A student-built health technology project from Iligan City earned international recognition after winning a Gold Tier award at Science Castle Asia 2026 in Malaysia. The project, called PAGTULTOL, was developed by young researchers from Iligan City East National High School.
Science Castle Asia 2026 was held August 22 to 23 at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. The conference brought together junior and senior high school researchers from across Asia to present scientific studies, technological innovations, and solutions rooted in community problems.
Competition was steep. Organizers received 319 applications from 11 countries and selected 150 teams to take part. Earning Gold Tier placed the Iligan entry among the standout student innovations recognized at the event.
PAGTULTOL targets a familiar challenge for many Filipino families: monitoring elderly relatives and patients who may find frequent trips to hospitals, clinics, or health centers difficult. The system combines artificial intelligence with vital-sign monitoring, including blood pressure readings, and can relay alerts to local health centers.
Instead of depending on a conventional internet connection, the project’s communication layer uses Long Range, or LoRa, radio technology. LoRa is designed to send small amounts of data across relatively long distances while using limited power, which can help in places where broadband or mobile data is uneven.
That design choice gives PAGTULTOL a clear community focus. The students built around environments where connectivity itself can be a barrier, aiming to bridge households and local health services when family members cannot always stay home to watch over elderly relatives.
Development took nearly a year, including about three months spent largely on debugging software and refining the LoRa system. Field testing involved residents of Barangays Sta. Filomena, Tibanga, Bagong Silang, and Sto. Rosario in Iligan City, where the team could see how the prototype performed outside the classroom.
Support beyond the school helped move the idea toward a working prototype. The Department of Science and Technology’s iMake WeMake program provided prototype components and technical assistance, while mentors from the Colleges of Engineering and Computer Studies at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology offered guidance on design and implementation.
At the Malaysia presentation, judges also suggested that the technology might be adapted for other healthcare uses, including dentistry. The team treated that feedback as an opening to think beyond elderly monitoring alone and to explore how the same sensing and alert approach could serve other community health needs.
For Iligan, the award is more than a trophy. It shows that high school researchers can take a problem they see at home, build a careful prototype with university and government partners, and earn recognition on an Asian STEM stage. PAGTULTOL remains a student research prototype and is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or established clinical equipment, but its Gold Tier finish marks a proud milestone for Iligan City East National High School and for youth innovation in Northern Mindanao.
Source: Iligan News (https://www.iligannews.com/iligan-city-east-national-high-school-students-win-gold-tier-at-science-castle-asia-2026-in-malaysia/) ; Mindanao Gold Star Daily (https://mindanaogoldstardaily.com/iligan-city-east-nhs-innovators-strike-gold-in-malaysia-tech-tilt)
