The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region VI, in cooperation with the primary Regional Inclusive Innovation Center (RIIC) stakeholders, met again virtually on 17 February 2022 to determine which of the priority industries identified from the first meeting in January can be considered towards the establishment of RIIC in Western Visayas.
The Institutions’ key officials or account officers, as industry cluster representatives, presented to the Group the cluster’s status/updates:
1) Bamboo Industry Cluster by Dr. Ramer Bautista, Dean of UPV-School of Technology
2) Weaving/Wearables and Homestyle Industry Cluster by Dr. Carmelo Ambut, Vice President of ISAT U-Research and Extension Services
3) Processed Food Cluster by Lakambini Regalado of DTI-Iloilo
4) Organic Agriculture Cluster by Romel Solidum of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist – Province of Negros Occidental
5) IT-BPM Sector by Mary Jade Gonzales of DTI-VI .
The Officials of Iloilo State College of Fisheries and Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College, Heads of Technology Business Incubators, representatives from DOST, DICT, Provincial Government of Iloilo, City Government of Iloilo, and the DTI-Region VI Team with RD Rebecca M. Rascon, ARD Ermelinda Pollentes, Provincial Directors, and RIIC focal persons were also present in the meeting.
The body has agreed to consider the bamboo and weaving/wearables and homestyle industry clusters due to their regional product distinction and strengths, sustainable resources, existing Western Visayas Bamboo Industry Development Council (WVBIDC) for bamboo and Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC) for yarn/fibers, and stakeholders’ capability and expertise, among others.
RIIC is a network of innovation agents that collaborate to commercialize market-oriented research leading to the creation of new products, new processes, and new business models thus contributing to the competitiveness of the region. It aims to generate better employment opportunities, more entrepreneurial activities, and sustainable economic prosperity in the country’s regions. Innovation agents include industries, universities, government agencies, local government units, startups, MSMEs, R&D laboratories, S&T parks, incubators, Fabrication Laboratories (FabLabs), investors, among many other agents in the ecosystem. The next meeting is scheduled in March to choose only one priority industry for RIIC in Western Visayas. ♦
Date of Release: 14 March 2022