Engr. Mert Tangonan presenting during the first Technology Hour in July 2019
UPERDFI showcased two projects to members, partners and UPCOE faculty during the first Technology Hour held on July 17 at the NEC Board Room. This is the continuing initiative of President Rico Trinidad to bridge academe and industry/government to collaborate in developing engineering solutions to address problems or to take advantage of opportunities. The group of 21 included faculty, students, alumni in industry and UPERDFI members.
Seated, from left: ED Tito Aliga, Engr. Mert Tangonan, Dr. Cedric Festin, Charlene Tapia, Adviser Mar Casillan, Pres. Rico Trinidad; Standing, from left: Isaac de la Cruz, Jerome Castañeda, Robert Minguez II, Val Reyes, Miguel Laperal, Alex Ibasco, Ogy Mantaring, Cedrik Ben Gayares, John Ian Baytamo, Dr. Fernando Germar, Rutherford Calawagan, Renz Joshua Labay, Glenn Gratil and Dr. Wilson Tan
Dr. Cedric Angelo Festin of the Department of Computer Science presented the CHED/PCARI-supported Village Base Telecommunications Station (VBTS) Project, which aims to provide access to communication to areas that are not served by telecom companies. Engr. Mert Tangonan (CE ’84), USAID/E-Peso Project Chief of Party, discussed the 5-year engagement sponsored by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to drive the shift to a cash-lite Philippines through digital payments.
This Technology Hour is planned to be a monthly event, with UPERDFI members, industry / government executives and UPCOE faculty and students discussing opportunities for collaboration. It takes off from the Members Cocktails held in February 2019, as a part of the Innovation Initiative. It is supported by Members Raul Villanueva and Mar Casillan; and corporations where members have executive roles: Accenture Philippines (Glenn Gratil, Managing Director), Center for Culinary Arts Manila (Rico Trinidad, CEO); Focus Global Inc. (Steve Sy, CEO); Manila Water Company, Inc. (Ferdz de la Cruz, President and CEO); Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (Cesar Romero, Chairman and CEO); and SteelAsia Foundation (Lillian Yao, Treasurer). McCann WorldGroup Philippines (through UP alumnus Raul Castro, President) is also a sponsor.
