EIGHTEEN small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) from Cagayan de Oro City had their graduation last Friday, July 19, after completing the three-month mentoring program conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Misamis Oriental.
Belonging to the ninth batch of the Enhanced Business Learning Session (EBLS) program, these entrepreneurs are engaged in food processing, food and beverages, agro-farm ventures, construction and other services.
The EBLS is a modularized business learning session that will run for three months. The topics covered are on the areas of entrepreneurship including product development, business operation, marketing, financing, human resource, basic taxation, among others.
"This is replicated module sa ginagawa namin on the Kapatid Mentor Me (KMM) program. This is our provincial initiative because the KMM is a national program and we only have like twice every year for a maximum of 25 participants per batch," Almer Masillones, acting provincial director of DTI-Misamis Oriental, said.
"One of the highlights of our Negosyo Centers is to offer this modularized learning session to our SMEs. We said that we need to replicate so we can cover as much SMES and to go through this modularized learning session. This is actually part of the activities in our strategies in enabling our business," she added.
Masillones further said that in enabling our business, they have adopted 7Ms strategy: Mindset, Mastery, Models, Mentoring, Machine, Money and Market.
Giving the proper skills to the budding local entrepreneurs through the EBLS is part of the Mastery, she said.
Among the SMEs that graduated last week were: Jazz Sweet Tocino, Josephine's DeLite, Seanong's Gourmet, Bowerbird Coffee, Aura's Cake and Pastries Manufacturing, Sophia's and Dave's Hotel and Home Service Massage, Tuscany Highlands Food Creations, Nida's Lechon, Grenald's All Natural Yogurt, Doras Frappe, EMH Maja Cucurbita, Morelle Coco Trading, Gladys-Glenalbee Mushrooms Farm, Felys Homemade, Edibles, Konztrak Merchanise and Construction Supply, Mang Sam Turmeric and Laparo Vinegar.
"Since ni-graduate sila, higher level na of DTI interventions ang among ihatag sa ila so maapil na pud sila sa among database of mga graduates and if ever naa mi mga marketing programs sila ang among priority," Jesse Abear, senior trade and industry development specialist, said.
"After this, of course, many more events, activities nga among i-share og ihatag sa ila. Sila pud, on their own, they will be more open to a lot of opportunities, a lot of possibilities. Mas na open naman ang ilang mind. Ang ilang mindset na enhance when it comes to operating a business," she added.
Masillones also said that even after graduating the EBLS program, DTI will still provide assistance to them through looking on what else they can help in order to improve their business.
"It’s really our strategy so that they will improve. Eventually they can hire people and provide employment in the locality," Masillones said.
"Because we know that it’s not a sure success after here. They will go through a lot and we want to be there every step of the way. Kasi sayang, naka start na sila and so basig gamay na lang ang kulang, then maybe we have other ways to assist them," she added.