FIVE students from the Western Visayas region claimed the top 5 spots in the first Youth Entrepreneurship Program: In-School Entrepreneurship Academy.

The students bested others because of their unique and innovative business proposals.

Bea Tan from the University of St. La Salle, Negros Occidental claimed the top spot with her “Kurba Clothing” business proposal. Armen Thea Naputol of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo placed second with her “Incredible Spoon” proposal.

The “Bolantero” of University of Antique’s Adrian Fillone came in third while Ma. Patricia Flores of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo’s “Tahi-Made in Oton” placed fourth.

The “Tahong Chips” proposed by Froy Crisostomo from Aklan State University landed fifth.

The top three received P10,000 each, while the fourth and fifth placers received P5,000 each.

Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry Region VI, the program aims to promote entrepreneurship among the youth who are still in school.

“We discovered that even in schools you just need to tickle their imagination so that the business ideas that they have can be put into business model canvass for them to see the picture of what they would like to happen,” DTI-VI Director Rebecca Rascon said.

Forty students from 11 partner colleges and universities in Western Visayas participated in the event held from August to September 2021.

The youth entrepreneurs who joined the program came from the University of San Agustin, Western Visayas State University, Central Philippine University, University of Saint La Salle, University of the Philippines-Miagao, Guimaras State University, University of Antique, Capiz State University, Aklan State University, College of Saint John, and Garcia College of Technology.

Since YEP: iSEA was  launched this year, Rascon said they look forward to having a second batch.

She added that the agency will ask the governors where the winners came from to consider the proposals of those young entrepreneurs “to be able to get a budget from their economic and enterprise development fund.”