Eastern samar: The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development in Eastern Visayas (DEPDev-8) encourages regional innovators to submit products and services prepared for early commercialization and with the potential for national impact to the 2026 Presidential Filipinnovation Awards (PFA).
According to Philippines News Agency, DEPDev-8 Assistant Regional Director Jam Colas stated that the campaign is being intensified to motivate innovators in the region to participate in the 2026 PFA. This year's competition will cover the Visayas Subnational Competition, which includes Regions 6, 7, 8, and the Negros Island Region.
Applications are being accepted until March 15, 2026. The subnational competition for the Visayas is scheduled for July, followed by the national competition in August. Now in its second year, the PFA acknowledges individuals, startups, and enterprises whose innovations meet development needs and have strong potential for scaling.
Colas explained that the annual competition celebrates Filipino-owned and registered innovative products or services that are in the early stages of commercialization. This initiative aims to highlight and empower local talents, thereby amplifying the role of innovation in driving the country's economic development.
The program's objective is to advance the national innovation agenda by recognizing, connecting, and enabling Filipino innovators with significant commercialization potential. The PFA is open to Filipino individuals and Filipino-owned businesses registered with the Department of Trade and Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission, or Cooperative Development Authority.
Applicants must consist of teams with no more than three Filipino members. Their entries should showcase an innovative product or service ready for commercialization, backed by a functional prototype and registered or pending intellectual property rights.
The awards process will occur in two stages, beginning with subnational competitions across four geographic clusters: the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This structure promotes participation from regional innovation ecosystems. Up to 16 finalists, with a maximum of four per cluster, will proceed to the national level, where five innovators will receive the Presidential Filipinnovation Award.
