University of the Philippines Mindanao's (UPMin) Professor Jose Ildefonso Rubrico reported that nearly 2 million features from aerial images have been labeled, and core modules for self-operating vehicles are under development under two Artificial Intelligence (AI) research programs on the campus.  

Professor Rubrico gave these and other updates as program leader of the Philippine Sky Artificial Intelligence Program (SkAI–Pinas) and the Autonomous Societally Inspired Mission Oriented Vehicles (ASIMOV) at the 7th National Research & Development Conference held at the Philippine International Convention Center on September 16, 2022.

“The Philippines has amassed big data from flood hazard and resource maps which are underutilized and remain in archives. SkAI-Pinas seeks to activate this data for the widespread use of Filipinos,” he said. 

Farmers in conflict-vulnerable areas in Mindanao experienced increased incomes after the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin), along with partners Landcare Foundation of the Philippines (LFPI) and ACIAR Mindanao Agricultural Extension Project (AMAEP), implemented the Livelihood Improvement through Facilitated Extension (LIFE) model, an alternative agricultural extension delivery strategy, from December 2017 to April 2021. The program had the support of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology(PCAARRD-DOST).

“Incomes increased from 31% to 89%, and their vegetable gardens and other livelihoods provided a steady source of income,” said UPMin professor Emma Ruth Bayogan, program leader of the “Enhancing Livelihood Opportunities in Conflict-Vulnerable Area in Mindanao through the Livelihood Improvement through Facilitated Extension (LIFE) Model,” at the 7th National Research & Development Conference organized by the DOST on September 15 to 16, 2022, at the PICC Complex. 

Dept. of Trade & Industry Director Lilian Salonga and her team from the DTI-Competitiveness and Innovation Group declared UP Mindanao's research and development as "competitive and innovative" after being presented with UPMin's selected research and innovation programs on September 22, 2022. The DTI-CIG team was on a roadshow for academic partners in Davao with innovative projects which the DTI could promote and market under the DTI's RAPID growth* and the iSTRIKE** programs.

Chancellor Lyre Murao and Prof. Larry Digal led the welcome for the DTI team. Asst. Prof. Miguel Guillermo presented the UPGRADE technology business incubation with its growing network and resources. Assoc. Prof. Joel Hassan Tolentino detailed the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao’s research & development since 2018. Prof. Jose Ildefonso Rubrico reported the progress of two Artificial Intelligence research programs: the SkAI-Pinas work of labeling features from aerial images and the ASIMOV-HAWKS program of creating navigational technologies for mobile land and air devices. Dr. Melvin Pasaporte also discussed UPMin’s Lactic Acid technology project. Subsequently, Chancellor Murao signed the memorandum of understanding proffered by the DTI team to be part of their consortium under the iSTRIKE.

The DTI-CIG team was composed of Director Salonga, Asst. Dir. Jo-Dann Darong, Mr. Karl Lyndon Pacolor, chief of the Innovation and Collaboration Division, Ms. Kristine Daplin, national program manager of the RAPID Growth program, Ms. Cindy Love Falculita, national program coordinator of the Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers, and staff from DTI-XI.

*A value-chain-based and market-driven business development initiative that aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic development for rural farming communities

**Science, Technology, and Risk-resilient-based Initiatives toward Knowledge Economy-Davao