From Left to Right: Dr. Renato C. Tanchoco, Jr., MCU President, Ms. Giandelu Carissa Santos, Academic Affairs Director, Engr. Engel Ryan G. Ibarra, Engr. Dante C. Vergara, Engr. Rodelma D. Perez, Engr. Rochelle L. Retamar, Engr. Prima Joy F. Margarito, Engr. Reynaldo L. Esguerra, Dr. Gaio Tanchoco Gonzalez - Trustee, FDT Trust Board, Ms. Chynna Roxanne R. Gonzalez, Executive Vice President, Atty. Juan Crisostomo M. Echiverri, Executive Vice Chairman
Manila Central University (MCU) celebrates its 120th founding anniversary by hosting the first-ever Filemon D. Tanchoco (FDT) Scientific Discoverer Award Ceremony. Held on December 4 at the MCU Helix Auditorium, the event highlighted the university’s legacy of driving innovation and academic excellence forward.
The university also paid tribute to MCU founder Atty. Filemon D. Tanchoco Sr. and his vision of uplifting communities through education, research, and innovation.
Recognizing Filipino Scientific Excellence
The FDT Scientific Discoverer Award was established to honor individuals whose groundbreaking discoveries advance knowledge and “redound the welfare of the Filipino people.” At the first-ever award ceremony, MCU named Engr. Prima Joy F. Margarito, Engr. Reynaldo L. Esguerra, Engr. Rochelle L. Retamar, Engr. Dante C. Vergara, Engr. Rodelma D. Perez, Engr. Engel Ryan G. Ibarra, and Mr. Reymundo K. Adan as the pioneer FDT Scientific Discoverer Awardees for their revolutionary mobile water disinfection system, “SafeWaTrS.”
The “SafeWaTrS” mobile water treatment system is a compact, mobile, and energy self-sufficient innovation designed to address water scarcity in disaster-stricken and remote areas. The groundbreaking system serves as a lifeline for communities struck by calamities, emergencies, disruptions in water supplies, and communities residing in rural areas where clean water is scarce. Unlike traditional systems dependent on fixed infrastructure and electricity, SafeWaTrs operates on solar energy. This makes the system resilient and versatile even in the most resource-constrained environments. Through a multi-step process, SafeWaTrs combines chemical treatment, advanced filtration, and UV sterilization to clean water.
The chemical treatment process clumps together pollutants for easy removal. This is then followed by a three-step post-filtration system with an activated carbon filter to eliminate particles, odors, and color. A UV sterilizer then ensures the water is germ-free without additional chemicals. Compact, mobile, and user-friendly, the system operates in batches and can produce up to 170 liters of safe drinking water per treatment cycle. This, along with its castor wheels, makes SafeWaTrs portable and allows it to deliver clean water swiftly and efficiently to areas with water scarcity.
MCU officials and Inventors of the SafeWaTr Mobile Water Disinfection System
Beyond its innovative design and functionality, SafeWaTrs addresses the critical global challenge of water scarcity by providing reliable access to clean water during emergencies and in rural areas with limited resources. By meeting the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) of 2017, the system ensures the safety and quality of its treated water. Aside from immediate relief, the SafeWaTrs system is able to contribute to long-term goals including United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) 6, which seeks to ensure universal access to clean water and sanitation for all.
The team expressed their gratitude for the recognition, saying, “We are deeply honored and humbled by this recognition. We are grateful for the trust and generosity extended to us by MCU through this award which is inspired by Atty. Tanchoco’s admirable legacy.” They continued, “This award is a testament to our commitment to persevere and develop more technologies for the service of the nation to prove that we are deserving of such recognition. We hope that through this award, more people would be inspired to create innovative solutions that would tackle humanity’s greatest challenges.”
Celebrating 120 Years of Nurturing the Next Generation
The FDT Scientific Discoverer Award Ceremony coincided with MCU’s milestone 120th founding anniversary. The celebration underscored MCU’s enduring commitment to forwarding education and promoting innovation. The event also paid tribute to Atty. Tanchoco, who championed education, research, and innovation as invaluable tools to uplift Filipino communities.
Dr. Renato C. Tanchoco Jr. - MCU President
“Today signifies a momentous occasion—the inaugural Filemon D. Tanchoco, Sr. Scientific Discoverer Award,” stated Dr. Gaio Tanchoco Gonzalez. “This award recognizes an exceptional accomplishment and pays homage to Atty. Tanchoco’s vision is to utilize science and education to enhance the welfare of humanity. SafeWaTrS, an innovative water treatment system, epitomizes the core ideals that this award aims to honor, with its capacity to safeguard, nurture, and elevate lives globally."
MCU remains steadfast in its dedication to excellence and service as it embarks on its next century. The university promises to reinforce its role as a catalyst for transformative change by empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators.
To know more about Manila Central University and the FDT Scientific Discoverer Award, visit MCU’s official website. Follow MCU’s social media page (Facebook) for the latest news and updates.
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