28 April 2021, Cagayan de Oro City—In a bid to put itself on the map as a food innovation hub, to connect with potential adopters, and to showcase the uniqueness and abundance of raw materials in Cagayan de Oro and the region, the Northern Mindanao Food Innovation Center (NMFIC) of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) today unveiled eight (8) new technologies in a Virtual Food Innovation Showcase.

The event was organized by the university’s Technology Promotions and Commercialization Office (TPCO), in partnership with the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the City Government of Cagayan de Oro, the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., and USAID Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (STRIDE).

Pitched by an all-women crew of food technologists at the landmark event were the following transfer-ready technologies ripe for licensing:

Composition of Polvoron with Green Mango and Yam Bean	Composition of Soy (Glycine max L.) Singkamas (Pachyrhizus erosus) Cookies
Composition of Chayote (Sechium edule) Cookies	Composition of Chayote (Sechium edule) Calamansi Concentrate
Composition of Ready-to-Cook Mixed Fruit with Coconut Milk (Composition and Process of Preparing)	Composition of Instant Fish Viand Pack
Composition of Sibujing Powder	Composition of Chili Garlic in Oil with Color Retention

Cagayan de Oro, 26 March 2021—Cagayan de Oro’s Local Economic and Investment Promotions Officer, Eileen San Juan, delivered a presentation at the 2021 Regional Conference of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) today, March 26.

LEIPO San Juan was featured in the Asia Global Session on Economic Recovery during Covid-19 (March 26, 10am-11:45am Beijing/ Manila Time / March 25, 10:00 -10:45pm Eastern US Time) along with Dongfang (Linda) Wong, Executive Director, ICMA China Center, China.

Her presentation, titled, Cagayan de Oro City: Growing Back Better, Leading Regional Economic Recovery, started with an overview of the regional economy and the role of Cagayan de Oro in Region X and Metropolitan Cagayan de Oro, briefly touching on the economic impact of the pandemic, before going in depth into the city’s recovery programs, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which comprise 99% of all business registered.

From baby steps to leaps of faith

She ended her presentation by sharing two success stories.

First, the launch of the W Blend, coffee made from beans grown by women farmers from different parts of the Philippines, first brought together through The Coffee Project initiative of the Cagayan de Oro Trade and Investment Promotions Center (Oro-TIPC) with the USAID Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project, the U.S. government’s Women-Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative, and the Philippine Coffee Board (PCB).

The flagship brew grew out of value-chain analysis (VCA) conducted by Oro-TIPC with local coffee growers in early 2020, and snowballed into training webinars on cupping, Q-grading, coffee processing, and flavor development. The W Blend is now being served in women-owned coffee shops in key cities in the country, capping the celebration of women’s month.

Second, LEIPO San Juan featured the pivot managed by Oro Handmade Innovations, Inc., a local company founded and run by Ms. Lolita Cabanlet, that specializes in handmade paper. With virtual courses and mentoring under city’s response programs for MSMEs, her company transitioned to digital marketing, increased its online presence, and participated in in international virtual trade shows like the Paris Maison et Objet and Manila FAME. thereby capturing new markets.

The simplified module and application filing assistance also enabled Oro Handmade Innovations, Inc. to prepare a Business Recovery Plan that clinched much-needed financing for the company.

As a way of giving back, Ms. Cabanlet now shares her experience as one of Cagayan de Oro’s mentors for the courses: Joining Virtual Trade Fair and Exhibits, and How to Become an Exporter.

City managers’ converge in cyberspace

Members, like LEIPO San Juan, and nonmembers of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) share lessons learned and explore strategies and best practices in local governance at the annual ICMA Regional Conferences.

The yearly event, which gives local government professionals an opportunity to connect and learn from each other as well as to gain or hone city/county management skills with their peers in the international community, went totally virtual this year in response to pandemic restrictions.

This year, the conference focused on tools, processes, and practices for the equitable recovery and transformation of local government management and communities.

The session in which LEIPO San Juan was featured, showcased the economic recovery plans of local governments in China and Philippines during and post-COVID-19 and how they have supported their local businesses.