DTI encourages fresh grads to go into business

DUE TO rationalization and austerity measures being implemented in the current administration, the National Government cannot accommodate all the graduates this school year even if it has vacant positions for the unemployed.

With this, Department of Trade and Industry Baguio-Benguet provincial caretaker Freda Gawisan said graduates should engage in small businesses and microenterprise efforts if ever job opportunities are limited.

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Gawisan said in Baguio City, the main showcase are its ecotourism businesses that fresh graduates may use as a way to start their own small businesses.

Fresh graduates may also start small businesses which may cater to the expected high influx of tourists who will be buying products such as souvenirs, processed food and accessories made in the city.

“They may be assisted by our agency through financial management seminars, pricing, costing, branding and packaging of their products,” Gawisan said.

She added the DTI will also monitor the businesses started by the entrepreneurs so they will be guided accordingly by the agency.

“When we also find their products are marketable already, that is the time we encourage them to join local, regional and national trade fairs,” Gawisan said.

Gawisan said the most popular, marketable and top earning products in the region include processed foods, souvenir items, furniture and services related to the tourism industry.

Aside from tourism-related enterprises, Gawisan said they are also promoting manufacturing of environment-friendly products like bags, ornaments and fixtures made of recycled materials.

“It is important that aside from guidance given to entrepreneurs we also enjoin them to the conservation of our environment,” Gawisan said.

Moreover, DTI is also linking up small and medium entrepreneurs to private micro-financing and government financing institutions to provide seed capital.