Tabuk City, Kalinga – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE)–Go Negosyo, launched the “Mentor Me Program” on July 9 in this city.
The Mentor Me Program is one of the components of the Project KAPATID Program which aims to help the country’s micro and small enterprises (MSEs) through coaching and mentorship. The program also brings together experts and industry leaders who provide a series of free mentoring sessions on incorporating innovations in products, services, operation processes, business models, and other aspects of entrepreneurship for aspiring and current entrepreneurs.
According to DTI OIC-Assistant Regional Director and concurrent Provincial Director Grace Baluyan, the 24 mentees from the 400 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs who joined the free business seminar will undergo modules 3 to 10 and shall be coached by two PCE mentors.
The seminar was treated as the first two modules.
Baluyan also informed that the other participants shall be coached and mentored by local mentors depending on the industry/sector they are engaged in.
“One business counselor shall be assigned to more than one mentee to document the proceedings and assist participants during the session and participants are encouraged to ask questions that are relevant to their business operations,’’ Baluyan said.
When asked about the indicators that measure successful implementation, Baluyan mentioned favorable feedback gathered right after every activity is implemented, success of the 24 mentees, and sales, expansion or growth monitored after graduation.
In her presentation on the KAPATID Mentor Me Program, marketing expert Gianina Napo of PCE said that to become more competitive, micro entrepreneurs need skills, an entrepreneurial mindset, access to technology, access to finance, access to market and a good business environment.
“Coaching and mentoring has been recognized as a more strategic approach and business experts are better coaches or mentors considering their ability to provide factual responses or realistic recommendations to questions of our mentees,’’ Napo emphasized.
As part of the program, MSEs will be linked to the medium and large enterprises as the latter’s suppliers and distributors to enable them to engage in more sustainable and profitable business activities by providing capacity building as well as access to technology such as Shared Service Facilities (SSF) and financing.
Training, seminars, one-on-one mentoring, business matching and other capacity building activities that are all geared towards the successful integration of MSEs in thriving industry clusters will also be considered.
Clarke Nebrao, chairman and president, Association of Laguna Food Processors (ALAFOP), in his presentation on “Entrepreneurial Mind Setting and Value Formation, reminded the participants of the qualities of successful entrepreneurs such as initiative and determination, effective planning and strategy, trust and confidence and burning ambition.
‘’The MSEs must develop a good business sense by capacitating them through fundamentals of entrepreneurship,’’ former Philippine Marketing Association President and PCE mentor Henry Tenedero told the participants. ‘’Love your customers, be sensitive to change, and always offer good package and fair price,’’ he added.
The program also included sharing of success stories from local entrepreneurs and mentors Brienda Gup-ad of Shaquil Food Products, Regina Madio of Praj’s Pasalubong Center and General Merchandise and Camilo Degay of Magallaya Specialty Coffee.**By Darwin S. Serion/Tabuk City Information Office
