COUNTRY’S 1ST YOUTH INNOVATION HUB ESTABLISHED IN BAGUIO

September 9, 2023 Metro BLISTT

Baguio City has established a youth innovation hub said to be the first of its kind in the country.
Located at the basement of the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, the SIGLAT (Synergize, Innovation and Gravitate Leadership towards Adaptive Technologies) Youth Innovation Hub will serve as developing center for youth collaboration and innovation toward making their city livable
and resilient. Arch. Donna Tabangin, head of the City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office (CPDSO) which is the implementer of the project said the youth hub “will serve as a safe and inclusive space to improve young people’s safety, well-being and quality of life in urban environments.”

“It aims to involve young people in ideating and implementing innovative solutions for tracking safety challenge and provide opportunities for young people and local government officers to promote dialogue and encourage them to co-create innovative solutions with other urban stakeholders to improve safety in their cities,” Tabangin said. The youth hub was inaugurated in a simple program Sept. 1 graced by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Executive Director Daisy Bungallon, Dept. of Trade and Industry Regional Director Juliet Lucas, Councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales, City Administrator Engr. Bonifacio
Dela Peña and Tabangin.

Tabangin said the initiative is in collaboration with the Safe and Sound Cities (S2Cities) program, led by the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation (GIB) in partnership with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and the Cordilleran Youth Center (CYC). It is hosted by the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation and supported by the Fondation Botnar. Social innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem expert Erwin Lizarondo who served as project consultant of the city said that while there are many innovation hubs established in the country, the
city’s facility is the first to exclusively cater to the youth.

At present, the hub offers co-working spaces and a conference room. Purchase of equipment is underway to provide more facilities for youth collaboration and innovation. The working spaces are available to walk-in clients while the conference room may be availed of through reservation. Contact cel. no. 09998842661 or email [email protected].

Aileen P. Refuerzo/Baguio-PIO