DAVAO CITY – To strengthen the promotion of youth entrepreneurship in the country, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 11 conducted a regionwide online business pitching competition. This is part of the Davao Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP).
The Davao YEP! Pitch Competition was aimed at promoting creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial mind-setting among the young people of the region by seeking business opportunities in the community and creating social impact. Pitched business proposals were deemed on addressing pressing problems in society through their business ideas. Likewise, it was seen to build the confidence and public speaking skills of the youth by challenging them to come up with a clear and concise presentation given a limited time.
In the meantime, the YEP is a program to address the young demographics of the country to become productive individuals through entrepreneurship. It will help young Filipinos develop their entrepreneurial skills by offering them a comprehensive package of interventions. It is an initiative intended to harness public and private resources and direct these resources to the development of youth entrepreneurship. This collaboration is directed toward assisting the youth in exploring their full potential of becoming successful entrepreneurs.
The YEP’s official tagline, “Harnessing Our Own Resources for the Advancement of the Youth” (HOORAY!), captures the program’s vision, as envisioned in Republic Act (RA) 10679, or the Youth Entrepreneurship Act.
DTI- Region 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said it is crucial to encourage the youth to become innovative.
“We at DTI, along with our partners, have always believed in the potential of the youth. We just have to motivate and inspire them to create their own niche in their chosen industry,” Ambi said.
Along this line, Davao Region Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development (RMSMED) Council Chair John Carlo Tria encouraged the young Dabawenyos to find new ideas and see the pitching competition, not as a contest but as a venue to maximize their innovativeness.
Here are the winners of the pitching tilt:
1st place (cash prize of P20,000) Edrian Abad, Jamy Castro Tristine Luga, Jareen Tan, and Jan Solamillo of Davao City for their project Flood Resistant Watertight Device;
2nd place (P15,000), YANO Your Online Concept Store, by Ronal Vidoy, Eric Rojas, PJ Mabini Aman, Field Melan Bulaong, and Van Jorain Rufin of Davao Oriental;
3rd place (P10,000) Christelyn F. Mangaga, Angelina R. San Juan, Esperidion Pamat Jr., Godwin Melendrez, Reychell Joy Cantomayor for their project Utilization, Production & Marketing of Tilanggit (Dried Marinated Tilapia) of Davao Occidental; and
Consolation prizes of P5,000 each to the three non-winning entries from Davao del Sur for their project HIMSOG Your New Normal Health and Wellness Toolkit, NomNom Taho Cart – The first flavored Taho of Davao del Norte, and from Davao de Oro for their project WENDY Minimizing the gaps, providing help and support for people that are experiencing mental health issues.
The panel of judges was composed of National MSMED Council Private Sector Representative for Mindanao and Honorary Consul for Hungary in Davao Mary Ann M. Montemayor, SVLand Corporation Corporate Secretary and Managing Director of the and Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) – Davao City Young Entrepreneurs Association (DCYEA) vice president for events Jennifer Ellen D. Dumlao, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 11 senior science research specialist Arnel Rodriguez, and DTI-Region 11 chief for investment and industry development Arriel N. Nengasca.
Prior to the pitching proper, Ateneo de Davao University Innovation and Technology Support Office’s Jason Occidental discussed the Anatomy of Business Pitching, giving tips on how to make a successful business pitch.♦
Date of Release: 18 December 2020