FILIPINNOVATION AWARDS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hands over a plaque and check to one of the five winners of the 2026 Presidential FilipInnovation Awards, Victoriano B. Ocon, inventor of the Advanced Waste Solution machine (AWS), during a ceremony at Crown Plaza Hotel, Mandaluyong City. The AWS is a compact, environmentally friendly waste treatment machine that uses thermal decomposition under low-oxygen conditions, making it cleaner and more efficient than conventional incinerators. Also in the photo are (left) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, and (right) Engr. Rodney B. Juntilla, Plant Manager of AWS. Revoli Cortez
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday called on Filipino innovators to turn their ideas into practical solutions to some of the country’s most urgent problems, including food insecurity, flooding, soil erosion and energy shortages.
President Marcos made the appeal as he recognized five winners of the 2026 Presidential Filipinnovation Awards, stressing that innovation must translate into improvements in the lives of Filipinos and help strengthen the country’s resilience amid rapid technological, environmental and economic changes.
“To every innovator across the country: I know that you have come a long way to reach this point. I also know that there is still much to do to turn your ideas into solutions that can improve the lives of our people, our communities, and our nation,” Mr. Marcos said.
“I call on each of you to work with the government in addressing modern challenges—from food insecurity and flooding to soil erosion and energy shortages,” he added.
The president said the awards should serve as more than recognition for Filipino ingenuity, describing the program as a platform that connects innovators with government, industry stakeholders, investors, and markets that could help bring their technologies into wider use.
To help the winners scale up their innovations, President Marcos announced that each awardee would receive P3.5 million in cash, a medallion and plaque, as well as post-competition assistance, including P1 million worth of expert mentorship.
The five awardees are Capistrano Research and Development on Bio Technology, which developed a compact and economical biodiesel technology; Golden Sprout Corp., for its scientific innovations involving Philippine native chicken; PDG Engineering Services, for its Saltric Marissa Turbine that uses rivers to generate round-the-clock power for off-grid communities; Vic Metal Fabrication Environmental Services, for its gasification process for waste disposal and other waste-management solutions; and Breath of Life Foundation Inc., for its OstreaVent2 prototype ventilator for mechanically ventilated adult patients.
The other 11 finalists will each receive P250,000 to continue developing their innovations.
Department of Economy, Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, vice chairman of the National Innovation Council, said the 16 finalists developed solutions in priority areas including education, health, food and agribusiness, finance, manufacturing, public administration, transportation, energy, and the blue economy and water sector.
The finalists went through eligibility screening, technical evaluation, mentoring, live pitching and prototype demonstrations before presenting their innovations to the National Board of Judges.
Balisacan said innovation would become increasingly important as the Philippines seeks to sustain its economic gains.
“After nearly four decades, the Philippines has attained upper middle income status. Sustaining this progress will increasingly depend on raising productivity, advancing technology, and creating greater value. Innovation is therefore central to our next stage of development,” he said.
Mr. Marcos pointed to previous awardees as examples of how government backing can help Filipino innovations move beyond the development stage.
Among them is the Immersive Gamification Technology System, developed by University of the Philippines researchers, which uses virtual reality and gamification to make rehabilitation more engaging for children with cerebral palsy and mobility limitations.
He also cited Pili AdheSeal Inc., a 2025 awardee that developed Pili Seal, a sustainable adhesive and sealant made from upcycled pili tree resin waste. The company was selected for Germany’s 2026 Circular Economy Accelerator Program and underwent training in Singapore to improve its product development and readiness for international markets.
President Marcos said innovation remains central to his administration’s development agenda and is identified in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 as a driver of economic transformation, productivity and competitiveness.
He said the need for innovation has become more urgent as technologies rapidly evolve while climate change, geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions pose new challenges to communities and economies.
“The greater measure of your success will be found in the lives that you improve, the opportunities that you create, and the people that you will inspire,” the President said.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, who attended the ceremony, praised Mr. Marcos for supporting Filipino innovators and said funding would be made available to help promising ideas move forward.