The Department of Trade and Industry together with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship- Go Negosyo will be launching the second batch of the Kapatid Mentor ME program (KMME) starting next month.

“The Kapatid Mentor Me Project aims to promote the inclusive business model in the country where successful entrepreneurs will guide, mentor and capacitate fellow entrepreneurs,” said DTI- 12 Regional Director Ibrahim Guiamadel.

There will be a simultaneous launching for the second quarter of this year. April 10 for Sarangani province, April 11 for General Santos City, and April 17 for North Cotabato and Cotabato City. In addition to that, South Cotabato will launch it’s KMMe on June 7, and Sultan Kudarat on July 13.

This entrepreneurship course will discuss various business topics such as the Entrepreneurial Mindset and Values Formation, Marketing, Financial Management, Product Development and Innovation, Business Law, Taxation, Human Resource and Organization Management, and Operations Management. Business owners will be taught and mentored by renowned business experts and successful businessmen.

For the pioneer batch, mentees came from different municipalities and cities specifically Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, South Cotabato and General Santos City.

Of the 20 business owners who benefitted from the said program, 15 entrepreneurs finished the prescribed modules and graduated from KMME. The said mentees were local businesses or associations in the region. Sarangani-based mentees are PEKWASS Association (Alabel), Winds of Lomuyon (Kiamba), Sarangani Seaweeds Producers Coop (Alabel), Creasions Handicraft (Malapatan), and Casa Dolores (Malapatan). Meanwhile, representing South Cotabato were Lola Aling’s (Tupi), Scoops Garden Ice Cream (Surallah), Marche Herbal Food Products (Sto. Nino), and Eden’s Flowers (Tupi). For General Santos City, the beneficiaries were GPGC Trading (Apopong), Sugian Food Products (Agan Homes), PWD Gensan MPC ( Fatima), RJH Food Products (Katanggawan), Daily Grace Enterprise (Sarangani Homes), and RSA Fishermen (Calumpang).

Through capacity-building trainings and coaching sessions, MSMEs were able to gain the business know-how and entrepreneurial mindset needed to scale up their enterprises. They were provided weekly coaching, lectures and one-on-one mentoring which capacitated them in the different aspects of running a business. Further, they participated in lectures wherein they shared their experiences, challenges, lessons, and achievements.

“Through this program, we hope to see more of our local entrepreneurs graduate into higher levels of business operations, increase their productivity, and widen their market reach. In return, there will be more economic activities, create more jobs, and contribute to an improved standard of living for the people of SOCCKSARGEN,” DTI- 12 Regional Director Guiamadel added.