The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently distributed negosyo kits to motor boat owners from seven barangays in Moalboal, Cebu under the Pangkabuhayan sa pagBangon at Ginhawa (PBG) program.
A total of 41 motor boat owners, all members of the Boat Owners of Moalboal Island Hopping Association (BOMIHA) Inc. , are beneficiaries of Negosyo Kits worth Php10,000.00 each.
During the reopening ceremony of tourism sites in Moalboal, Marechel Mercado, president of BOMIHA, received a UV germicidal lamp from DTI official Asteria Caberte as symbolic gesture of acceptance of the starter kits by qualified members of the association.
Mercado expressed appreciation for DTI’ s quick response to their plea for assistance and is grateful to the department for providing the necessary items they requested.
In the last 5 months, the source of livelihood of many motor boat owners in Moalboal was stopped due to the Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, Mercado narrated. She revealed that this caused them as well as their boat crew much distress and hardship.
With the opening of Cebu tourism sites and with the Negosyo Kits given by DTI, livelihoods in the municipality are being gradually restored, she said.
Mercado believes that the department’s move of providing Starter Kits to MSMEs in Moalboal is a significant contribution to the municipality’s major source of livelihood — tourist island hopping services.
She said that these kits will aid them in the maintenance of their boats and prepare them to meet tourism health and safety protocols under the New Normal.
In her speech, DTI Assistant Secretary Asteria Caberte credited Senator Christopher “Bong” Go for his contribution to the PBG program and its now expanded scope of assisting microentrepreneurs severely affected by the covid-19 pandemic.
The Pangkabuhayan sa pagBangon at Ginhawa (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.
A simple reopening ceremony for tourism sites was held in Moalboal Park, together with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Moalboal Mayor Paz Rozgoni, DTI Asec. Asteria Caberte, DOT7 Dir. Shalimar Tamano, members of BOMIHA, among others. ♦
Date of Release: 5 August 2020