The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has launched Cebu Solutionsfest 2026, an open-innovation competition designed to address Cebu City's long-standing urban challenges through citizen-driven technology and community-based solutions. The initiative, part of Cebu Business Month 2026, invites students, startups, freelancers, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and independent innovators to develop practical solutions to real problems identified by the City Government and other sectors.
Encouraging Citizen Involvement
Councilor Edgardo “Jaypee” Labella II, chairman of the City Council committee on information and communications technology (ICT), emphasized that the initiative aims to engage ordinary Cebuanos in solving the city's persistent issues, moving beyond mere social media discussions. “I really want citizens, students, and city residents to also be involved in finding solutions to our problems,” he said.
Identified City Concerns
Organizers consulted several City Government departments to identify pressing issues that participants can address through technology, innovation, or community-based approaches. These include flooding, waste management, governance and civic technology, traffic and urban mobility, disaster recovery, tourism, education, and MSME development. Participants will receive specific problem briefs—curated descriptions of actual issues from government offices, civil society groups, and academic institutions—unlike traditional hackathons with open-ended concepts.
Innovations from Young Cebuanos
Labella highlighted the need for fresh ideas from young innovators and various sectors, noting that many promising innovations fail to progress due to limited support. He cited a previous city-led hackathon won by University of the Philippines students who created an application that displays the history of buildings in Cebu City using image-recognition technology. “I was so amazed because the students were the ones who did it. We have a lot of ideas and innovations, but sometimes there is a lack of support, so they are not developed,” he said.
Competition Tracks and Prizes
The competition features two categories: a Student Track and an Open Track for startups, freelancers, employed innovators, out-of-school youth, and independent creators. Each track has a separate prize pool of P100,000, with P50,000 for first place, P30,000 for second, and P20,000 for third. Labella confirmed that funding for the prizes was made possible through a resolution sponsored by his office and signed by Mayor Nestor Archival.
Adoption Pipeline and Future Impact
Solutions developed during the competition could eventually be adopted by the City Government if proven workable. “We spend millions on apps, applications and systems for the city. If it really fits, we can apply it, adapt it, and it can also be used by the private sector and our city,” Labella said. The competition is implemented by The Sandbox Foundation as part of Cebu Business Month 2026. Ryan Tan Yu, co-founder of The Sandbox Foundation, noted that the platform is designed to continue beyond the competition, allowing recommended solutions to guide efforts in addressing Cebu City's issues.
Submission Dates and Adoption Pipeline
Submissions are open until May 31, with finalists announced on June 8. The finals and demonstration day will be held on June 17 and 18 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino in Lahug. Winning teams will enter a 90-day adoption pipeline where organizers will facilitate possible pilot discussions with local government units, referrals to national agencies, and potential industry partnerships through the chamber’s network.
