DAVAO CITY – The regional and provincial offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here have continued with their efforts to reach out to more micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the barangays.
The DTI offices have been visiting various barangays in the cities and municipalities within their jurisdiction to provide assistance to MSMEs. Two of them are the Negosyo sa Barangay (NSB) and Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG).
The NSB is an initiative of the department to inform the barangay officials and their constituents of the available services in the Negosyo Centers (NCs). In Davao Region, each city and municipality has at least one NC. Likewise, the NSB also serves as a venue for the distribution of livelihood kits.
Meanwhile, the PPG is intended for the former rebels and those MSMEs affected by calamities, including flooding and fire.
As of September 18, this year, DTI-11 has already distributed a total of 504 livelihood kits, 379 under the NSB and 125 for PPG. Each of the NSB kits costs P5,000, while those under PPG are at a maximum of P10,000.
For the kits under the NSB program, 255 were sari-sari store packages, 15 were for the kakanin business, one for a water refilling station, 20 for laundry soap/detergent production, and 13 for handicraft making. On the other hand, the PPG livelihood kits included the 65 sari-sari store packages, 18 for food processing, 27 for bigasan or rice retail, two for a salon/beauty parlor business, 10 for e-loading, two for egg retailing, and one for water refilling.
During the conduct of NSB and PPG in the barangays, other events or activities are conducted as well, apart from the livelihood kits distribution. Among them are the different trainings and business consultations, which have benefitted a total of 5,258 participants.
DTI-11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said the agency is targeting to cover at least 100 barangays at the end of 2020. So far, they have already visited 90.
“With these two programs, we are able to bring government services, particularly those from DTI, closer to the people. We want them to feel that the government is one with them in their goal to improve their economic status. Likewise, if they need some advice on how to run their business, they can always reach us through our online platforms, such as our Facebook pages,” Ambi said.
Ambi added that the NSB and PPG have also been helpful in promoting consumer welfare. There are certain barangay visits that include seminars on the existing consumer laws, particularly on the rights and responsibilities of consumers. For concerns on DTI initiatives and interventions, the public may contact the Facebook page DTI Region 11 and the respective pages of the Field Offices and Negosyo Centers. ♦
Date of Release: 25 September 2020