The Iloilo City Government is set to establish its first-ever Start-up Center, expanding its support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and strengthening the city’s growing startup ecosystem.
The initiative follows the successful staging of the 1st Iloilo City MSME Summit in June, which brought together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and government agencies to promote innovation and create new opportunities for local businesses.
Mayor Raisa Treñas said preparations are underway for the Start-up Center, which will be located at Festive Walk Mall Iloilo through a partnership among the Iloilo City Government, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
“The upcoming months we will be finalizing our Start-up Center. We want our start-ups to have an office they can go to a co-working space. It will serve as a venue where they can hold meetings, collaborate, and work on their projects,” Treñas said.
The mayor said the city identified the need for a permanent support hub for aspiring entrepreneurs after observing that many startup founders lose access to assistance once they complete entrepreneurship programs offered by schools and universities.
“We noticed that schools encourage startups and provide entrepreneurship programs, but after those programs, where do they go? That is why we are establishing this Start-up Center. With the support of the DICT, DOST, and PCCI, we can better align our programs and vision to help our entrepreneurs succeed,” she added.
Once operational, the Start-up Center will provide a dedicated co-working space and serve as a hub for innovation, collaboration, mentoring, and business development for emerging enterprises.
The Iloilo City Government expects the facility to open in the coming months as part of its continuing efforts to position Iloilo City as a premier destination for entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment in Western Visayas.IMT
