UP ISSI Pilots AGILE for Youth Program in Negros Occidental
The University of the Philippines Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP ISSI), with support from the UP Diliman Extension Grant (EG) and in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)–Negros Occidental and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through its Technology and Livelihood Development Center (TLDC), conducted the pilot run of Advancing Gamified Interactive Learning for Entrepreneurship (AGILE) for Youth on 30 October 2026 at the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC) in Talisay City.
The AGILE for Youth Program provides young participants with a hands-on opportunity to learn how to manage a micro business effectively through a Micro Business Simulation Game. The pilot run brought together 39 participants comprising senior high school students, technical-vocational students and NOLITC scholars, and youth entrepreneurs.
Ms. Liberty Alarcon, Head of the provincial government’s TLDC, delivered the welcome message. This was followed by messages from Engr. Engie Mar Tupas, Chief Trade and Industry Development Specialist of DTI–Negros Occidental, and Ms. Cely Carman-Trio, NOLITC Project Development Officer.
The Micro Business Simulation Game was facilitated by Mr. Ron Allan Estrebillo, AGILE Project Leader; Ms. Allysa Anne De Guzman, COPE Program Manager and AGILE Assistant Project Leader; and Ms. Joanna Rose Laddaran, Head of UP ISSI’s Training and Entrepreneurship Education Division (TEED).
In sharing their key takeaways, participants recognized that business success depends on a range of interconnected factors. Beyond sales and market demand, they identified regulations, raw material prices, and changing trends as important considerations in making business decisions.
Further runs of AGILE for Youth in Negros Occidental are scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
The AGILE for Youth Program Team acknowledges the Office of the Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Diliman, through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD), for funding support through the UP Diliman Extension Grant.
CONNECT WITH US:
For program details and partnership opportunities, contact the AGILE Program Team:
Email Address: training_issi.upd@up.edu.ph
Contact Number: (+632) 8981-8500 loc. 4054
**Photos from Jep De Guzman
