Quezon City Hall. (File photo)
MANILA – The Quezon City government on Friday launched a program to provide financial grants of up to P1 million to qualified startup entrepreneurs as it encouraged them to sign up for the program.
The “Startup QC Program” is aligned with Mayor Joy Belmonte’s 14-point agenda which aims to make Quezon City the preferred destination for businesses, create more new jobs and opportunities, and develop growth hubs.
“The goal is to create business hubs that will inspire and empower QCitizens to create innovative business models that can help provide solutions to social issues or concerns. Through this program, we are encouraging entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to be part of the greater mission of improving our society,” Belmonte said in her speech during the launch.
The much-anticipated program has garnered excitement and support from members of the startup community as they joined the program’s grand launch at the Quezon City Hall.
Belmonte said that the city government is aiming to fund and support innovative startup ventures that are still at their early stages but have promising viable products.
She added that the qualified startups will be immersed in training, mentorship, and networking activities facilitated by the QC government and industry program partners.
“Through this multi-million peso initiative to catalyze QC innovation, we will enable young startup ventures to thrive in the city, nurture a QC business startup ecosystem, and make Quezon City the innovation capital of the Philippines,” Belmonte said.
Meanwhile, Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy said in a pre-recorded message that the program would play a crucial role in strengthening the city’s startup business ecosystem.
“To this end, we fully support the Filipino startup community as we continuously aim to promote innovation and encourage entrepreneurship through empowering programs and initiatives,” Uy said.
For her part, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Competitiveness Bureau Director Lilian Salonga said: “Together we shall continue to endeavor to sustain the efficient implementation of initiatives, programs, and projects that promote a culture of innovation; embed innovation and entrepreneurial mindset to our stakeholders; and foster the growth of a robust innovation and startup ecosystem.” (PNA)
