Written by Joemarie Ituriaga
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — In a significant victory for local innovation, Engr. Julius Ceasar Monico, a faculty member of the BS Computer Engineering program at the University of Baguio (UB) School of Information Technology, clinched first place at the Go Healthy with Taiwan 2026 Northern Luzon leg pitching competition held on July 27, 2026. Besting 17 other presenter teams, Engr. Monico presented his winning project at Balay Internasyonal, University of the Philippines Baguio, during an event that brought together the brightest minds from across Northern Luzon to showcase transformative health and wellness solutions.
The winning innovation, “DaraWatch: an IoT-Based Blood Bank Management System with Predictive Data Analysis,” represents the kind of “practical, implementable, and competitive solutions” sought by the initiative to address modern medical challenges. Organized by SCALE NCR in collaboration with the UP Baguio Social Innovation Laboratory and Business Incubation Office (UPB SILBI) and the UP Baguio Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (UPB TTBDO), the initiative is designed to provide local innovators with international exposure and mentorship from Taiwan-based enterprises.
The Go Healthy with Taiwan initiative, organized by SCALE NCR in collaboration with the UP Baguio Social Innovation Laboratory and Business Incubation Office (UPB SILBI) and the UP Baguio Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (UPB TTBDO), is designed to provide local innovators with international exposure and mentorship from Taiwan-based enterprises.
The DaraWatch system directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), beginning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by utilizing IoT and predictive analysis to optimize blood bank management and ensure life-saving resources are available, directly aligning with the initiative’s focus on medical technologies and preventive care. Furthermore, it supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) as it exemplifies the integration of advanced technology like Data Science into healthcare infrastructure, fostering a vital culture of innovation within the Cordillera region.
Finally, the project advances SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) because the “Go Healthy with Taiwan” event serves as a critical bridge for international collaboration, connecting Philippine academic researchers with Taiwanese technological expertise and enterprises to move locally developed solutions toward a broader national and international impact. The success of DaraWatch underscores the University of Baguio’s commitment to advancing locally developed solutions that can compete on a global stage.
