USTP CDO students advance as finalists in Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026 with Bakhaw AI Innovation
By Engr. Albert Christopher P. Daniot II, Department of Data Science, College of Information Technology and Computing, USTP Cagayan de Oro
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Data Science students from the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines in Cagayan de Oro (USTP CDO) have been named finalists in Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026 for their project, Bakhaw AI, an artificial intelligence-assisted solution designed to support mangrove restoration.
Organized by Leave a Nest Philippines, Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026 brought together research teams and technology innovators from across Mindanao. The event was held on September 26, 2026, at the OLP Hall of the University of the Immaculate Conception–Bajada Campus in Davao City.
The regional deep-tech initiative provided a venue for teams to present science- and technology-based projects with potential applications in communities and industries. Finalists were assessed based on the novelty of their ideas, practicality, potential impact, and the team’s passion for developing their solution.
For the USTP CDO team, Bakhaw AI focuses on one of the challenges faced in mangrove rehabilitation: deciding where and what types of mangroves should be planted based on the conditions of a particular site.
The application uses soil and site information to assess planting conditions and provide recommendations that can help guide mangrove restoration efforts. Instead of relying solely on general information, Bakhaw AI is designed to make use of data gathered from the actual planting site.
The platform can work with commercially available soil sensors as well as manually entered information. This gives users flexibility depending on the equipment and resources available in the field, while allowing the system to focus on analyzing the data and providing decision support.
During the Demo Day, the students presented Bakhaw AI to judges, industry representatives, innovation partners, and fellow technology developers. The presentation also gave the team an opportunity to receive feedback that could help improve the project and guide its future field testing and development.
Being named among the finalists gives the USTP CDO Data Science students an opportunity to further develop Bakhaw AI and explore its potential use in actual mangrove restoration efforts.
Moreover, the recognition of Bakhaw AI at Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026 highlights the application of data science and artificial intelligence in addressing environmental challenges. It also supports USTP’s efforts to advance student-led research and develop technology-based solutions responsive to communities and ecosystems in Mindanao.
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