Los Baños, Laguna Mayor Neil Andrew Nocon delivered an impassioned address at the 14th Asian Innovation Forum (AIF) organized by DAILY TRIBUNE, highlighting the critical role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and leveraging the platform for local economic revitalization.

Nocon marked the event at the Ceasar Perez Memorial Complex and Evacuation Center with characteristic warmth and a touch of humor, centered on the importance of nurturing local businesses and acknowledging the debt of gratitude to the public whose taxes funded his and the DAILY TRIBUNE publisher’s education.

He warmly welcomed the event’s speakers — Richard Mercader from Maya Philippines, Karen Soriano of Cebu CFI Community Cooperative, Eloisa Isip of SB Corp. and Brian Mendoza of Repay Solutions — and attending MSME owners as he expressed deep appreciation to DAILY TRIBUNE for bringing the innovation forum to Los Baños.

Nocon also stressed that the forum served as an invaluable opportunity for local entrepreneurs as he urged attendees to utilize the on-site booths and engage with the speakers and institutions present, particularly those in finance, to secure services, partnerships, and necessary guidance.

“Use this opportunity to talk to them... to know how to register, how to acquire services and become partners with institutions in finance and MSMEs,” Nocon said.

With much vigor and enthusiasm, the speakers engaged with over a thousand attendees in the event as they shared their know-how on ensuring the success of those who are planning to kick off their business and improve cooperative functionality.

Meantime, Nocon took the chance to announce a new local government project — the Heritage Tour — an initiative directly linked to his goal of stimulating commerce, with the forum acting as a vital catalyst for this business revival.

“We are here to revitalize business. We will bring tourists here. I’m telling you now, if there are tourists, there is income,” said Nocon, stressing that a successful heritage tour would strengthen, invigorate, and multiply local businesses.

The Los Baños mayor also paid special tribute to DAILY TRIBUNE publisher and president Willie Fernandez — a fellow alumnus of the University of the Philippines and a product of the public school system.

“The one who educated this person was the people’s tax,” the mayor said, drawing a parallel to his own family’s education at UP, underscoring their shared commitment to public service as a way of repaying the public’s investment.

He proudly hailed DAILY TRIBUNE as a leading and now widely followed online news source in the Philippines.