BUSINESS MENTORING PROGRAM. Photo shows the owners of micro, small and medium enterprises in Aurora province who are presently undergo business training through the "Kapatid Mentor Me" (KMME) program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). They comprise the third batch since the KMME was launched in the province in July 2017. (Photo by Jason de Asis)
BALER, Aurora — Owners of at least 20 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province are now undergoing training through the "Kapatid Mentor Me" (KMME) program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Pacita P. Bandilla, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist, said on Monday the participants comprise the third batch of trainees since the KMME was launched in the province in July 2017.
Bandilla said the MSME owners will attend up to 12 sessions of free mentoring.
The sessions include training on the mindset and values of a successful entrepreneur, product development, marketing, operations management, accounting, taxation, finance, obligations and contracts, human resource management, supply and value chain, succession planning, and business plan development.
“Our objective is to develop MSMEs in Aurora who are now in line with their respective business in food processing, souvenir items and among others,” Bandilla said.
She said the first and second batches or a total of 40 MSMEs that finished the said program are still being monitored and assisted by the DTI.
Bandilla said the DTI’s assistance continues even after the participants’ graduation to help them become successful entrepreneurs.
“The move is to make them productive players in the development of this province, to innovate and to be output oriented,” she said.
Prior to graduation, each of the participants will present their Business Improvement Plans (BIP) before a set of panelists consisting of four members per group.
Each set consists of a representative from the business sector, banking sector, accredited mentor and DTI official who will assess the participants’ businesses as well as the learnings that they acquired in their participation in the different modules.
The graduation of the participants is scheduled on Sept. 13, this year.
“The assessment and monitoring of the participants, on the other hand, will be in October to December,” she added.
The DTI, in partnership with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE), initiated the KMME program to help the country’s MSMEs scale up their enterprises, spur economic activity, generate employment opportunities, and mainstream OTOP (One Town, One Product) entrepreneurs who are ready for business expansion. (PNA)
