By: Delaila Irma T. Calindas, Project Technical Staff II

This year’s Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) – Project Mobilizing Available Resources through Inclusive Training on Entrepreneurship of Student-Grantees (MARITES) culminated in an exciting Regional Business Pitch Competition held on October 17, 2024, at the Function Hall of Paragon Hotel, bringing together young entrepreneurs from across the Cordillera region. This joint initiative by the Department of Trade and Industry – Cordillera Administrative Region (DTI-CAR) and the Commission on Higher Education – Cordillera Administrative Region (CHED-CAR) highlighted the innovative potential of the region’s youth.

A total of 12 finalists from six provinces—Baguio-Benguet, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, and Mountain Province—pitched their business ideas before a panel of esteemed judges and an enthusiastic audience. The competition was facilitated by Director Helen Tibaldo of the Philippine Information Agency-CAR, ensuring a smooth and engaging program.

The event was organized by the CHED-CAR UniFAST Unit, led by Dr. Bernadette C. Pal-ec, Education Supervisor II and UniFAST Focal Person, in collaboration with the DTI-CAR team, headed by Assistant Regional Director Atty. Samuel Gallardo. YEP Focal Persons from various DTI Provincial Offices, along with representatives from partner State Universities and Colleges, were also in attendance.

One of the highlights of the event was an inspirational message from CHED Chairperson Popoy De Vera who encouraged the young entrepreneurs to continue pursuing their passion and to harness their creativity in building businesses that not only uplift their lives but also contribute to the region’s economic development.

The top three winners of the competition were:

• Champion: Ms. Hanna Lei Pacito, a CHED Scholar and Free Higher Education Beneficiary from Benguet State University, for her innovative business idea, Silpo-Silpo, which focuses on sustainable and eco-friendly products.
• 1st Runner-Up: Mr. Benjamin Sotelo, a beneficiary of the Free Higher Education program from the University of the Philippines Baguio, for his business Protien Shakez, a health-conscious food and beverage venture.
• 2nd Runner-Up: Mr. Jerald Encollado, a former student of Kalinga State University, for his business JE Dairy Farm, specializing in locally produced dairy products.

This year marks the third implementation of YEP-Project MARITES, which has already benefited 366 youth across the Cordillera region. The project MARITES, a brainchild of CHED-CAR Regional Director Demetrio P. Anduyan Jr., is a unique collaboration between CHED-CAR and DTI-CAR aimed at fostering entrepreneurial skills among student-grantees of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA) programs.

As the Cordillera region continues to nurture and support its young entrepreneurs, CHED-CAR remains true to its commitment to transformative power of education and innovation through Project MARITES. The competition highlighted the potential of young minds to create sustainable businesses that can contribute to the region’s growth and development.