DOST-NCR, Parañaque City, SCALE NCR, and PCCI-Parañaque Unite to Boost Startup Ecosystem
The Department of Science and Technology-National Capital Region (DOST-NCR), the City Government of Parañaque, the Strategic and Collaborative Alliance for Leveraging Ecosystem of Startups National Capital Region (SCALE NCR), and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Parañaque formalized their partnership on 20 January 2026 to kickstart the STARTUP Parañaque Program, a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening the city’s technology startup and innovation ecosystem.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed at Parañaque City Hall by DOST-NCR Regional Director Engr. Romelen T. Tresvalles, Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, SCALE-NCR President Ms. Maria Cristina Ibañez, and PCCI-Parañaque President Mr. Marc Alain Ong.
Also present during the signing ceremony were DOST-NCR MUNTAPARLAS CASTO Head Mr. Kim L. Atienza, SCALE NCR member Mr. Dave Del Rosario, Parañaque City Vice Mayor Florencio Bernabe III, Councilor Vincent Kenneth Faviz, Chair of the Committee on Trade and Industry, and Councilor Allen Ford Tan, Chair of the Committee on Education.
STARTUP Parañaque seeks to enhance the city’s innovation landscape by aligning local government initiatives with science, technology, and innovation (STI) interventions, while fostering collaboration among government, industry, and the startup community toward inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The program is designed to provide sustained support for both student-led and professional startups, enabling them to develop, refine, and scale innovative solutions.
As part of the initiative, DOST-NCR will establish Innovation Hubs (iHubs) across Metro Manila and at its Regional Office in Taguig. These iHubs will serve as collaborative coworking spaces where startups can refine ideas, explore innovative strategies, and develop viable products and solutions. Through these platforms, innovators will be supported throughout the startup journey –from ideation and prototyping to the formation of startup ventures that contribute to local and national socio-economic development.
In her message, RD Tresvalles commended the City Government of Parañaque for not merely waiting for the future, but actively building it by becoming an innovation-ready city today. She emphasized that in today’s global business landscape, tech startups are no longer optional but are vital engines of job creation, improved services, and inclusive economic growth. She further stressed that strong local government support is the backbone of any successful innovation ecosystem.
Ms. Ibañez of SCALE NCR presented the results of the startup ecosystem mapping conducted for Parañaque City, highlighting industries with strong potential for technology-driven innovation. The study outlined key recommendations to strengthen the city’s tech startup initiatives, including enhancing governance and institutional support, establishing a Technology Business Incubator (TBI), encouraging local participation in enterprise development, and organizing startup competitions for students and professionals. These competitions aim to provide innovators with opportunities to access seed funding to further develop their ideas or ventures. Ms. Ibañez also proposed the crafting of concrete policies to encourage innovators to pursue technology-driven enterprises in the City of Parañaque.
In his response, Mayor Olivarez expressed his gratitude to DOST-NCR and SCALE NCR for their partnership and support in building STARTUP Parañaque. He affirmed the City Government’s full support for the program, particularly in advancing policy development and promoting innovation-led and inclusive economic growth. He also underscored the value of the recommendations from the startup ecosystem mapping, noting that these insights will help empower aspiring entrepreneurs and further drive the city’s economic development.
This partnership among DOST-NCR, the City Government of Parañaque, SCALE NCR, and PCCI-Parañaque marks another multisectoral effort to spur local economic development. It also reinforces DOST-NCR’s commitment to empowering emerging technopreneurs, strengthening local innovation ecosystems, and enabling communities through science, technology, and innovation.
By Anthony Dula of MUNTAPARLAS CASTO
