From ideas to impact: ‘e-Bayanis’ create tech-for-good solutions

The recently concluded e-Bayanihan Ideathon 2023, organized by social movement Pinas Forward, saw 72 young individuals from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao immerse themselves over two months in an intensive program that armed them with essential tools and knowledge necessary to transform their tech-for-good ideas into reality.

Facilitated with consulting and training social enterprise YGoal Inc. as learning partner and sponsored by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, the Ideathon produced a diverse range of innovative projects, from developing a mobile app that alleviates commuting challenges to creating an online platform that provides tutorial support to students.

These projects are dedicated to addressing pressing social challenges in the Philippines. The Ideathon's series of workshops and mentoring sessions gave delegates valuable insights into effecting meaningful change in their communities. They also engaged in in-person workshops focused on project management and prototyping, guiding them in collaboratively designing and developing 15 civic projects that tackled diverse social concerns.

At the heart of the program was the core mission of developing tech-for-good civic projects, aligned with Pinas Forward's primary objective of advancing digital democracy and digital development. The participants not only refined their initial ideas but also presented well-considered solutions to various social challenges such as unemployment, livelihood accessibility, education, online safety and disinformation.

A standout project was "TraPick," a mobile application developed by Team Maji from the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines in Cagayan de Oro. TraPick aims to enhance commuting in Cagayan de Oro by providing real-time bus occupancy and seat availability information, streamlining travel and minimizing stress for commuters.

Another noteworthy initiative was #BAYANKABUHAYAN, a project developed by Team SIKAP from Parañaque National High School-Main consisting of a livelihood website that aims to provide vocational ideas and opportunities to both students and unemployed individuals in Parañaque City, along with empowering vocational resources.

Team SHORE-SKwela from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan project implements innovative techniques in its supplementary education programs for incoming first-year students and aspiring scholars in Cagayan de Oro City, thus helping prepare them for scholarship-qualifying exams such as the CDO City Scholarship Program and DOST scholarship.

Pinas Forward Digital Democracy and Development Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to strengthening democracy and advancing digital data-driven innovations for a more progressive Philippine society. Since its establishment in 2018, it has engaged with over 275,000 individuals nationwide.