Team iNVEX enters Bett Asia School Challenge 2026 finals
Team iNVEX, an incubatee of the DOST-CSPC ASOG Technology Business Incubator (ASOG TBI), has been selected as one of the three Philippine finalists in the Bett Asia Schools Challenge 2026 under the Higher Education Students (Ages 17+) category.
The selection qualifies the team to present its project live during Bett Asia on September 24, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, alongside finalist teams from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
For The Philippines
Team iNVEX will represent the country with AHON (Alert Help Offline Network), a decentralized, offline-first mobile application designed to facilitate communication during disasters when cellular and internet services are unavailable.
The system utilizes the Bluetooth Low Energy capability built into modern smartphones to establish a peer-to-peer mesh network, enabling users to exchange messages without relying on conventional telecommunications infrastructure.
The group is composed of Abbe Gerald Rivero, Blessie Faith Bongalos, Harvey Lloyd Palacios, Jobert Longares, and John Raymond Alba. They are mentored by Ms. Tiffany Lyn O. Pandes, a faculty member of the College of Computer Studies of Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges and a mentor of ASOG TBI.
Road to Bett Asia
According to the Bett Asia Schools Challenge, the Higher Education category challenges participants to develop technology-driven solutions, such as artificial intelligence tools, data-driven platforms, sensor-based systems, or mobile applications, that address pressing issues within their local communities.
Born from “Kristine”
The concept behind AHON was inspired by the devastation caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in 2024, which brought extensive flooding to Camarines Sur, particularly in the Municipality of Nabua, and exposed the challenges of maintaining communication during emergencies.
Reflecting on the project’s inspiration, team member Blessie Faith Bongalos said, “In a disaster, the most reliable infrastructure isn’t a cell tower. It’s the community itself.”
The Bett Asia Schools Challenge, now in its fourth year and organized in partnership with Google, encourages students to develop technology-based solutions for real-world challenges while providing professional development opportunities for educators.
Last year, Team WhirlWind from the University of the Assumption won the Higher Education category, a title that Team iNVEX will seek to succeed in the 2026 edition.
