• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod city government, through the Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions (D-LEDIP), will launch G-Hive, its flagship economic transformation initiative, at the Mansilingan Activity Center this afternoon, June 29.
G-Hive is the city’s catalyst for economic transformation and creative professionalization, the D-LEDIP, headed by city investment officer Frances Mae Llamas, said in a briefer.
“Whether you’re a founder, entrepreneur, artist, or artisan, G-Hive offers the infrastructure and networks to take your ideas to the global stage,” it added. “We provide a progressive ecosystem designed to transition our local economy into a high-value creative and technological nucleus.”
“G-Hive is Bacolod’s definitive bridge to the future. We have always known that the City of Smiles is rich in talent and raw creativity; what our people needed was a catalyst to turn that potential into global opportunities,” Llamas told the Negros NOW Daily last night.
G-Hive has four main facilities, or specialized labs designed to power up productivity.
These include The Foundry, or the Innovation, Research, and Development Lab, which transforms academic projects and entrepreneurial ideas into market-ready products and commercial Intellectual Property (IP), the D-LEDIP said.
“By offering spaces and mentorship, we empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to develop and commercialize solutions, preventing brilliant innovations from remaining shelved,” it added.
The Studio, or Creative Hub, is for animators, designers, and multimedia artists, providing them with professional-grade hardware and software to strengthen their skills and bring visual content to life.
The Academy, or training center, is a specialized area for MSMEs and the Bacolod workforce that can accommodate up to 60 persons, and ideal for digital transformation seminars and hands-on workshops.
The Gallery, on the other hand, is an exhibition space designed to showcase the high-value products of assisted MSMEs, artworks, and creative innovations.
“By combining modern technology, targeted learning, and government support under one roof, we are professionalizing our creative sector and giving our local MSMEs the tools to scale,” Llamas stressed.
“This is more than just a hub—it is an engine for inclusive economic transformation, ensuring that as the digital economy advances, Bacolod raises the bar of digital services and creativity!” she added. | CGC
