PANABO CITY, Davao del Norte — Dr. Rogelio Bayod was featured as the first technical speaker at the COMEPP Mindanao Conference held at ACES Polytechnic College.

Delivering a compelling lecture titled “From Local Innovation to Global Markets: Strategic Management Practices that Enable Mindanao to Compete in the Global Economy,” Dr. Bayod challenged participants to rethink the region’s identity and potential. His talk emphasized that Mindanao is not merely a land marked by narratives of conflict, but a dynamic intellectual and economic force capable of shaping national and global markets. Drawing from strategic management principles and grounded regional experience, he highlighted how local innovation, research-driven leadership, and values-based enterprise can transform Mindanao into a competitive global player. He underscored the island’s strength as the country’s food basket and called for stronger collaboration among academic institutions, industries, and communities to cultivate what he described as Mindanao’s “climate of intellectual space.” Participants from across the region expressed renewed pride and confidence in Mindanao’s capacities for intelligence, wisdom, and innovation. Dr. Bayod’s message resonated deeply: the dominant narrative must shift—from Mindanao as a periphery of instability to Mindanao as a center of excellence and economic vitality. Following his keynote address, Dr. Bayod also served as one of the judges in the research presentation sessions, offering critical insights to emerging scholars and researchers. In a significant development during the conference, he was elected as Vice President for COMEPP Mindanao, further strengthening North Valley College Foundation, Inc.’s presence in the professional organization and affirming its growing leadership in research and academic excellence in the region. With his appointment and continued advocacy, Dr. Bayod stands at the forefront of advancing Mindanao’s voice—not only as an academic leader, but as a champion of regional transformation and global competitiveness.