The provincial vetting in Caraga for the Tourism Start-up Challenge (TSC) 2025 was concluded on January 29, 2026 after the successful deliberation of entries from various higher education institutions (HEIs) across the five (5) provinces in the region.
TSC is a collaborative initiative between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), providing a platform for HEIs to present sustainable, innovative, and inclusive ideas that contribute to the development of the countryโs tourism sector.
The vetting process begins at the provincial level, where one (1) proposal shall be selected from the submissions made by the HEIs. Proposals selected at the provincial level shall advance to the regional vetting, with a chance to win a grant amounting to Php250,000.00.
The provincial vetting was facilitated by Dr. Frederick C. Amihan, Education Supervisor II of CHED Caraga, together with Mr. Artemio T. Menchavez, Jr., Tourism Operations Officer II of DOT Caraga. Evaluators include: 1) Ms. Roselyn Armida B. Merlin; 2) Mr. Ezequiel D. Nemeรฑo; 3) Dr. Mark Lennon A. Sitones; and 4) Dr. Stephinejane E. Musico.