ENTRY FORM

Thank you for your interest in the Bote Challenge. Please complete the following entry form and
submit to Nature’s Spring Foundation, Incorporated not later than September 30, 2019.

ENTRY OVERVIEW
Abstract:
(Must contain a brief description of the innovation, means to address the plastic crisis through the innovation,
unique selling point, target market, the proposed scheme of marketing the innovation in the community, how
each member of the team contributed to the preparation, application and improvement of the innovation.)

FarmDuino is an automated hydroponic system controlled by Arduino. The FarmDuino

upcycled PET bottles as
Growing tray and water sprinkler.

The primary product of the system is to produce organic vegetables that can be consumed in
the school and local community. We also provide technical services to design and install the
FarmDuino to interested parties like the schools and entrepreneurs both for experimental and
large scale automated farming.

The FarmDuino development team is composed of three innovative teachers who planned,
designed and
programmed the FarmDuino system. The BNHS ALERT Club coordinates the systematic
collections of PET bottles and helped in preparing the materials for the FarmDuino. The PTA
provided financial assistance to purchase the materials. Asosayson sa mga Boljoanong
Mamumuo sa Turismo (ASBOMATU) serves as linkage and coordinator in marketing the
produced vegetables.
 SCHOOL-UNITY PROFILE

Name of School-unity Entry: BIEN FarmDuino

CORE TEAM MEMBERS

(Names of the representative per sector. Please include designation)
STUDENT TEACHER PTA COMMUNITY-BASED ORG
Charles N. Lacuña
ICT Coordinator
Janerose Culanibang, Meriam Rollon
Melvin Caballero
President ALERT Club PTA Treasurer Nozzie C. Medida
ALERT Club Adviser
John Michael Señor Ionah Sheriden Preisdent,
Arnel Romeo
Vice-President ALERT Romero ASBOMATU
Solid Waste
Club PTA Secretary
Management
Coordinator

Name of Partner Secondary School: BOLJOON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Address: Lower Becerril,Boljoon,Cebu

Focal Person: Arnel Romeo

(any member of the core team who represents the school)

Contact Number: 09289306984 Email: arnel.romeo@deped.gov.ph

Name of Partner Community-based Organization (CBO):

Asosasyon sa mga Boljoanong Mamumuo sa Turismo(ASBOMATU)

Address: Poblacion,Boljoon,Cebu

Focal Person: Nozzie C. Medida

(member of the core team who represents the community-based org)

Contact Number: Email:

Registration of Organization: (Please check the boxes below)

 LGU
 DTI
 DOLE
 SEC
 Others, please enumerate: _____________________________________
 INNOVATION

Name of the Innovation: BIEN FarmDuino

Please attach photos of the working prototype or model (if product) or the system of the innovation (if service)

Classification of the Innovation: (Please check the box)

 Product
 Service

Description of the Innovation:

Please narrate and describe the product/service: Its purpose, function, unique value proposition, the scheme of how it addresses the plastic bottle crisis, the
target market and the strategy to sustain the innovation.)

The FarmDuino is an automated hydroponic farming system. This a vertical type hydroponic
system that uses the Y PVC connector as the main platform where the PET bottles planter are
inserted. The advantage of vertical farm system is the minimal space required to produce more
vegetables as to compared to other design. The FarmDuino is modular which can be configured
into different combinations as needed.

The PET bottles are also inserted in the Y PVC pipes as water sprinklers. The nutrients which
are being cycled in the system comes from the plastic container filled with water and live fish.
The fish wastes provide nutrients to the plants.

The water is being pumped to the tube using submersible Rio water pumps and is being
controlled by customized Arduino board to automate the sprinkling of water.

There are two target markets of FarmDuino:

1. Schools and local consumers of fresh organic vegetables
2. Agripreneurs who are inclined to hi-tech farming both small scale and large scale

Marketing Strategies:

1. We will create a mini farm in the school which can provide revenue from the sales of
vegetables in the school and local market.
2. Social media campaign through Facebook to advertise FarmDuino.
3. Join Agri exhibits to showcase the FarmDuino.
How did you come up with the Innovation?
[Please narrate the process of how you came up with the product or service. What were the process or stages of activities you did to create
the output? You can also attach files (photos, videos, etc)]

The FarmDuino came to realization when we have observed the worsening problem of
scattered garbage including PET bottles.

The school has encountered worsening garbage problem including PET bottles, thus we are
alarmed
and called for an emergency meeting. Based on our findings we have agreed that the PET
bottles can be upcycled into something useful.

The Traz Coin and Traz Market was initiated to act as mechanism to systematically collect and
reuse the plastic bottles and convert it as eco-bricks. For every bottle there is an equivalent
TRZ coins which can be use d to purchase items (shorts, shirts, rice, canned goods) which are
donated by our sponsors. The eco-bricks are bottles filled with plastic wrappers compacted to
weigh 400 grams for every 1.0-liter bottle. These eco-bricks are utilized as building materials
for school beautification and construction of buildings.

The other PET bottles are designed for experimental demo hydroponic farm for educational
purpose to our students.

When the “Bote-Challenge” was announced, we have combined our ideas to level-up the
system into an innovative farming. Thus we linked with other groups, the Cebu Innovation
Network (CIN) for more ideas, Juantronics, the maker of custom Arduino kits for free
training/workshops and the DICT Region VII to provide the venue for training.

Thus we were able to make the FarmDuino, a vertical hydroponic system which is controlled
by customized Arduino system.

