Innovation Olympics 2023. A day for dreamers and doers.

BY Macky Vitug, HRAD, JULY 2023

Held last July 7, 2023, after its 3-year hiatus, this year’s innovation Olympics emphasized the importance of various innovative technologies and strategies being implemented in traffic management, including the use of satellite monitoring, mobile applications, and predictive maintenance.

After a thorough design thinking workshop and hackathon happened last February and March, we were able to determine the finalists of this year’s Olympics!

From ideas on using LED lights to traffic signages, customized wind turbine which will be used on a median streetlight, to geo-tagging for every traffic situation, glow-in-the-dark road paint/pavement markings that absorbs solar energy, and navigating mobile application that guides users along their way or destination safely – these are just some of the many innovation projects our employees and their assigned mentors worked on for the past 5 months!

One of the highlights from this year’s innovation Olympics is the hyper-collaboration of teams who had their hackathon at First Pacific Leadership Academy (FPLA) last March wherein pitches from their ideation was presented to MPTC Executive Committee led by our Chief Digital and Information Officer, Mr. Carlo Cagalingan.

During the finals, Mr. J. Luigi Bautista gave an inspiring message to the attendees and our viewers online where he mentioned how this initiative started in February 2010 looking at the mentors who were then part of the innovation Olympics proving how the then dreamers became this year’s mentors. He also said, “Our aspiration is that over time, the culture of innovation will truly be embedded in our core being as a group”. Sir Luigi also emphasized Innovation being part of MPTC’s values to be part as a way of life.

This event was graced by Mr. Matthieu Ulivieri of EGIS, a long-term partner in the O&M of our toll roads business. They have always been present every time we tap them for this activity. And as we always strive for excellence, we always benchmark with the best, that’s why in terms of innovation, Egis is a proven industry best!

The event also touched on the environmental impact of highway operations and the need for innovation to address this issue. The judges evaluated the creativity, implementation, impact, and presentation of the finalists’ ideas that anchors on Operational Efficiency and Sustainable Practice. The exhibits were judged by Mr. Matthieu Ulivieri of EGIS, Mr. Jag Garcia from La Salle, and our very own Mr. Carlo Cagalingan.

Congratulations to this year’s winners!