AIF equips next wave of Pinoy innovators

In a city better known for factories and farmland, a different kind of production line formed Thursday in Sto. Tomas, Batangas: a hall full of students, eyes fixed on opportunities that could take a business idea from the back row to the real world.

At the Asian Innovation Forum (AIF) hosted by Daily Tribune and attended by more than 200 students, speakers from Maya Fintech, Cebu CFI and SBCorp explained how aspiring entrepreneurs can launch businesses through loans, digital platforms, and practical support that transform concepts into enterprises.

Renier Bacarra of Maya Fintech led the discussions, giving students a ground-level view of how digital tools can uplift local economies.

Bacarra walked participants through Maya’s 12-point agenda, a blueprint for “pumping the economy” through partnerships with local governments and wider digital access for small merchants.

“The Philippines is a nation of opportunity. We are tech-savvy: 81 percent have smartphones, 77 percent are online, and we’re 116.8 million strong,” he said.

But Bacarra also pointed out deep financial obstacles. Cash, he noted, is not just inconvenient — it is costly.

Sixty-one percent of Filipinos borrow from relatives when funds run low, while 90 percent still pay in cash, a system that keeps small and medium enterprises exposed to risk.

“Fake bills. Wrong change. Losing customers because you don’t have change,” he said.

Maya has begun digitalizing markets in Batangas cities such as Tanauan, Lipa, Rosario and Ibaan, where vendors now accept digital payments. Sto. Tomas, he noted, has yet to adopt the system.

Cebu CFI highlighted pathways for student entrepreneurs to scale ventures, while SBCorp outlined government loan mechanisms as a vital backbone for early-stage businesses.

The students responded with spirited pitches, exploring how digital tools can solve local problems and unlock new markets.

The event marked the 15th installment of the AIF — a hallmark of Daily Tribune’s public service mission and its commitment to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.