ALAMINOS, LAGUNA — The Negosyo Centers are appreciated for assisting both current and prospective business owners. Their main offerings include business registration, business consulting, and business advocacy and information. Through Negosyo Centers, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also collaborates with other non-governmental organizations, local government units, academic institutions, and other relevant agencies to expand the programs and services, improve the ease of doing business, and support the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The Small and Medium Enterprises Roving Academy (SMERA) is one of the DTI’s ongoing education initiatives created to help MSMEs grow. This program aids MSMEs in learning how to improve their competitiveness in both domestic and foreign markets.
The Laguna Provincial Office of DTI in collaboration with the Card MRI Development Institute Inc. (CMDI) conducted a SMERA on DTI Programs and Services cum Consumer Education on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Training Center of CMDI located in Barangay Tranca, Bay, Laguna. This session was a component of a 2-day livelihood training program offered by CMDI to its microfinance clients and members in Region IVA CALABARZON who had both potential and established enterprises.
In order to discuss the DTI programs and services as well as consumer education, Mr. Vencer Vladimir A. Hurtada, the Negosyo Center Business Counselor of Negosyo Center Alaminos, Laguna, and the resource speaker for this seminar, first discussed the DTI vision, mission, and mandate. He also spoke about the different MSME development programs, including how to enroll in Kapatid Mentor ME and how to apply for a business name and BMBE registration in Negosyo Centers. He also spoke about One Town, One Product Program for MSMEs, which focuses on product development, design, standards compliance, marketability, production capability, and brand development. He also expounded that trade shows, e-commerce, and key industrial clusters are examples of market development. He also provided information on the Comprehensive Agricultural Reform Program, the Shared Service Facility, and Building Entrepreneurship via Advising and Mentoring Services.
In line with this, Hurtada also discussed and imparted knowledge and information about consumer education by elaborately discussing the rights and responsibilities of consumers, and he ended the discussion by providing the participants with a list of government agencies and their respective jurisdictions connected to business matters.
A total of forty-four (44) potential and current MSMEs from various CALABARZON cities/municipalities attended the seminar, which was well-received and oriented. The learning exercise received positive feedback from the participants as well. One observation made throughout the presentation was very insightful and practical. ♦
Date of Release: 28 March 2023
