Coin-saver innovation wins Smart’s 10th SWEEP Awards

Bataan Peninsula State University’s CoinSaver has won the grand prize in the 10th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards. CoinSaver: The New and Innovative Way to Save is a kiosk-like device that allows a user to save for a certain product or service.  Using a mobile phone and a peso coin, one can start saving by regularly dropping in coins over a period of time.  The winner received a cash prize of P500,000 and an equivalent amount as grant to its school. Smart Communications is also sending the faculty mentor and two members of the winning team on a weeklong educational trip to Silicon Valley in California. The team, led by engineer Faye Baret (third from left, standing) and presentor Mark Anthony Colentava (seated, second from left), is shown with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Smart chair Manuel V. Pangilinan (second from left) and (from left) PLDT and Smart president and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno, Smart founder and chief wireless advisor Orlando B. Vea, Smart technology services division head Mario G. Tamayo and PLDT and Smart public affairs head Ramon R. Isberto.  This year’s theme was “Transforming Lives through Technology.” Two teams from Batangas State University, Smart Eco Reward and Aquarius, were first and second runners-up, respectively.