Koronadal City, South Cotabato – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) South Cotabato stated that their office has successfully implemented its programs and projects in the year 2020, and that they desire to carry on with these activities in 2021.
In a speech during the Distribution of Cash and Food Subsidy for Marginal Farmers and Fisherfolks on January 28, 2021, at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center, City of Koronadal, Industry Development Specialist Ms. Ria Hallarsis said that the DTI has a total budget of two hundred million pesos (Php200 Million).
“In terms of the implementation of the programs and projects of the national government, meron tayong tinatawag na Livelihood Seeding Program through the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay, which we call as our NSB Program. Ito po ay programa kung saan tayo po ay lumalapit sa tao. Ginagawa po ito ng DTI through our Negosyo Center,” she stated.
“Para po sa kaalaman ng lahat, we have already established Negosyo Centers nationwide, lahat po ng munisipyo ng South Cotabato ay meron na pong Negosyo Center. Doon po pwede kayong lumapit, ginawa natin ito dahil nais po nating mapalapit yung serbisyo natin sa tao. As far as this program is concerned, meron na po tayong na-assist na mga barangays. Sa South Cotabato, na cover na po natin ang ating 67 barangays, at naka distribute na po tayo ng ating mga livelihood kits sa mga barangays na ito,” she also added.
In the meantime, the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa or the PPG Program is intended for the entrepreneurial development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which are affected by natural calamities and disasters. Through the PPG, DTI South Cotabato has conducted training and seminars, and it has also distributed three hundred sixty eight (368) livelihood kits to MSME beneficiaries.
“We are hopeful na maipagpapatuloy natin ito sa tulong ng ating national government ngayong taon,” Hallarsis expressed.
DTI launched its PPG livelihood assistance program last January 20, 2020 when President Rodrigo Duterte’s visited the evacuees in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. The program provided aid to the micro entrepreneurs affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. The DTI also rolled out the program as an assistance package for victims of fire, typhoons and other calamities nationwide.
Under the PBG program, DTI will provide financial assistance of P10,000 and educational materials after profiling and giving business training to existing micro entrepreneurs.
“I would like to appreciate Governor Tamayo’s upcoming program, the Integrated Food Terminal na assistance ng provincial government sa ating mga farmers through the Department of Agriculture. Pwede din po kaming mag-partner dito through our Business Development Services at Negosyo Centers, kasi yung mga produce ng mga farmers, especially yung nasa food and vegetable farming, pwede po nating ma convert yun into processed food. Isang strength ng ating probinsya is on processed food, magaganda ang ating mga produkto because we are rich in raw materials na galing lang dito sa ating probinsya,” she declared.
“Pwede din po tayong magbigay ng intervention through our training, in partnership with DOST (Department of Science and Technology) and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.) Gagawa tayo ng mga skills training, wag lang po kayong mahiyang lumapit sa DTI para sa assistance,” she finally stated.
