ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug 24 (PIA) –The Department of Trade and Industry 9 (DTI-9) continuously assists more Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Zamboanga Peninsula through the Kapatid Mentor Micro-Enterprise (Kapatid Mentor ME) program.
DTI-9 emphasized the importance of MSMEs in the economy as 99.5% establishments in the country belong to the MSMEs that contribute to the economy.
The Kapatid Mentor ME is a program with collaboration of Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship for Entrepreneurship-Go Negosyo where in 10-module mentorship program maximizes weekly in-person meetings between mentors and mentees with its main objective to increase the entrepreneurial capacity of participants by facilitating increased access to mentorship, money, and market.
DTI-9 successfully launched the 2022 Kapatid Mentor ME-Money Market Encounter Online for Batch 2 last July 18, 2022 via Zoom. The virtual launching was held with an orientation for the newly identified 48 mentees around ZamPen.
“MSMEs also provide work to the unemployed in local provinces and cities,” DTI Zamboanga Provincial Director Grace DC. Aduca said.
During the pandemic, MSMEs is one of the affected sectors, however, DTI-9 continuously provided trainings through online instead of the regular on-site conduct of trainings in order to assist the entrepreneurs.
Further, DTI-9 also introduced the shift to online platforms and deliveries to the MSMEs to avoid the disruption of their businesses and will continue their services despite the pandemic. One of the programs of the DTI is to assist the businesses for additional capital needs through linking them to small business corporations who provide loans to MSMEs with minimal or zero interest.
The DTI-9 advises business owners to remain flexible and adopt current trends, especially as internet selling has become increasingly popular due to consumers' limited mobility.
“They need to have a business plan to have guide and business continuity plan to know what to do when emergency arise,” Dir. Aduca added.
As the economy is slowly adapting to the new normal, DTI commits to continuously support the local businesses and also reminds the consumers to be aware of their rights especially in purchasing online, and immediately report concerns in their office. (RVC/MLE/OOJ/PIA9-Zamboanga City)
