Preparations advance after innovation council meeting
The Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) is advancing preparations for the La Union SIKLAB Conference 2026, following a Special Meeting of the La Union Innovation Council (LUIC) on October 8, 2026 to strengthen coordination and move the province's innovation agenda forward. The meeting brought together members of the La Union Innovation Council (LUIC) composed of the academe, various NGAs and PGLU offices.
Governor Mario Eduardo C. Ortega, LUIC Chairperson, who was represented by Executive Assistant Denver Badua, presided over the meeting, with the support of LUIC Vice Chairperson Board Member Maria Rosario Eufrosina "Chary" P. Nisce, who was represented by Ms. Elma Quinagoran. The Council discussed key preparations for the La Union SIKLAB Conference 2026, including its revised framework and mechanics, and the creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) to support the conference's implementation. These efforts support the province's long-term vision of becoming the Center of Innovation and Growth in Region 1 by 2035, positioning innovation as a driver of sustainable development, competitiveness, and inclusive growth.
A key agenda item was the La Union SIKLAB Conference 2026, which aims to bring together innovators, problem-solvers, entrepreneurs, government institutions, academe, the private sector, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to develop solutions to pressing community challenges. Central to the conference is the SIKLAB Sprint, which will focus on Health and Wellness. Through a structured process of problem discovery, ideation, and the development of Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) or Proofs of Concept (PoCs), participants will have the opportunity to turn promising ideas into practical solutions, supported by mentors and subject-matter experts.