Manila: Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos on Monday praised a program that provides funding to student-led startups in the agri-aqua sector, emphasizing its potential to offer young innovators a platform for impactful societal projects.
According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative, known as the SIBOL: Student Technology Business Incubation Program for the Agri-Aqua Sector, is spearheaded by the Commission on Higher Education. It aims to encourage young Filipinos to pursue transformative ideas that can positively affect their communities and possibly the entire nation. Bernos, who is a member of the House committee on higher and technical education, highlighted the program's significance in a statement.
The SIBOL program, with a budget of PHP120 million, was recently launched to support student-led projects from 24 state universities and colleges (SUCs) across the country. It aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to broaden opportunities for Filipinos to start and grow businesses, with a particular focus on empowering young and female entrepreneurs. Each participating SUC will receive PHP5 million over a two-year period to assist students in transforming their research outputs into viable startups.
According to CHED, the SUCs involved have existing Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubators under the National Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation Network of the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development. The program will mentor 10 student innovators per SUC, offering them capacity-building activities along with access to facilities, technical and financial assistance, and industry connections to validate technologies and connect with potential partners and investors.
Bernos emphasized that the program would ensure meaningful research, particularly by students outside the National Capital Region, is brought to fruition and makes a tangible impact. She noted that the grants would inspire student researchers by providing an avenue to transform their ideas into tangible enterprises that benefit themselves and fellow Filipinos, rather than letting their work gather dust in libraries due to a lack of support and opportunity.
The lawmaker also expressed her hope for increased future funding for the initiative and greater support for researchers and scientists throughout the country. She highlighted the abundance of talented scientists and researchers in the Philippines who are eager for opportunities to implement their research, underscoring the importance of utilizing their expertise in national development efforts.
