PROMOTING STARTUPS. Cristina Ibañez, manager of Strategic and Collaborative Alliance for Leveraging Ecosystem in the National Capital Region (rightmost), and Romelen Tresvalles, regional director of the Department of Science and Technology-NCR (third from left), on Tuesday (Aug. 27, 2024) announce the launching of platforms to accelerate the growth of technology-based startups and business enterprises in Metro Manila. SCALE NCR aims to improve Metro Manila’s standing in the global startup ecosystem ranking, currently placed at 81st to 90th. (Photo by Pot Chavez)