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

The Commission on Higher Education – Cordillera Administrative Region (CHED-CAR), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry – Cordillera Administrative Region (DTI-CAR), officially launched Batch 2026 of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) – Project MARITES on July 27, 2026, reaffirming their commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs across the Cordillera region.

The launch brought together government leaders, youth advocates, development partners, and aspiring entrepreneurs to inspire and equip the next generation of business leaders through entrepreneurship, innovation, and public service.

Messages of support were delivered by Dr. Serafin L. Ngohayon, OIC Regional Director of CHED-CAR, Atty. Raymond G. Panhon, Regional Director of DTI-CAR, and Atty. Septon A. De La Cruz, Executive Director of UniFAST. The officials highlighted the importance of youth participation in nation-building and emphasized entrepreneurship as a key driver of inclusive growth and sustainable community development.

Participants also gained valuable insights from keynote speakers Ms. Micaela Gay Rimando, Senior Economist of the City Planning, Development, and Sustainability Office of the LGU Baguio and Manager of the SIGLAT Youth Innovation Hub; Ms. Joan T. Bimano, Chief of the Policy Development and Planning Section of the Office of Civil Defense-CAR; and Mr. Nic Satur Jr., President of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines BLISTT Charter. Their presentations focused on youth empowerment, innovation, leadership, and community resilience.

The application guidelines and program mechanics for YEP-Project MARITES Batch 2026 were presented by Ms. Karen M. Lising, Chief Trade-Industry Development Specialist of DTI-CAR. For this year’s batch, 40 mentees will be selected to participate in an intensive four-day entrepreneurship training and mentorship program designed to nurture business ideas, strengthen entrepreneurial competencies, and provide networking opportunities with industry experts and mentors. Applications for aspiring mentees are open until August 14, 2026. Proceed to this link for the application details: LINK.

The event also featured testimonials from former mentees Jasmine D. Hadsan, proprietor of Crispy Chayote Leaves, and Lloyd Bryan A. Saysay, proprietor of TASArap, who shared how the program helped transform their entrepreneurial ideas into thriving ventures.

Through YEP-Project MARITES, CHED-CAR and DTI-CAR continue to strengthen their commitment to developing youth-led enterprises and fostering innovation for sustainable economic growth in the Cordillera Administrative Region.