The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Cebu Provincial Office recently turned over ‘Negosyo’ Kits worth Php10,000.00 each to forty-four (44) fire-affected micro-entrepreneurs and their families from 2 barangays in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu.

Through the DTI’s Pangkabuhayan sa pagBangon at Ginhawa (PBG) Program, 38 micro-entrepreneurs from Barangay Gun-ob and 6 micro-entrepreneurs from Barangay Mactan received the Negosyo Kits in coupon form, which enabled them to choose/avail of various merchandise items/sari-sari goods to restore or improve their business.

The PBG Program is a livelihood seeding and entrepreneurship development program which aims to assist individuals and families affected by fire incidents and other calamities, including health disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic, and those who will avail of the Balik Probinsya Program to recover and/or start their business.

Beneficiary Ginalyn Jimenez, mother of two, from Barangay Mactan, Lapu-lapu City, recounted that her sari-sari store was totally damaged in the fire, and expressed her gratitude for the assistance. She said it is really a big help for fire victims to be able to rise up again and continue with their livelihood.

DTI-Cebu OIC Provincial Director Rose Mae Quiñanola led the turnover ceremony at the Gaisano Grand Mall Mactan, which was aided by the Gaisano mall’s management team, and witnessed by officials of Barangays Gun-ob and Mactan.

This Php10,000 coupon for the PBG Negosyo Kit may be redeemed for groceries, kitchenware, clothing and textile items in Gaisano Grand Mall in Mactan, which the beneficiaries will then use in their enterprise.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who pushed for the provision of such Livelihood Assistance package for victims of fire and other calamities, delivered a message of solidarity and hope through a video call for the beneficiaries. Apart from the DTI-PBG Negosyo Kits, all 44 beneficiaries received food packs and facemasks from the office of Senator Go.

Cooperators of this activity are the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go-Cebu, officials of the Local Government Unit of Lapu-lapu City and the affected Barangays, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Region 7, and Gaisano Grand Mall Mactan. ♦

Date of Release: 10 August 2020