Cebu City - The landscape of regional innovation reached a new milestone as the Department of Science and Technology Region VII (DOST-7) officially launched the Central Visayas Innovation Hub on March 4, 2026.

Located at the DOST-7 Science and Technology Complex in Lahug, the facility is set to become the center for digital transformation in the region.

Key to the long-term success of the initiative is CVISNET Foundation, Inc., through its Executive Director Mr. Jeffrey "Beam" Llanto, who has pledged its commitment to sharing the organization’s technical expertise in ensuring the hub translates into tangible community impact. Mr. Llanto, in his message, shared the core projects of the organization in partnership with DOST-7, which are vital in the newly launched Innovation Hub:

• Private Resource Information and Virtual AI Training (PRIVaiT) - a fully local AI system designed to run on an offline server without requiring internet connectivity. It enables organizations, schools, or communities to deploy their own private Large Language Model (LLM) infrastructure, ensuring complete control over data, privacy, and AI behavior.
• Bridging Youth through Technology Empowerment (BYTE) - addresses the critical need for digital skills within our youth population, with a particular focus on Out-of-School Youth (OSY).
• Barangay e-System and Tools (BeST) - is an internet-based e-governance solution that promotes public service transparency and provides a systematic approach to managing residents profile, form generation, disaster risk reduction and management, and other essential information systems.
• Disaster Information System for Communities (DISC) - powered by BeST, it is designed to significantly enhance disaster preparedness, streamline response coordination, and optimize recovery efforts.
• Internet for Sustainable Livelihood, e-Education, & Tourism (ISLET Connect) – aims to address the digital disparity in remote island and mountainous communities across the Philippines, particularly in Central Visayas, by providing immediate and stable broadband internet connections.

The ceremony was led by DOST - Regional Operations Undersecretary Sancho A. Mabborang; DOST 7 Regional Director Dr. Tristan L. Abando; DOST Cebu PSTO Dir. Bryan Ybañez; and PCCI Central Visayas Area Vice President & Director for MSMEs and RDC 7 Chairperson Ms. Melanie Ng.

The initiative received strong backing from the private sector, including Rameses Systems Inc., ClouDesk (Australia), and Wisflux Tech Labs (India).

By integrating the technical capacity of CVISNET with DOST’s scientific framework, Central Visayas is positioned to become a premier destination for Smart industry startups in the Philippines.