DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Nov. 8 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade of Industry (DTI) has entered a partnership with the Dumaguete Market Vendors Association for the promotion of ethical business practices and other business development interventions for market enterprisers.

The partnership was formalized with a signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the DTI represented by Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio and the Dumaguete Market Vendors Association represented by its overall president, Engr. Rogelio Macion, on Oct. 29 at Building 2 Multi-Purpose Hall of the public market.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Negros Oriental Provincial Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Sarah Perocho and DTI Negros Oriental Consumer Welfare Division Chief Bebelyn Borongan witnessed the MOA signing. 

Under this partnership, DTI will capacitate market vendors on how to handle redress or complaints from the consumers at their level. 

Market vendors will also have access to DTI’s loan facilities and other programs that they can utilize for business development.

“First time namo ni nakig-partner ug market vendors. Gapasabot ra man ning MOA signing na mag-partner ta sa pag-edukar sa mga konsyumer sa ila katungod ug sa ilahang katungdanan (This is the first time we are partnering with the market vendors in educating the consumers on their rights),” Virtucio said.

She added that they will also do a profiling of the market vendors to serve as basis for assistance from DTI for vendors affected by COVID-19 that will be rolled out next year. 

The assistance will be in the form of goods that the vendors can sell in their business. 

Virtucio also introduced to them DTI’s "Pondo Para sa Pagbabago at Pag-Asenso" (P3) loan facility for micro enterprisers.

She said micro enterprisers can borrow between P20,000 to P200,000 with zero interest and has a grace period of six months to one year for payment.

On the other hand, Macion said market vendors were able to avail of other loan programs from DTI before and he looks forward to the benefits that this partnership will bring to market vendors in the future.

The Dumaguete Market Vendors Asssociation is comprised of sub-associations like the meat vendors’ association, fish vendors' association, dry goods vendors' association in every building of the public market, painitan operators, carinderia owners, and flower vendors' association.  (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)