Regional Development Council-X (RDC-X) Chairperson and Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal called on innovators across Mindanao to transform local ideas into solutions that improve lives as the province hosted the 2026 Presidential Filipinnovation Awards (PFA) Mindanao Sub-National Competition.
The event brought together researchers, entrepreneurs, educators, students, industry leaders, and government partners from across the island, showcasing innovations in agriculture, health, education, environmental sustainability, digital technology, disaster resilience, and community development.
As chairperson of both the RDC-X and the Mindanao Sub-National Committee for the awards, Oaminal underscored the importance of creating opportunities for innovators regardless of where they come from.
“What makes this initiative truly remarkable is that it is intentionally designed to provide equal opportunities for innovators. Groundbreaking ideas do not only emerge from major cities or established institutions. They are also born in our farms, our schools, our local enterprises, our research centers, and our communities,” Oaminal said.
He emphasized that innovation should not be viewed as exclusive to highly funded institutions or technology hubs.
“Innovation is not reserved for geniuses. Innovation is not exclusive to those with abundant resources or advanced technology. Innovation belongs to every Filipino because every Filipino has the ability to recognize problems, imagine better solutions, and take meaningful action,” he said.
Oaminal also highlighted innovation as a key pillar of the region’s long-term development agenda.
“As Chairperson of the Regional Development Council-X, I firmly believe that innovation is one of the strongest pillars of our regional development agenda. It complements our vision of MAS ASENSO Northern Mindanao–a region that is resilient, competitive, sustainable, inclusive, and driven by opportunities that uplift every community,” he added.
Delivering the message of Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said the competition reflects Mindanao’s growing role as a source of practical solutions to national challenges.
“It has always been said that Mindanao is a land of promise. Today, that promise goes beyond its vast natural resources and agricultural potential. By bringing this national platform closer to local communities, we affirm that every province has the potential to become a center of innovation where ideas are transformed into solutions that improve lives and contribute to the country’s development,” Edillon said.
Edillon also recognized the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental under Oaminal’s leadership for helping bring together government, academe, industry, and innovators, saying such collaboration demonstrates the kind of local leadership needed to expand innovation beyond the country’s traditional centers.
Participants underwent coaching sessions before presenting their ideas through pitch and demonstration rounds before a panel of evaluators.
Following the presentations, four innovations earned the right to represent Mindanao in the Presidential Filipinnovation Awards National Competition this September: Hospitals for Farms by Waste for Good Technology, AI-powered Construction Management Platform by AIMHI, Automated Coconut Sap Juice Extractor by Kasaka Agriventures, and WERT Multi-Hazard Emergency Command Infrastructure for Local Government Units by POLLD Emergency System Corporation.
For Oaminal, hosting the competition reflects the region’s commitment to nurturing innovation at the grassroots level and ensuring that promising ideas from Mindanao receive national recognition.
“We want every innovator to know that transformative ideas can begin anywhere. When we invest in people who solve local problems, we build stronger communities, a more competitive region, and a better future for every Filipino,” he said.
