Seasoned hackers, tech enthusiasts, and young innovators gathered virtually for the Plastic 3R Hacks PH Pre-Hackathon Event last May 16, 2021.
Plastic 3R Hacks PH is a nationwide virtual hackathon that aims to harness solutions to the pressing issues of marine plastic pollution in the Philippines. The competition is open to individuals aged 18-30 year old from any field, who can hack solutions with the focus on ideas to reuse, reduce and recycle (3Rs) plastics and plastic waste.
Adjusting to the new normal, Plastic 3R Hacks PH deviates from the traditional hackathon where participants are locked in for 24-48 hours as they develop their solutions. Instead, participants go through a fully virtual lineup of activities leading to the final demo day. Preliminary activities including the pre-hack event, mentoring sessions, development stage, and preliminary project submission are happening this May, in celebration of Month of the Oceans. The hackathon finals will happen on June 8 which is World Ocean’s Day.
As of the pre-hack event, more than 140 participants have registered representing cities and universities from all over the Philippines– in the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Participants will be mentored by subject matter experts on solid waste management, plastic polymers and recyclability options, circular economy, marine biodiversity, livelihood and enterprise, and Sustainable Development Goals. They will also learn real experience and challenges of Philippines on marine plastic litter through city mentors. Meanwhile, technical mentors will guide participants on programming, project viability, technical implantation, creatives, and project presentation.
Aside from cash prize for the winning team, teams will also have opportunities for possible funding and development of their solutions for real life application.
Christopher Rollo, Country Programme Manager of UN-Habitat Philippines said;
“our aim is to support our partner cities in solving solid waste management problems. And your project may just present such a solution. In which case, we are also looking at the possibility of supporting cities in adopting their chosen hackathon projects, further develop them with the hackathon team, and implement the solutions in their cities. In short, the ideas and solutions that you will come up with through Plastic 3R Hacks PH are not just to win this competition, but to actually help our cities address marine plastic litter, and even share these solutions to regional and global platforms.”
Plastic 3R Hacks PH is organized by Redwizard Events Technology in close collaboration with the Healthy Oceans and Clean Cities Initiative, a project funded by the Government of Japan and being implemented by UN-Habitat Philippines, which aims to enable local governments and communities in the Philippines to reduce marine plastic pollution. Plastic 3R Hacks PH is sponsored by Aboitiz Corporation and Unionbank.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/Plastic3RHacksph or contact Hackathon Master Elaine Cedillo at ebcedillo@gmail.com.
