Hundreds of small entrepreneurs flocked to Go Negosyo’s free MSME mentoring roadshow 3M on Wheels as it held its second mall event at the SM Grand Central in Caloocan City. The event attracted entrepreneurs from all over CAMANAVA, the hub of MSMEs in the northeast of the National Capital Region.
“We were welcomed with so much enthusiasm by the MSMEs of CAMANAVA,” remarked Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion. “It is clear that there is a vibrant local economy here, fueled by its enterprising small businessmen and given support by the local business organizations and the LGUs,” he said.
The cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela, collectively known as CAMANAVA, have a thriving micro, small, and medium enterprises sector, contributing significantly to the local economy. The MSME sector in these cities offers a range of products and services, including food and beverage, clothing and textiles, retail, and manufacturing.
Concepcion noted that despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the MSME sector in these cities has remained resilient. Many businesses have pivoted to online platforms to continue serving their customers. The local government units covering the cities have provided financial support and assistance to help MSMEs weather the crisis, while local business organizations such as the Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela Chambers of Commerce and Industry cooperated to ease the effects of the pandemic.
The MSMEs in CAMANAVA play a crucial role in the local economy, providing employment and livelihood opportunities to many residents.
During the 3M on Wheels free entrepreneurship mentoring event, Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, herself a member of the Sandoval family which helped establish Malabon as a thriving hub for seafood, volunteered to mentor. Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian and Navotas City Mayor John Ray Tiangco, meanwhile, delivered words of encouragement to the participants. Former Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar also volunteered to mentor several entrepreneurs.
The Regional Governor of Philippine Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – North Sector, Higinio “Gene” Sy led the local business organizations in rallying behind the MSMEs of CAMANAVA. Joining him during the event were Oliver Uy from PCCI-Caloocan; Benjamin Chua of the Malabon Chamber Of Commerce and Industry; and Elsie Chua and Yolly Dela Cruz ofPCCI-Valenzuela.
And to encourage the MSMEs to try online channels to promote their businesses, Jaja Bolos gave a talk about about her experiences in online business and online selling. Ms. Bolos the owner of Jhajhing fashion accessories, and is a content creator with more than 180,000 followers on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. A total of Php250,000 in pandagdag-puhunan was given away to lucky attendees.
3M On Wheels promotes the three M’s for successful entrepreneurship, namely Mentorship, Money, and Market. All three form the foundation of Go Negosyo’s mission to promote entrepreneurship among Filipinos. 3M on Wheels’ predecessor, Mentor ME On Wheels, was started in 2018 and was inspired by the growing number of Filipinos turning to entrepreneurship. The initiative filled the learning gap in the entrepreneurial journey, and turned mentorship into a solution that addressed the capacity-building need of a Filipino entrepreneur.
3M on Wheels is a program of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (Go Negosyo). In addition to free one-on-one coaching for active and aspiring entrepreneurs, financing and market solutions are also made available to them during the monthly, mall-based events.
3M on Wheels is expected to roll out to more urban areas across the Philippines this year.