BANGUED, Abra(PIA) -- A total of 42 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the province  recently  received with livelihood packages under the Pangkabuhayan Para sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The awarding program held at DTI-Abra Provincial Office was attended and witnessed by  partner-agencies such as Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Local Government Units (LGUs)

Each beneficiary got  P8,000 worth of starter kits in accordance with their existing business venture. These Pangkabuhayan packages include grocery items for sari-sari store owners, feeds for piggery owners, motorcycle parts for moto-repair shops and others.

The beneficiaries are from the municipality of Lagangilang, Peñarrubia, Tayum, Pidigan and Sallapadan.

DTI-Abra Senior Trade and Industry Specialist Rodel Bolante urged the beneficiaries to multiply this given capital for them to upscale their business in the coming years.

“This livelihood starter package given to you is an opportunity to upgrade your business so that you can become self-sustaining for the following years,” he said.  

Before the livelihood packages were released, the beneficiaries underwent a seminar on entrepreneurial development which basically instills business mindsetting and wise financial management. They also attneded  series of workshops where  they  were taught  the  essential foundations to sustain their enterprise.

The livelihood packages also serve  as   additional receovery aid for businesses affected by recent calamities such as the  Magnitude 7 earthquake tht hit  the province and the COVID19 pandemic.

Sari-Sari store owner Zenaida Capino expressed gratitude  for the government assistance. She is  63 years old and currently managing her small store in Barangay Nagtupacan, Lagangilang.

“Way back 2021, naaksidente ako noong bumili ng mga paninda ko dito sa Bangued, three  months akong na-hospital due to fractured ankle so natigil ang aking negosyo. Malaking tulong ang grocery items na ito galing DTI para tuloy pa rin ang pag-ahon ng aking negosyo,” she said.

The PPG is a livelihood seeding and entrepreneurship development program of DTI which aims to assist individuals and families affected by incidents and calamities. (JDP/CAGT – PIA CAR, Abra)