BAGUIO CITY – Ground-breaking launching of the first youth-led innovation challenge in the City of Baguio concluded last September 16, 2023 at Bentinez Hall, Baguio Teachers Camp. The Liwliwa ya Sursuro Youth Innovation Challenge launching was attended by over 300 youth and students from about 20 schools in Metro Baguio.
Baguio is the first City in the Philippines and second in Southeast Asia to be selected as part of the global Safe and Sound Cities Programme. Locally, it is implemented by youth-led NGO, Cordillera Youth Center, Inc. with the support from the local government of Baguio led by the City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office (CPDSO).
“Urbanization comes at a price. Our exceeding limit to carrying capacity in the City, unregulated tourism, road traffic, decades-long waste mismanagement combined with the City’s disaster-prone terrain and topography really come as a challenge. Adding to this is the shrinking spaces for civic participation and widespread disinformation.
That calls on [the youth] to take a step ahead in getting involved in solving urban problems and registering our voices in making our City truly safe and sound,” said Christian Dave Ruz, CYC’s project coordinator for the Safe and Sound Baguio Programme during the program.
Participants were graced with an esteemed panel of speakers tackling Baguio safety challenges in the perspective of the youth, placemaking and people-centered urban planning, and Baguio’s concern on carrying capacity.
In the afternoon session, Start-up Development Lead of University of the Cordilleras Innovation and Technology Transfer Office Ms. Lovely Reformado discussed the principles of design thinking. Group sessions were conducted where participants co-created initial prototypes, formulating innovative solutions on issues on environment, human rights, gender, culture, and social services.
Some innovative ideas included HubFun: a community youth center, and MOBALAI, a mobile house of hope that features services in barangays of the City.
The launching activity successfully ended by opening the call for the innovation challenge program. The innovation challenge will be a 3-month program open for Baguio youth aged 15-30. Application period will run from September 19 to October 6, 2023 via online registration at the Cordilleran Youth Center Facebook page. Shortlisted groups will proceed to intensive training sessions and mentoring, and then for a Pitch Competition in November where winning innovations will be selected. Winning projects will receive seed funding to support their implementation.