09/06/2026
The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII), represented by its Secretary General, Mary Antonette Doromal, attended the official launch of Circulab: Seeding the Future of Sustainable Innovation on June 2, 2026, at Aria Hotel and Residences in Davao City.
The event marked the commencement of a 24-month venture-building accelerator program led by Upgrade Innolab Inc. under the European UnionโPhilippines Green Economy Partnership (EU-GEPP). The initiative is designed to support circular economy startups and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Mindanao, particularly in Regions X, XI, XII, XIII, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Through venture-building support, financial subgrants, and capacity development opportunities, the program aims to transform sustainable innovations into scalable and investment-ready enterprises.
The launch began with a press conference moderated by Betsy Tulio and featured a distinguished panel composed of Dir. Romeo Castaรฑaga, Regional Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) XI; Richard R. Day, President of Upgrade Innolab Inc.; and Fatima Pauline Malate, Founder of E3 Philippines. During the discussion, the panel emphasized the importance of advancing circular economy solutions, strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem, and creating opportunities for sustainable business growth across Mindanao.
The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with key institutional partners, including DTI XI, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) XI, E3 Philippines, the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), Central Mindanao University (CMU), the Municipality of Del Carmen, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (CCCII), the ASEAN Circular Economy Business Alliance (ACEBA), Quest Ventures, and Sustina. The launch underscored a collective commitment to promoting sustainability, innovation, and green entrepreneurship through strategic partnerships and collaborative action.
The afternoon session featured the dialogue titled โScaling Circularity in Mindanao: A Conversation with the Philippinesโ Key Green Economy Program Drivers.โ Insights were shared by April Ong Vaรฑo, Head of ESG at Quest Ventures, and Anna Reyes, Executive Director and President of Sustina PH. Moderated by Richard R. Day, the discussion explored strategies for accelerating green investments, strengthening sustainability practices, and enabling circular business models that create both economic and environmental value.
The event concluded with presentations from the programโs seven selected subgrantee venturesโAnitu, Envirotech, Espoir, Agrinex, Lesstics, GreenTayo, and Lilamaya. Each enterprise showcased innovative solutions aimed at addressing sustainability challenges and advancing circular economy practices, demonstrating the potential of locally driven innovations to contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future for Mindanao.