutting-edge LiDAR (light image detection and ranging) mapping technology that now allows the DOST and the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration to build up a store of 3D, high definition hazard maps.

Marciano was awarded for his work in landslide detection and alert system for high-risk areas.

He heads the DOST’s project to launch the country’s own micro-satellite into space to further improve efforts at weather forecasting and climate change monitoring.

Demafelis was recognized for his R&D efforts in the use of sweet sorghum as a biofuel.

Palencia was awarded for her development of an organo-mineral that deodorizes septic systems.

Taboada was recognized for devising a process that turns wastes of mango processing like the skin and the seed into other high value products such as mango flour.

The five won a cash prize of P500,000 each as the first winners of the MWF Engineering Excellence Prize Awards.

They were formally conferred their awards in ceremonies at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati Tuesday night.

Ferdinand de la Cruz, MWF president, said that the Engineering Excellence Prize would be a biennial awards recognizing the country’s engineers who have provided brilliant solutions to current problems and have continued to do so in their work to the benefit of the public.

“The ironic thing is that there’s a lot of awards for students, but there’s no award for professional engineers. That’s why we thought of doing this for the professional, practicing engineers,” he said.

The MWF seeks to recognize these previously unsung engineering heroes of the country, he added.

The Prize for Engineering Excellence is “a nationwide search for engineers and scientists who manifest excellent engineering competence, inspiring passion to make a difference, and outstanding commitment to the development of communities resulting in projects that champion water, sanitation, environment, and sustainability,” MWF said.

“With MWF’s commitment to uplifting the quality of life of marginalized communities through sustainable projects and DOST’s mission to provide direction for the country’s scientific and technological efforts for the benefit of the people, the MWF Prize for Engineering Excellence aims to encourage Filipino engineers and scientists to pursue innovative projects for the betterment of the Philippines, one community at a time.”