Registration Closed

Basics

WHAT

The Hack4AProgress is a hackathon series initiated by DOST CALABARZON which started last 2024. A hackathon is an event that usually runs from a few hours to a couple of days, where people—often developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts. Participants work in teams to create a functioning software or hardware prototype by the end of the event.

Now, we are back for the second season, and this time we are partnering up with DICT 4A and DEPDev Regional Office IV-A. This hackathon aims to produce a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that can be adopted and implemented by the Local Government Units (LGUs) for the Smart and Sustainable Communities.

WHERE

The hackathon will take place within the CALABARZON Region. The specific venue of the competition will be announced at a later date.

WHEN

The event will be held on July 21-23, 2025.

WHY

Cash prizes will be given to the top three winners, as well as plaques. Aside from that, the DOST CALABARZON will provide Php 1,000,000.00 seed funding to the winning team . The top 8 finalists will also have the opportunity to link with selected Technology Business Incubator (TBI).

WHO

The event is open to ages 18 and above. Professors and undergraduate students who have exposure to coding are advantageous and are welcome to join and participate.

To participate, a professor needs to form a team maximum of 4 members. A team must STRICTLY be composed of a professor and students. The professor will automatically be the team leader. A team CANNOT have two more professors within the team. It should be strictly one professor, and the rest are undergraduate students.

Ideally, each team should include a Project Manager, Frontend Developer, Backend Developer, and Data Researcher. Team members must be residing, studying, or working within the CALABARZON Region.

Lastly, participants from the 2024 Hack4AProgress are NOT ALLOWED TO JOIN this year.

HOW

Participants should fill out the Registration Form, which opened on June 2025, to submit an entry. Ensure that all details have been filled out correctly. New submission with the same participant details WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Proposed solutions should be original and not be under incubation or any funding. A waiver will be provided to the finalists to signify their ingenuity. An assessment of the submitted entries and proposals will be reviewed by the Selection and Screening Committee.

If in any case that the working committee has proven that the proposed solution is not an original concept, or currently undergoing incubation, the DOST CALABARZON has the authority to retract the cash prize won by the team.

Acceptance of the teams will be done via email. Aside from that, announcements will be posted in the DOST CALABARZON Facebook Page and Instagram. Follow these social media pages to see more updates regarding the event.

Challenges

Challenge # 1

How can technology help in monitoring the integration of data from various platforms to provide insights on the sector’s growth and economic share?

Challenge # 2

How can we utilize advanced tools such as AI or blockchain to ensure the integrity and safety of peer-to-peer digital transactions?

Challenge # 3

How can tech-based solutions help streamline LGU billing, invoicing, and payment tracking while improving citizen satisfaction and compliance?

Challenge # 4

How can we utilize the available information that will enable transparency and data-driven decision-making for digital governance and open data?

GUIDELINES

Who is eligible to join the hackathon?

Professors and students affiliated with any universities within the CALABARZON Region are free to join. Professors and undergraduate students who have exposure to coding are advantageous and are welcome to join and participate.

Who can be part of the team?

A team should STRICTLY be composed of one (1) professor and three (3) undergraduate students. All these members should be affiliated under one university/school within the CALABARZON Region.

Participants from the 2024 Hack4AProgress CANNOT JOIN this year’s competition.

All team members must attend the face-to-face competition happening on July 21-23, 2025.

How can we register in the hackathon?

Interested teams must register in the Registration Form which was posted on DOST CALABARZON Facebook Page on June 25, 2025.

Upon registering, teams must submit a concept proposal on the project they will be working on during the hackathon proper. The concept proposals should address the challenges about Governance. Specific challenges are indicated in the Challenges section here in the website.

Additional submission requirements include an Endorsement Letter from the University President/School Head.

What are the criteria for the selection of finalists?

Concept proposals would be evaluated by the following during the pre-selection phase:

  • Originality (25%)
    - Does it introduce a unique approach that hasn’t been implemented before?
  • Creativity (15%)
    - Did the team demonstrate creative thinking in their design?
  • Technical Feasibility (35%)
    - Is the concept realistically implementable with the resources and time available?
  • Relevance to the Theme (25%)
    - How well does the concept align with the challenge prompt?

A different criteria will be used for the event proper.

When will the list of finalists be released?

