LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched on Wednesday here its mentoring program to help small businesses prosper and provide jobs to Filipinos.
Lino Cungihan, of the DTI-Benguet Negosyo Center and Business Development office, said the launching in Benguet is part of the government’s initiative to help entrepreneurs further develop an already existing enterprise as well as those who want to start a business.
The launching included lectures on entrepreneurial mind setting and values formation, marketing and opportunities, among others, for participants who have yet to start a livelihood activity.
“We want to try to solidify their decision to go into business,” he said. “It is all learning.”
Following the launching, some 25 participants, who were pre-selected based on certain criteria, will have to undergo a weekly training.
Succeeding batches will join the next schedule of mentoring and training activities.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Benguet, Cungihan said, shows an increasing trend with around 18,000 business registrants in 2016.
"There is an increasing trend of businesses in all municipalities,” he said.
He said MSMes in Benguet recorded an average increase of 12 percent in the past five years in Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay, or the BLISTT municipalities. Non-BLISTT areas, on the other hand, recorded a nine percent increase.
Most businesses opened were convenience stores and trading activities.
Manufacturing and food processing have also picked up but having some difficulty in obtaining permits from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).
Cungihan told participants to know what they like, their resources, skills and current assets before venturing into business.
He also encouraged small-scale businessmen to study the experience of “Good Shepherd” that produces high quality and famous food products.
“Establish standards, be very strict, follow it by all means and you will earn year round,” he said.
The Mentor Me program is DTI’s initiative to aid MSMEs which has largely contributed in stimulating the local economy. (PNA)
