ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Region 9 and the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship-Go Negosyo (PCE-GN) successfully launched the 2021 Kapatid Mentor Micro-Enterprise-Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) Online on Wednesday, 7 April 2021 via Zoom.
The virtual launching was held with an orientation for the newly identified 49 mentees who will be undergoing the 10-module virtual training from April to June 2021. It was virtually graced by the DTI-Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Blesila A. Lantayona, PCE-GN Senior Adviser, Engr. Merly Cruz, who was represented by Mr. Pocholo Soliven, DTI Provincial Directors-PD Grace DC. Aduca of Zamboanga City, PD Marlon A. Alabata of Zamboanga Sibugay, PD Flora G. Miraflor of Zamboanga del Sur and PD Maridel D. Dengal of Zamboanga del Norte.
In his opening remarks, Dir. Ceferino J. Rubio of DTI-Region 9 who was represented by Assistant RD Al-Zamir I. Lipae acknowledged the efforts exerted by the PCE-GN who was responsible for the accreditation of the mentors across the country.
“Our sincere appreciation also to our partner in this entrepreneurial revolution, the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship-Go Negosyo. The PCE-GN management along with their accredited mentors has been very instrumental in capacitating our micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the KMME as early as 2016 when we in DTI-Region 9 started it here in Zamboanga City.” Lipae said. Similar appreciation was made to the management of DTI-ROG for the continuous support to the regional and provincial offices who are directly responsible for implementing the program.
Usec. Lantayona in her welcome statement challenged the mentees to commit themselves to the completion of the 10-module program. The program will expose them to various business concepts and develop the acumen needed in scaling up and sustaining the enterprise. Mr. Pocholo Soliven, a PCE Mentor who also represented Engr. Merly Cruz, Senior Adviser of the PCE-GN, presented the salient features of the program.
The mentees are MSMEs from the various provinces and city in the region: Zamboanga del Norte -12, Zamboanga del Sur-12, Zamboanga Sibugay-12, and Zamboanga City-12. The classification of mentees by industry is as follows: Accommodation and Food Service-16, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing-6, Food and Beverage Services-1, Human Health and Social Work-1, Manufacturing-20, Processing and Trading-1, Mobile CoffeeBar-1 and other service activities-1.
The 10-week virtual training covers modules on Entrepreneurial Mind-setting and Values Formation, Marketing, Business Model Canvas, Operations Management, Digitalization, Supply and Value Chain, Entrepreneurial Accounting and Financial Management, Human Resource and Organizational Management, Product Development, Expansion and Internationalization, and Good Governance. This makes KMME-MME Online the integration of the MME and the regular KMME Program. This will be achieved after the completion of all the modules through the presentation of mentees’ individual Business Improvement Plan (BIP) to an expanded panel of evaluators composed of representatives from banks, online market platforms, and other business support organizations. Financial assistance can also be availed either through Small Business Corporation or its accredited conduit financial/lending institutions for the improvement of their enterprises.
The program launch and orientation was capped with a breakout session for the election of the mentees’ virtual team leader and note-taker for the 10-week virtual training.♦
(L-R) Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona of the DTI Regional Operations Group (ROG), Mr. Pocholo Soliven of the PCE-GN, and RD Ceferino J. Rubio represented by Engr. Al-Zamir I. Lipae of DTI-Region 9 during the KMME MME Program Launch Orientation which was attended by the 48 mentees from the provinces/city of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga City.
Date of Release: 14 May 2021