CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Digital and technology startups in Cagayan de Oro can soon expect greater support following the endorsement of an ordinance aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the city.
On Tuesday, March 25, the City Council’s trade and commerce committee, chaired by Councilor George Goking, endorsed an ordinance authored by Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez to establish a startup support center and innovation hub. The initiative is designed to bolster the city’s startup ecosystem by providing resources and incentives to local entrepreneurs.
Vice Mayor Rodriguez highlighted the city’s standing in the 2023 Global Startup Ecosystem Index, where Cagayan de Oro ranked third in the Philippines, 16th in Southeast Asia, and 661st globally, according to the innovation economy research platform Startup Blink. However, in the 2024 report, the city’s ranking declined to 18th in Southeast Asia and 698th in the world.
Rodriguez pointed to the absence of strong local policies supporting tech startups as a key factor in the decline. “The startup industry is a worldwide trend offering numerous career and business opportunities for Filipinos, especially the youth,” she said.
The ordinance mandates the creation of the Cagayan de Oro Startup Support Center and Innovation Hub, also known as CDO StarSciHub. This hub will be overseen by a governing council chaired by the mayor and composed of representatives from the startup sector, academia, and government agencies. The council will be responsible for formulating and implementing programs, including an incentive scheme, to stimulate startup growth in the city.
The establishment of CDO StarSciHub is expected to provide a structured framework for supporting innovation, attracting investment, and strengthening Cagayan de Oro’s position as a key player in the country’s startup ecosystem.