QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- A total of 184 micro-business owners in Caloocan City received cash cards amounting to P10,000 under the “Pangkabuhayan, Pagbangon, at Ginhawa” (PPG) livelihood seeding program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The City Economic and Investment Promotion Office (CEIPO) and the Community Relations Office (CRO) of Caloocan led the interview as well as the profiling process of potential beneficiaries last Jan. 23.
The grants were then awarded among the selected business owners from Jan. 30 to Jan. 31. Of which, 70 are residents of North Caloocan while the other 114 came from South Caloocan.
This entrepreneurship development program is geared towards giving financial assistance to micro-enterprise owners who have been affected by calamities or health disaster emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a report by the Manila Bulletin, CEIPO Officer-In-Charge Ms. Alma Bucalen identified that the eligible beneficiaries were either owners of small stalls, sari-sari stores, food carts, barbershops, computer shops or salons which were directly impacted by the pandemic crisis and fire incidents in the city.
“Sinikap po ng ating tanggapan na matulungan ang mga naapektuhan ng sunog o nahirapan sa kanilang pangkabuhayan dulot ng pandemya. Sa ilalim po ng direktiba ni Mayor Along at sa suporta ng DTI, aagapay po tayo sa pagbangon ng mga kababayan nating nasunugan o mayroong maliliit na negosyo (Our office tried to help those who were affected by the fire or had difficulties in their livelihood due to the pandemic. Under the directive of Mayor Along and with the support of the DTI, we will support the recovery of our people who were victims of fire or those who have small businesses),” Bucalen said.
Local chief executive Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan meanwhile recognized the city’s micro-enterprise owners for their hard work and industry to make ends meet despite facing a series of unprecedented challenges.
“Dito sa Caloocan, saludo po tayo sa mga mamamayan na may sariling diskarte at gumagawa ng paraan upang magkaroon ng pagkakakitaan. Hangad namin ang pag-asenso ng inyong buhay (Here in Caloocan, we salute the citizens who find innovative ways to earn a living. We are rooting for your success in life),” said Mayor Along Malapitan in a Facebook post.
During the recently concluded Philippine Development Plan 2023 - 2028 Forum last Jan. 30, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual gave an emphasis to the initiative of DTI in paving the way for the enterprise development of micro, small, and medium industries as part of its revitalization strategy.
“[Around] 99.9% of enterprises in the Philippines are micro, small and medium industries so we have a major thrust towards promoting the development of MSMEs,” Pascual said. (PIA-NCR)
