Written by: Jerlyn Jyd Cortez, Mark Justin Chua, Karl Angelo Marteja
The University of Baguio’s School of Information Technology (SIT) participated in the HackForGov 2026 Cordillera Regional Competition on August 13, 2026, at the Paragon Hotel in Baguio City. Organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology-Cordillera Administrative Region (DICT-CAR), the competition carried the theme “Decoding Youth Innovation, Anchoring One Nation’s Digital Defense.” The event provided student participants with an opportunity to demonstrate their cybersecurity skills while representing their respective institutions.
The program opened with remarks from Dir. Jimmicio Daoaten, DICT-CAR Regional Director, who welcomed the participants and marked the beginning of the competition.
Several teams from different universities participated in the competition, including Fable4 from Saint Louis University, UC_APTZero from the University of the Cordilleras, and Qualiteam representing the University of Baguio. Making UB-SIT proud, Qualiteam secured 2nd place with an impressive 650 points, showcasing their skills, teamwork, and dedication throughout the competition.
Qualiteam was composed of 4th-year Bachelor of Science in Computer Science students Maquier Hans Arnobit, Karla Caroline Bisnan, Mihaela Manzano, and Bernadette Quinto. The team’s performance was reflected in the individual standings, with Karla Caroline Bisnan placing 2nd overall with 380 points and Bernadette Quinto ranking 5th with 270 points.
The competition also supports Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, particularly Target 9.5 on enhancing scientific research and upgrading technological capabilities. Through cybersecurity challenges, participants were given an opportunity to apply their technological knowledge and develop solutions to possible vulnerabilities.
HackForGov also relates to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, particularly target 16.6. With its focus on cybersecurity and the theme “Decoding Youth Innovation, Anchoring One Nation’s Digital Defense,” the competition highlighted the importance of strengthening digital defense and developing capabilities that can contribute to a more secure digital environment.
Qualiteam’s 2nd-place finish marked an immediate achievement for the University of Baguio and highlighted the team’s collective effort in the regional competition. The team also had two members place among the top five individual performers, further reflecting Qualiteam’s overall performance.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Allan Lao, DICT-CAR Assistant Regional Director. Through Qualiteam’s participation and 2nd-place finish, UB was recognized among the top-performing teams in the competition, reflecting the collective efforts of Qualiteam and its members.