CHED RO XI Hosts Tourism Start-Up Challenge Provincial Vetting
Davao City— The Commission on Higher Education Regional Office XI (CHED RO XI) conducted the Tourism Start-Up Challenge Provincial Vetting on January 16, 2026, at the CHED RO XI Conference Room, gathering entries from higher education institutions across the Davao Region.
A total of fourteen (14) startup proposals were evaluated, including three (3) from Davao del Norte, one (1) from Davao Oriental, and ten (10) from Davao del Sur. The proposals were assessed by a panel composed of experts from both the academe and industry, ensuring a balanced and comprehensive evaluation process.
The panel of judges included Dr. Raffy P. Roma, Tourism Expert from the Academe; Mr. Adrian Alvin O. Almonte, Tourism Expert from the Industry (Davao del Norte); Mr. Kervin Joseph D. Elay, LPT, MPA, Tourism Expert from the Industry (Davao del Sur); and Atty. Lovella Fe H. Tadder, PhD, LPT, Tourism Expert from the Industry (Davao Oriental), as reflected in the official provincial consolidated report .
The activity served as the provincial-level screening, where one (1) proposal per province will advance to the regional vetting. Regional finalists will receive Php 250,000.00 and proceed to the national vetting, where three (3) national winners will each be awarded Php 5,000,000.00. This process aims to identify innovative and high-potential tourism concepts that can be developed into sustainable enterprises.
During the vetting, participating teams presented creative and forward-thinking proposals focused on sustainable tourism, digital innovation, cultural preservation, and community-based development. The activity also provided an opportunity for proponents to receive valuable feedback from experts, helping them further refine their ideas.
This initiative highlights CHED RO XI’s continued support for the Tourism Start-Up Challenge (TSC) 2025, in partnership with the Department of Tourism, which encourages higher education institutions to develop innovative, inclusive, and sustainable tourism solutions. Through this effort, CHED RO XI strengthens the role of higher education in fostering entrepreneurship and contributing to the growth of the Philippine tourism industry.
