The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) CALABARZON recently distributed P440,000 worth of starter kits to 55 Medium, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the province thru its Livelihood Seedling Program-Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB).
Benjamin Chavez
DTI-Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary Dominic Tolentino, Jr. and DTI IV-A Director Marilou Q. Toledo led the distribution of the starter kits to the MSMEs beneficiaries in two separate occasions in the municipalities of Amadeo, July 29 with 20 beneficiaries, and Magallanes, Aug 3 with 35 beneficiaries.
Starter kits for sari-sari store, carinderia, food manufacturing, salon and barbershop, laundry, baking, tailoring and printing supplies were handed over to the MSMEs beneficiaries.
In her message, Director Toledo emphasized her hopes for the success of the LSP-NSB program, underscoring its positive effect in the barangay-level economy.
"Ang layunin ng DTI, sa pamamgitan ng LSP-NSB, ay makapag-umpisa sa community ng maliliit na negosyo. At mula sa maliliit na negosyo na ito, doon mag-uumpisa ang entrepreneurial journey ng ating mga ka-barangay," Toledo said.
She added, "Let us help ourselves, so we can help our economy to move foreard. Magtulong-tulong po tayo at huwag nating hayaang maging hadlang ang pandemic sa ating kabuhayan."
Asec. Tolentino delivered an inspirational message highlighting the importance of business opportunities granted by the government in this time of pandemic.
"During COVID-19, ang ating mga kababayan ay binibigyan pa rin ng pagkakataon upang magkaroon ng kabuhayan at mapalakas pa ang mga tinatawag nating micro, small, and medium enterprises," Asec. Tolentino said.
In Amadeo, External Affairs Administrator Victor Dihan, representing Mayor Redel John Dionisio welcomed the DTI Team and acknowledged Dir. Toledo's service to the Caviteno's for a significant amount of time.
Dihan also acknowledged Maynard Maynard Ambion of the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), Lynette BAyot of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and the Barangay Captains of Minantok Kanluran, Minantok Silangan, Maymangga, and Bucal for their cooperation in the execution of the project.
Magallanes Mayor Jasmin Angelli Maligaya-Bautista expressed gratitude to DTI for providing livelihood assistance to their community.
"The unwavering support of DTI to Magallanes is very much appreciated. We hope that our beneficiaries will make use of the starter kits well and eventually grow their businesses," Mayor Bautista said.
DTI developed the LSP-NSB in accordance with the directive of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to help the country's base of the pyramid and to support a grassroots approach for enterprise development, increase the awareness of barangay officials on the different services offered by the Department through the Negosyo Centers, and conduct business development assistance and services in barangays.
MSME beneficiaries of the program may include sole proprietors, cooperatives, or sectoral associations that are located in identified barangays.
It includes those in Local Communist Armed Conflict (LCAC) affected areas, vulnerable communities like the indigenous people, refugees, and stateless persons with priority assistance given to small businesses affected by natural and human-induced calamities including health crisis arising from epidemics and pandemics.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the LSP-NSB program targets to benefit 27 barangays in the 4th and 5th class municipalities in Cavite this year.