Pinoy's coconet wins BBC World Challenge

And now, a bit of good news.

Remember the only Philippine entry to the BBC-Newsweek World Challenge contest, the Coconet? Well, this soil erosion control net made from waste coconut husk won the contest's first prize on November 17, besting other 11 finalists all over the world. The innovative product was among the 456 entries from 90 countries that joined the competition.

"Agricultural engineer Justino Arboleda of the Philippines won the first prize in the First World Challenge contest sponsored by BBC World television in London on Nov. 17 for his soil erosion control net or coconet," reported the Philippine Daily Inquirer on November 21.

Coconet was named as the best environmental grassroots project in the world, the Inquirer article added.

Here is a photograph of Mr. Arboleda, proudly showing his coconet. This photo appeared along with the Inquirer article.