Engr. Mariael Denise Capili • Sep 26, 2024

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The final day of the Cagayan Valley Startup Week (CVSW) 2024 centered on empowering startups, founders, students, and entrepreneurs with strategic knowledge from partner agencies and innovation enablers. Organized by SINAG Cagayan Valley, Day 3 highlighted critical support programs designed to help early-stage ventures scale, sustain, and succeed.

The session opened with an inspiring presentation from Mr. Cloyd C. Velasco, Former Regional Governor of PCCI–Region 02, who shared insights from the consortium’s recent benchmarking mission in Taiwan. His talk emphasized the strong innovation culture, government support systems, and entrepreneurial frameworks that contribute to Taiwan’s thriving startup ecosystem—offering valuable lessons for the region’s own development.

Unlocking Opportunities: Programs for Startups and MSMEs

Throughout the day, representatives from key agencies showcased a wide range of funding programs, incubation initiatives, and capacity-building opportunities available to local startups and MSMEs. These included:

Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
Startup Grant Fund (SGF), Young Innovators Program (YIP), SETUP, WHWise
— Presented by Engr. Mark Gil S. Hizon
Department of Agriculture (DA)
Young Farmers Challenge (YFC), ANYO Program, KAYA Program
— Presented by Mr. Arjie B. Baquiran & Ms. Alliah Joselle P. Galano
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)
Startup Grant Fund (SGF)
— Presented by Ms. Donna Andrea D. Fidel
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME), Negosyo Center, Shared Service Facilities, Food Development Program
— Presented by Ms. Karen B. Amores
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – Support Services
— Presented by Mr. Cloyd C. Velasco
NVSU – SABATAN Technopreneurs Hub Support Services
— Presented by Mr. Josue A. Chua
ISU Smart City TBI – Support Services
— Presented by Mr. Matt Rodnie T. Matias
ISU A-TBI – Support Services
— Presented by Dr. Jonathan N. Nayga
DA-CVRC ADePt-TBI – Support Services
— Presented by Mr. Mark Patrick P. Atabay
CSU TBIs (BizNEST & CVLTBI) – Support Services
— Presented by Mr. Jeremiah S. Gonzaga

These presentations highlighted the collective commitment of regional agencies and universities to nurture innovation, provide accessible funding pathways, and strengthen the startup ecosystem of Cagayan Valley.

Engaging Participants Across Sectors

Day 3 welcomed a diverse community of attendees, including students from:

CSU-Carig Campus
- College of Information and Computing Sciences
- College of Engineering and Architecture
CSU-Andrews Campus
- College of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Accountancy

Representatives from the Lasam Cacao Growers Association, Tuguegarao RIC Federation, incubatees from various TBIs, and partner agencies also actively participated in the event.

A standout reflection came from Jhunard O. Asayas, a COEA–ABE student from CSU-Carig Campus, who shared:

“Very beneficial siya sa mga students, like us, who are aspiring to be entrepreneurs. Although not all of us are capable of starting our own businesses, we have programs and initiatives from the government and private sectors, such as PCCI and AAI PH, that help young entrepreneurs and startups actualize their ideas.”

His statement perfectly captured the spirit of CVSW—empowering future innovators by connecting them to opportunities.

Strengthening the Region’s Innovation Roadmap

The final day of CVSW 2024 served as a pivotal platform for disseminating essential information on funding, support, and collaboration. By equipping participants with insights into available programs and best practices, the event reinforced the region’s vision of building a robust, inclusive, and sustainable startup ecosystem.