CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--Fifty-nine micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) officially graduated, June 9, 2022 from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-10’s first multi-sectoral batch of its Kapatid Mentor ME-Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) program.

The program is an initiative of DTI and Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE). It optimizes weekly face-to-face interactions between the mentors and the mentees with the key goal of boosting the entrepreneurial capacity through improved access to Mentorship, Money & Market (i.e., the 3Ms).

Entrepreneurs from the youth, online, women, tourism, and other sectors in Northern Mindanao were preselected to join the free 10-module program conducted virtually for 12 weeks.  

In his message for the graduates, DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez assured the public of DTI’s commitment to help the entrepreneurs.  

“Despite the new normal the Department of Trade and Industry remains committed in implementing the KMME program to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs to improve sa inyong mga business models, to improve access and mentorship sa money or micro financing, pati rin sa access to market.” Secretary Lopez said.  

“While having passion to do business is good, it is not enough without training. That is why dito po sa DTI, and even ine-emphasize po ng ating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte, gusto po naming lahat na mabigyan, lahat po kayo na gustong pumasok ng negosyo, to have a proper entrepreneurial knowledge, mindset, and training.”

“DTI is always with you every step of your entrepreneurial journey.”  

DTI-10 Regional Director Ermedio J. Abang applauded the graduates for completing the modules and passing their business improvement plans (BIPs) during his welcome address.

“We continue to look forward to what the KMME-MME online program can do to our MSMEs especially in navigating the reformed business operations in these extraordinary times,” Abang said.  

“We hope to continue capacitating our MSMEs and help them make better decisions for their businesses.”  

Another batch of the KMME-MME Online Program for the youth sector is set to be launched, July 2022. (DTI-10/PIA-10)