LAGAWE, Ifugao – – More than 20 small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ifugao are certainly to benefit from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Ifugao office’s newly-introduced project aimed at ensuring entrepreneurial development.
To be more precise, 22 of them are beneficiaries of the Mentor Me Program Negosyo Seminar. Thus, the DTI-Ifugao office is mulling the conduct of another innovative training scheme for business owners in the grassroots level.
“The use of new trends in developing entrepreneurial skills of SMEs operators is expected to further promote sustainable development in the province,” DTI-Ifugao director Valentin Baguidudol said three weeks before the activity’s launching at the Lagawe Central School gymnasium.
“Though the Mentor Me Program Negosyo Seminar may elicit varying expectations of business owners, we still see positive results for the economy,” Baguidudol said.
Whether their expectations will end up fulfilled or half-fulfilled, many of the participants are just grateful for the chance to work with someone they respected and admired for so long in the person of the DTI-Ifugao office head. All told, Director Baguidudol comes from a background of seeking better conditions of entrepreneurs.
No matter what’s the result of the program at the end of the day, the DTI-Ifugao office is well known in the province as a highly-performing unit whose men and women are striving hard for the well-being of the people. Its tag as a “high achiever” speaks for itself.
To top it all off, business owners also lauded him for adhering to the good governance advocacy and policies of President Duterte.
The one-day capacity training seminar launching was also attended by representatives of the public and private sectors.
Foremost, Kiangan Councilor Gemma Dimog stressed the need for more government support for SMEs in a bid to strengthen business ventures in poor towns of Ifugao. She is the chair of the committee on agriculture, agrarian reform, food and cooperatives, trade and industry and tourism.
She said it was difficult to understand why many in the officialdom are not aware of the important role of SMEs and how essential is the infusion of additional assistance for them and thus promote growth.
Under the Mentor Me Program Negosyo Seminar, mentees are required to attend 11 weekly instructional sessions laden with lectures and coaching as well as mentoring activities.
Handouts are to be distributed during lecture sessions. While the coaching and mentoring sessions are designed to provide the mentees an opportunity to consult the mentors with their present situation and for them to consequently meet the challenges ahead.
The Go Negosyo Mentor Me program seeks to help micro and small entrepreneurs upgrade their businesses through the coaching and mentoring of business owners, practitioners and experts on various areas of entrepreneurship. It is a flagship program of Go Negosyo, in partnership with the DTI and Office of Senator Bam Aquino and other institutional partners such as Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI).
Others who took part in the activity were Abigail Bulayungan of Kenro Boutique and Victoria Crespillo of Payawan Country Club.
Local officials and leaders of non-government organizations (NGOs) were also in attendance.
DTI-Ifugao office’s Lorna Allaga likewise coordinated with the public and private sectors to ensure the program’s success.
While SMEs are considered as the backbone of the Philippine economy, their conditions are found generally wanting and despicable.
According to a 2016 World Bank “Ease of Doing Business” report, the Philippines ranked 103rd among 189 surveyed countries. This has reference to the manner of starting a business vis-à-vis completion of requirements and registration timeline.
Thus, the country’s SMEs operators’ experience are still troubling and exasperating, to say the least.
With 2019 polls quite just around the corner, the need for putting into office men and women whose hearts are burning with passion to promote and protect the rights and advance the interests of SMEs operators and owners arises.
Incoming lawmakers should provide necessary funds for SMEs expansion needs and requirements rather than pamper the whims and caprices of big corporation owners.
The conferral of tax exemption perks for startups has been long sought by SMEs owners. To attract investments in remote and marginalized villages, startups will be tax exempt and is widely viewed as a welcome development.
Operations of SMEs through the years have been underpinned by business owners’ strong conviction that a less burdensome environment for trade of goods and services is a necessary condition to generating new growth opportunities for aspiring, promising and hardworking entrepreneurs. **By Anthony A. Araos
