May 6, 2025 — The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), as Vice Chair and Secretariat of the National Innovation Council (NIC), underscored the transformative power of innovation in driving inclusive growth and enhancing national competitiveness in this year’s celebration of National Innovation Day (NID).
Held from April 28 to 30, the event revolved around the theme, “FLIP: Forging Leaders of Innovation in the Philippines.” It brought together stakeholders from the government, private sector, academe, scientific community, and youth to foster collaboration and cultivate a culture of ‘Filipinnovation’, where Filipinos embrace innovation as a driver of progress throughout the country.
Under the Philippine Innovation Act (Republic Act No. 11293) and guided by the strategies and priorities contained in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document 2023-2032, the NIC continues to push for policies and initiatives that foster a robust and dynamic system for innovation governance.
DEPDev Secretary and NIC Vice Chairperson Arsenio M. Balisacan emphasized that this year’s theme encourages everyone to “flip the box,” shift perspectives, disrupt outdated processes, and discover bold new solutions.
“FLIP signals a transformation in mindset, a break from convention, and a leap toward innovation-driven action. It calls on us to flip the page and empower a new generation of leaders ready to reshape industries, uplift communities, and steer the Philippines toward a more prosperous future,” Balisacan explained.
The first day of this year’s NID featured the intensified Huddle, Analyze, Build, and Innovate (HABI) workshop designed to harness creative thinking, identify key challenges, and create innovative solutions to address critical issues across various sectors. Through a series of interactive sessions and design-thinking exercises, 55 teams of students from various state universities and colleges across 14 regions of the country co-developed actionable proposals aligned with the priorities of the National Innovation Agenda.
Outstanding team outputs were recognized in each focus area, with Camarines Norte State College leading in Learning and Education; University of Santo Tomas – Manila in Health and Well-being; Camarines Norte State College in Transportation and Logistics; Mindanao State University in Food and Agribusiness; and University of the East – Manila in Public Administration.
The second day of the event highlighted innovative ideas and solutions presented by the 11 qualifiers from the National Capital Region (NCR) Sub-National competition in the fields of Food and Agriculture, Learning and Education, and Health and Well-being. Their work reflects the true spirit of Filipinnovation: ingenuity, resilience, and a strong commitment to driving meaningful change.
The third day of the event featured two roundtable discussions about the triple helix of innovation, as well as emerging technology and artificial intelligence. NIC members Secretary of Health Teodoro J. Herbosa and Secretary of Science and Technology Renato U. Solidum set the stage for the high-level panelists of government and industry experts. The roundtable discussions were then complemented by the afternoon messages of support from development partners, industry partners, and NIC members.
To cap the celebration, three outstanding finalists from the NCR Sub-National Competition were awarded and will advance to the national competition, scheduled for October 2025. These finalists included AGAP.AI with their AI-powered monitoring platform that enhances early childhood intervention, Ediphi with their cutting-edge VR and AI-driven education that bridges the gap between classroom and practical, real-world skill development and SeeYouDoc with their innovative and accessible digital healthcare platform supporting the country’s universal healthcare goals.
“Today, I call on all of us to flip our mindset—from slow adaptation to bold transformation, from passive users to active producers of innovation, and from followers to frontrunners in the global innovation movement. Let us lead the way in building a more innovative, more resilient, and more inclusive Philippines—one that realizes our Ambisyon Natin 2040 of a matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay para sa lahat,” Balisacan said.
*Note: The passage of the Republic Act No. 12145 reorganized the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) into the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) effective April 27, 2025.
-END-