ACTORS (Students, Teachers and
Parents, Community-based org,
LGU partners for support, others)
Name and Signature of
Describe their role in the process of the
actor/s
preparation, application and improvement of
the innovation

TEACHER Focal Person, BIEN FarmDuino ARNEL ROMEO

TEACHER IT Specialist, Technical Design

CHARLES N. LACUNA
TEACHER Coordinator, Programmer MELVIN D. CABALLERO
NOZZIE C. MEDIDA
CBO Linkage and Marketing

STUDENT Production of PET growing Trays JANEROSE CULANIBANG

PTA Finance Officer

MERIAM ROLLON
PRINCIPAL Project Manager
LEONITA J. BUREROS
External connections:
List some of the key partners or stakeholders engaged in your innovation development and implementation. Explain how
your efforts connect with other sectors and other practices, such as policy and finance

Partners/stakeholders Roles Name and Signature

ASBOMATU Linkage and Marketing NOZZIE MEDIDA

PTA Finance MERIAM ROLLON

ATTACHMENTS

 Photos of the working prototype or

 Photocopy/scanned copy of the CBO
model (if product) or the system (if
registration
service)
 Parent’s Consent (If minors are included
 Videos
in the core team)
 Scanned copy of valid IDs of the core
 Others: ______________________
team members

Note: Please submit at least five photos of your innovation, including photos of planning,
implementation, actors involved, and monitoring by attaching them to your email during
submission.
 REFERENCES

(Please list two references who can verify your innovation and its results. It could be the Mayor, Barangay
Captain, Division Superintendent, anyone who is not a part of the school or community organization. These
people and their contact information will not be published, utmost confidentiality will be upheld, and are just for
confirmation of your entry content)

Reference Name 1: PAULINO C. LLIDO

Affiliation: CEBU INNOVATION NETWORK Position: Founder

Email address: pllideau@gmail.com Contact number: 09277925323

Reference Name 2: KARL MARK BAS ACHA

Affiliation: JUANTRONICS Position: Propreitor

Email address: karloacha@gmail.com Contact Number: 09325185581

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

We are aware that the Application is by sending the entry form and other attached documents
through the mail, addressed to the office address of Nature’s Spring Foundation, or through email at
thebotechallenge@naturespringfoundation.org.

We are aware that the Eligibility is as described in the Contest Mechanics and Guidelines.

Consent for students under 18 years old: our school-unity core team commits to seek approval from
the parent/guardian of any minor students in the team by attaching a consent form with parents’
signatories in this entry form.

The Selection and Judging process is described on the Contest Mechanics and Guidelines. Judges are
independent from any of the entrant school-unity entries or partner organizations that they will
personally assess/review and are bound to maintain neutrality. All entries are assessed by two
rounds of panel reviews (Screening for the Top 20 Finalists and Panel Judging of the Top 10 Winners).
Nature’s Spring Foundation commits transparency of the Screening Committee and Panel of Judges.

Entries Compliance with All Laws: We, as a school-unity entry is required to comply with any laws or
regulations, of any kind, that pertain to or govern any activities conducted by the team in connection
with the competition.

We are aware that the Important Dates are communicated through the official contact addresses of
NSFI, memoranda provided by the Department of Education Region 7 and the six Divisional Offices
covered by the competition, and official media platforms of Nature’s Spring Foundation.

Withdrawal: Any school-unity may withdraw prior to the mentoring workshops scheduled on July
2019 through an official communication letter addressed to NSFI.

Media Rights: The school-unity core team fully authorized by the organization described in entry form
question number one (1) to submit the data contained in this entry form and claim full responsibility
for its validity, accuracy, and truthfulness. We acknowledge that our application, its contents are not
confidential or proprietary. It creates no contract or fiduciary relationship between the contestant
and NSFI or any of its partners and sponsors, unless declared as one of the Top 10 winners of this
competition.

Use of Monetary Prizes: Should our school-unity entry win or be a runner-up in this challenge, the
school-unity core team commits to using the associated prizes to further the innovation described in
this entry form. Moreover, the utilization of the prize is bound by the terms and conditions set in the
prize guidelines.
Prizes: Prizes will be awarded as described in the Mechanics and Guidelines of this competition.
Contest Owner: Nature’s Spring Foundation, Serviced Offices, 5th Floor, Bai Hotel, CSSEAZ, Mandaue
City
The school-unity entry, represented by the core team members, fully authorized by the organization
described on entry form to submit the data contained in this entry form and claim full responsibility
for its validity, accuracy, and truthfulness.
The school-unity entry, represented by the core team members, acknowledge that by submitting an
application, its contents are not confidential or proprietary and that it creates no contract or fiduciary
relationship between the entry and Nature’s Spring Foundation or any of its partners and sponsors.
We commit to comply with all laws and regulations governing the transfer of any prizes, monetary or
otherwise.
By submitting this application, I agree to all rules, terms and conditions set by the organizers of the
Bote Challenge.

JANE ROSE CULANIBANG ARNEL ROMEO

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TEACHER REPRESENTATIVE
Printed Name and Signature Printed Name and Signature
Date Signed: 9/27/19 Date Signed: 9/27/19

MERIAM ROLLON NOZZIE MEDIDA

PTCA REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED ORG REPRESENTATIVE
Printed Name and Signature Printed Name and Signature
Date Signed: 9/27/19 Date Signed: 9/27/19
PRINCIPAL I TEACHER – FOCAL PERSON

TEACHER – PROGRAMMER STUDENT

TEACHER – IT SPECIALIST COMMUNITY BASED ORG