Cebu is betting its economic future on code and innovation. In a move to diversify the local economy beyond traditional BPO services, the provincial government has officially institutionalized a support system for its growing community of tech founders.
The big news in the Cebuano tech scene this quarter is the "Institutionalization of Innovation." Signed in early 2026 and gaining full momentum this April, EO 4 establishes a council mandated to bridge the gap between the government, the private sector, and academia. This body ensures that local founders have access to the data, funding flows, and regulatory relief needed to scale their businesses. By creating a unified advisory platform, the province aims to streamline "innovation-driven enterprises" as a core pillar of its 2023–2028 Regional Development Plan.
This initiative arrives at a critical juncture for the "Silicon Strait." The council is not just a symbolic body; it is tasked with maintaining a real-time database of local startups and organizing global-facing events to market Cebu as a stable alternative to overcrowded tech hubs in Southeast Asia. With the iSTART Program of the Department of Science and Technology providing technical support, the council is currently drafting its internal rules. This structured approach is expected to catalyze a new wave of "high-value" job creation, moving Cebuano talent from back-office support into the front lines of global software development and digital entrepreneurship.