Upon review and assessment of the Selection Committee of the concept proposals, the Top 8 will proceed to the finals. An email will be sent to the finalists a week before the competition confirming their slot for the competition. Aside from that, the Top 8 finalists will also be posted in the social media pages of DOST CALABARZON.

Failure to provide an endorsement letter signed by the University President/School Head prior to the competition will result in forfeiting your spot as one of the Top 8 Finalists.

FAQ

TEAM COMPOSITION

WHO CAN JOIN AND PARTICIPATE?
Professors and undergraduate students working and studying within the CALABARZON area can join the competition.
HOW MANY MEMBERS IN A TEAM?
The maximum number of allowed members within a team is four (4). It is not required to fill up the 4 team members BUT it should not go above the allowed number.
WHAT SHOULD BE THE TEAM COMPOSITION?
It is REQUIRED to have a one (1) professor in a team. While the rest of the members should be undergraduate students. These members should be affiliated within the same school, for it is the school they will represent.
IS IT REQUIRED TO HAVE A PROFESSOR OR FACULTY WITHIN A TEAM?
Yes, they are required to be part of the team. The reason for having a professor within the team is to serve as the project leader IF they win the competition.
CAN MULTIPLE TEAMS FROM A SAME SCHOOL PARTICIPATE?
Yes, multiple teams from the same university can register. What is not allowed is having the same members in multiple teams. Once the screening committee finds a discrepancy on the team composition, your entry will automatically be disqualified.

EVENT LOGISTICS

IS THIS AN ONLINE EVENT?
No. This is a face-to-face event to be held at Calamba, Laguna. Exact location will be provided to the shortlisted teams. Although an online meeting and orientation will be conducted to the shortlisted participants, prior to the first day of the competition.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
The participants are advised to have their own equipment such as laptops, mobile phones, and any other resources they may need in order to execute their chosen project.
WILL THERE BE INTERNET ACCESS?
Yes, internet access will be provided at the venue. But for contingency purposes, teams are encouraged to bring their own.
WHERE DO WE DO THE WORK?
Participants will have full access to the venue hall and certain parts of the area. The guidelines and house rules of the venue will be discussed during the first day of the event.

Although there are periods wherein the participants are required to do their work in the venue hall. This will be shown during the first day of the competition.
DO I HAVE TO STAY THE WHOLE TIME?
Yes. Participants are required to stay in the venue the whole duration of the competition. They are allowed to go around the premises of the venue (hallway, rooms, common areas), but NOT ALLOWED to go outside the main venue.

TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING

WILL THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE BE PROVIDED?
No. Transportation will be shouldered by the qualifying teams.
ARE THERE PARKING SPACES?
Yes, the venue has a parking lot. But please be aware that parking spaces are limited. The organizers will be sending a softcopy of the vehicle pass to qualifying teams who will be bringing their own vehicles.

TECHNOLOGY AND DATA

WHAT TECHNOLOGY STACK CAN BE USED?
Participants are given the freedom to use any technology stack they want as long as it is indicated in their presentation and pitching. If a team decides to use tools and technologies that are paid, it will be shouldered by the team and in no way will be reimbursed by the organizers.
WILL THERE BE BLOCKED WEBSITES DURING THE WHOLE DURATION OF THE COMPETITION?
No. Our team will not be blocking any website.
ARE WE ALLOWED TO USE THIRD PARTY COMPONENTS LIKE OPEN SOURCE LIBRARIES, AI, ETC. TO IMPLEMENT A SOLUTION? ARE THERE LIMITATION ON COMPONENT LICENSING?
Participants are allowed to use any third-party components or open-source libraries as long as these are mentioned during their pitching. Aside from that, participants should ensure that these are used lawfully and properly licensed.
WHERE CAN I GET A SAMPLE DATA FOR MY PROJECT?
Participants can utilize open-source data hubs if they will be needing numerous data for sampling and testing their project. But aside from that, the organizing team will be sending letters to specified LGUs, seeking their assistance for possible consultation by the teams prior to the competition.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND CERTIFICATES

WILL YOU BE ISSUING CERTIFICATES?
Yes. Certificate of Participation will be given to ALL the participants.
WHO IS KEEPING THE OWNERSHIP OF MY SOLUTION?
During the conduct of the hackathon, ownership belongs to the team who developed the solution.

The champion will be provided seed funding upon the submission of project proposals based on DOST’s Local Grants-In-Aid (LGIA) program. The purpose of this is to further refine the champion’s Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in order to deploy to the adopting Local Government Units (LGUs), however the ownership remains with the project team.

