TACLOBAN CITY (PIA) -- To accommodate more applicants, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Eastern Visayas has extended the deadline of submission of applicaion from May 15 to May 22 for the 2023 Search for the Most Innovative Women Entrepreneurs in Eastern Visayas dubbed as “Unlad Bayi” or Women Development.

The search aims to engage community-based women entrepreneurs in the region to encourage them to participate in the program in order to have chances at the 2024 WHWise Program National Innovation Challenge.

In a press conference on May 9, Engr. Ernesto M. Granada, regional director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 8, said each province in the region is expected to submit at least three applications or a total of at least 18 for the region. From the said number, DOST-8 will be selecting the top five (5) finalists from the region.

“The top five (5) most innovative women entrepreneurs who will be selected from the shortlisted applicants will undergo mentoring and coaching sessions and the five (5) winners will serve as the regional nominees to the National Innovation Challenge,” Granada said.

Top five will be given P50,000 incentives and will be endorsed as entries during the national competition.

Granada also underscored the significance of “UNLAD BAYI” as it provides avenue for concerted efforts in searching, assessing, and screening of potential women-led social entrepreneurs in the region.

Thus, he encouraged women-led entrepreneurs to join the competition.

As a requirement, the applicant should be a woman entrepreneur, who is a founder, co-founder, president of a social enterprise; there is an existing community with which the enterprise is currently assisting; the technology/product/service should be innovative and DTI or SEC-registered; and should not be a current recipient of DOST funding.

The competition is funded by the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy an Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).

Up to P5 million worth of funding assistance awaits the national winner.

Applications can be submitted to DOST Regional Office or to any of its provincial offices or via email at dost8gad@gmail.com. (MMP/CBA/PIA-8)