Misamis Occidental Emerges as Mindanao”s Innovation Hub as Four PFA Champions Head to National Challenge

By Bhal Abad Cabrera

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental — More than producing four national finalists, the successful staging of the 2026 Presidential Filipinnovation Awards (PFA) Mindanao Sub-National Competition positioned Ozamiz City and Misamis Occidental as an emerging center for innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship in Mindanao.

The event culminated with four outstanding innovations earning the right to represent Mindanao in the national competition this September, highlighting the region’s growing capacity to develop practical, technology-driven solutions for agriculture, construction, and other key industries.

Governor Henry S. Oaminal, who chaired the Mindanao Sub-National Selection Committee, said the competition was not only about recognizing winning inventions but also about creating an ecosystem where innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, government agencies, and private institutions can collaborate to transform ideas into opportunities.

“The true success of this event is that it brought together brilliant minds from across Mindanao who share one goal—to create solutions that improve lives,” Oaminal said.

He emphasized that innovation should not remain confined to laboratories or academic institutions but must be translated into products and technologies that generate employment, strengthen industries, and improve public services.

According to Oaminal, competitions such as the Presidential Filipinnovation Awards help bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization by giving local inventors a platform to showcase ideas that can attract government support and private investment.

Among the innovations highlighted during the competition were an AI-powered construction management platform designed to improve efficiency in infrastructure projects and a coconut sap processing innovation inspired by the experiences of a coconut farmer’s family—demonstrating how local challenges can become opportunities for technological advancement.

The governor noted that Mindanao possesses immense untapped talent and expressed optimism that more innovators from the region will participate in future editions of the awards.

He also congratulated the four winning teams for earning the privilege of representing Mindanao at the national level.

“You are carrying not only your innovations but also the hopes and aspirations of Mindanao. We are proud of your achievements and wish you success as you compete on the national stage,” Oaminal said.

The competition gathered innovators, researchers, startup founders, educators, students, industry leaders, and government stakeholders in Ozamiz City, reinforcing the city’s growing role as a venue for innovation-driven initiatives and knowledge exchange.

As the four finalists prepare for the national competition in September, the event has reinforced the message that innovation is becoming a key pillar of regional development—one that transforms local ingenuity into solutions capable of making a lasting economic, technological, and social impact for the country.