A new set of environmental entrepreneurs will flourish.
An initiative aimed to transform the Cordilleran approach to waste and entrepreneurship is set to pilot in a workshop series led by Vivita Philippines.
Funded by the European, Union Circle Works, a grassroots incubation and acceleration program, will host its official community launch and workshop series on April 13, 2026, at the University of Baguio Centennial Hall.
Gabe Mercado, Executive Director of Vivita Philippines said funding for 14 deserving startups whose focus is an anti-plastic pollution drive.
“We want to empower then to put up a business that focuses on our anti plastic pollution drive.”
The event, “Circle Works on the Road: Baguio City,” is set for the afternoon and will provide hands-on technical skills and entrepreneurial training with three primary pillars: Circular Economy, Learning Sprint: a two-hour workshop is specifically designed for students and young entrepreneurs, introducing fundamentals of circular business models, focusing on strategies such as Refusing, Rethinking, and Reducing to build ventures that prioritize the planet alongside profit.
The Repair Café: Running simultaneously, is a session that encourages residents to bring broken household items for mending rather than discarding, the session will feature volunteers skilled in basic soldering, sewing, 3D printing, and shoe repair. Organizers describe it as a space where small repairs give items a “second life”.
The talk. Startup Incubation and Funding Pathways at 3:30 PM, will gear toward long-term economic impact detailing how aspiring innovators can access the Circle Works incubation program, which provides support for early-stage startups ready to scale solutions that tackle plastic waste.
In addition to international backing from the EU, the program is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The event is open to students, startup enthusiasts, and any community members interested in sustainable living. Maria Elena Catajan