President Marcos has ordered the creation of the Presidential Filipinnovation Awards, an initiative that will recognize outstanding Filipino innovators and enterprises contributing to the country’s development through innovation.

The Presidential Filipinnovation Awards will be established through Executive Order (EO) 99, which was signed on Oct. 6.

It is anchored on Republic Act (RA) No. 11293 or the “Philippine Innovation Act,” which promotes innovation as a vital component of national development and sustainable economic growth.

The Filipinnovation Awards aims to “bring out the best Filipino innovators and allow them to demonstrate their talents; serve as a platform to connect innovators with industry stakeholders and potential partners, including local and foreign investors; and foster a more robust innovation ecosystem in the country.”

It will be an annual competition to honor Filipino-owned and registered individuals or enterprises whose products or services are at the early stages of commercialization.

The winners will be awarded by the President or the Executive Secretary, by authority of the President. They will receive a medallion and a plaque bearing the seal, citation, and signature of the President.

Awardees will also receive a grant or support such as mentorship, coaching, or opportunities to participate in international events to further promote and develop their innovations.

The National Innovation Council (NIC) will establish a selection committee to manage the nationwide search and to form a board of judges at both national and sub-national levels. These bodies will evaluate submissions based on established criteria and ensure transparency and fairness throughout the process.

Initial funding requirements will be sourced from the current appropriations of NIC member-agencies.

For succeeding years, the necessary funding will be included in the budget proposal of the agencies, subject to the usual budget preparation process.