Micro entrepreneurs to benefit from joint DTI, PandG program

COTABATO CITY -- Some 20,000 to 30,000 micro
entrepreneurs nationwide stand to benefit from an agreement between the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Procter and Gamble (PandampG) aimed
at helping them

develop their business skills, and gain
access to start-up capital.

The agreement dubbed PandampG Angat Kita
Program is designed to help sari-sari storeowners and other
micro-entrepreneurs advance their skills through seminars provided by the DTI’s
Negosyo Centers.

It will also provide micro entrepreneurs
access to start-up capital in the form of goods or products and network linkage
they need to help grow, maintain businesses and lift their current status.

This agreement is a huge lift for our
micro entrepreneurs especially that we are targeting those who are at the
bottom of the pyramid. We are a step closer to achieving the trabaho at negosyo
agenda of the administration, DTI-Regional Operations Group Supervising
Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said.

Under the agreement, PandampG will
provide a P2,500 worth of start-up package for 1,000 initial participants of
the program after they have successfully finished a basic merchandising seminar
in DTI’s Negosyo Centers.

There are 448 Negosyo Centers operating
natuonwide since its inception in 2014 in line with. Republic Act No. 10644 or
the Go Negosyo Act. Negosyo Centers are meant to help MSMEs in providing access
to information, business name registration, access to finance, access to market
and access to training.

DTI and PandampG target to cover 20,000
to 30,000 micro entrepreneurs nationwide, after the initial launching in Metro
Manila.

This is a welcome agreement for us.
After the launching of the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso or P3, we hope that
more industry partners link up with DTI to come up with Business Models especially for budding micro-entrepreneurs, Maglaya added.