Once the technology has been adopted by an LGU and the LGU themselves made changes on the technology, that version will be owned solely by the LGU. However, the LGU should always acknowledge the initial owner, which is the champion of the hackathon.

OTHERS

ARE WE ALLOWED TO BRING FRIENDS AND NON-PARTICIPANTS DURING THE COMPETITION?
Each qualifying team is allowed to bring two (2) guests during the opening and closing program ONLY. Once the hackathon kicks off, these guests will be escorted out of the venue by the organizers.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PROJECT LEADER?
Part of the prize for the winning team is the seed funding where they have the chance to submit a project proposal to further enhance their Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This project proposal is required to have a project leader who will be the focal and lead of the project.

Schedule

DAY 1 (JULY 21, 2025 - MONDAY)

8:00AM - 9:00AM: Arrival of Participants and Registration

9:00AM - 9:30AM: Preliminaries (National Anthem, Prayer, Bagong Pilipinas Hymn, DOST Hymn, DICT 4A Hymn, DEPDev IV-A Hymn)

9:30AM - 9:45AM: Welcome Remarks

9:45AM - 9:55AM: Photo Opportunity

9:55AM - 10:25AM: Message of Support

10:25AM - 10:40AM: Overview and Mechanics of Hackathon (Challenges, Criteria, Guidelines, and House Rules)

10:40AM - 11:25AM: Introduction of Hackathon Teams and Mentors

11:25AM - 11:30AM: Countdown to Hackathon Proper

11:30AM: Hackathon Kick-off

DAY 2 (JULY 22, 2025 - TUESDAY)

Continuation of the 48-hour Hackathon

Day 3 (JULY 23, 2025 - WEDNESDAY)

11:25AM - 11:30AM: End countdown of the 48-hour Hackathon

11:30AM - 1:00PM: Lunch Break

1:00PM - 1:15PM: Introduction of the Judges and Criteria for Judging

1:15PM - 4:15PM: Pitching of Solutions (Pitch time: 7 minutes; Q&A: 3 minutes per judge)

4:15PM - 4:40PM: Deliberation

4:40PM - 5:20PM: Awarding Ceremony

5:20PM - 5:30PM: Photo Opportunity

5:30PM - 5:40PM: Closing Remarks

Contact Information

For further inquiries and concerns, you may contact us via these channels:

  • E-mail: [email protected]
  • Phone Number: (049) 536-4894 / (049) 534-5774
  • Mobile Number: (+63) 966-875-1475
  • Viber Number: (+63) 966-875-1475 / (+63) 947-848-0171
  • Focal Person: Ms. Mariel C. Caling / Ms. Bianca R. Pantoja

MORE

PRIZE

The following will be the cash prize for the top three winners:

  • Champion: Php 50,000
  • 1st Place: Php 30,000
  • 2nd Place: Php 20,000

Plaques will be provided to the winners as well. Aside from that, seed funding amounting to Php 1,000,000.00 can be granted to the champion.

REGISTRATION

Out of the 4 challenges, teams must choose one and submit their proposed solution for it. Please take note that the proposed solution should not be under incubation or is being currently funded.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation will only be honored for emergencies and other reasonable circumstances, and the team leader must submit a formal letter at least three days prior to the event.

If a team member will be withdrawing their position in the team, a formal letter still needs to be submitted to the organizers prior to the competition.

WILL THERE BE ORIENTATION?

An orientation will be done to all the finalists to discuss the guidelines and reminder regarding the Hackathon event. This will be scheduled a week before the first day of the competition.

MENTORS

During the hackathon event, mentors will be around to help and guide the participants with their solutions. A private consultation with the mentors will also be provided to the participants in order for them to have a more in-depth consultation.

TIME TO BUILD

Teams are allowed to conceptualize a solution prior to the competition. Creation of wireframes and mockups prior to the hackathon proper is also allowed but the coding proper will be done after the Hackathon kick-off. Teams are given full 48-hours to develop their proposed solution.

JUDGES

The judges will be those who are subject matter experts or have extensive knowledge technology in the challenges being addressed.

PITCH PRESENTATION

Each team is given 7 minutes to present their solutions to the panel of judges. The pitching will be done after the 48-hour competition. Judges will be given 3 minutes each to ask the team regarding their presentation.