BANGUED, Abra (PIA) --At least a hundred Abrenian  entrepreneurs get a boost with the Regional Startup Caravan held at the Abra PPO Covered Court on September 26 and 27, 2023.

The two-day caravan which is  focused on Startup Ecosystem Mapping and Information Expo is led by the Technological Consortium for Awareness, Readiness, and Advancement of Knowledge in Innovation (TARAKI), Department of Science and Technology, Dept. of Information and Communication Technology, Dept. of Trade and Industry, and other partners.

“Yung objective po talaga for the regional startup caravan is to map yung mga startups, yung mga innovators natin sa Abra. Kailangan yung mga startups natin dito is makilala rin and mailagay natin sila sa database,” TARAKI-CAR Project Leader Dr. Thelma D. Palaoag explained.

She said that aside from startup mapping, the caravan also aims to look into the needs of the startups in the province and bridge assistance from different government agencies to help local innovators.

Startup is defined as  a “ new business venture providing services or products to an existing and growing market. A startup is in the first stage of operations and comprises one or more entrepreneurs. The primary aim is to answer market demand by creating new and innovative products or services.”

During the activity, government offices shared their innovation initiatives, scholarships, and activities that support Micro, Small, and Medium Entrepreneurs(MSMEs), startups, innovators and researchers.

This, Palaoag said, will help promote startups and innovations and encourage an entrepreneurial ecosystem towards growth in the province.

“Napakaimportante nito because itong mga estudyante natin are the source ng mga brilliant ideas. So,  we try to nurture them and ito yung pwedeng maging avenue nila na kung hindi man sila magiging empleyado, sila mismo ay magiging mga employers,” she explained.

Topics discussed with students and MSME- participants include Startup 101, Design Thinking 101: Idea to Innovation, and Ecosystem Mapping among others.

Jeancy Nicole Balino, a student participant from the Abra Valley Colleges, shared that the activity empowers students like her to materialize their business ideas in the future.

“I’ve learned about innovations and how to start a business and to be an entrepreneur someday. This is a big help to generate our ideas,” she said.

The first Regional Startup Caravan was held in Mountain Province and Ifugao last year.

Now  on its  second year, the caravan started in  the province of Abra as part of the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) set from September 27-29, 2023.

The RSTW is an annual activity of the DOST to promote and showcase science and technology programs, projects, innovation, and research.

This year’s theme, “Siyensya, Teknolohiya at Inobasyon: Kabalikat sa Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Kinabukasan” focuses on innovation as a tool for a sustainable, comfortable and secured future. (JDP/JJPM-PIA CAR, Abra)