OFFICIALS of Angeles City have lauded and thanked SM Supermalls for initiating a program to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
This after the SM City Clark launched on Friday, February 11, 2022, its StartUp project with at least 10 purveyors.
Angeles City Mayor Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin Jr. said the business industry has been greatly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The city mayor said with the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the City Government under his leadership has taken necessary measures to assist the business industry, especially the local MSMEs.
"We strengthen the city's One Town One Product (OTOP) store to promote Gawang Angeleno products of local merchants establishing Pasalwan, Angeleno Pa," Lazatin said.
Through SM's StartUp program, the mayor said local businesses will reach a larger market and wider audience to introduce their products.
Lazatin also thanked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for assisting in the realization of the SM's
StartUp program.
"Thank you for this opportunity, DTI, for making a bridge for our StartUp businesses and of course SM. Rest assured that we in the Angeles City Government will continue to support programs uplifting our merchants. Dakal pung salamat. Luid ya ing Siyudad ning Angeles, Luid ya ing SM," the mayor said.
Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting, for her part, said she is glad about SM's program for the MSMEs.
"We are also doing a parallel activity and right now we have a program called Kabuhayan Patrol. It's also a start-up livelihood program for people who wants to start a small business," Cabigting said.
"Tamang tama po yung sinabi ni Sir Junias, SMEs which means small and medium enterprises, but it could also be SME truly SM Empowers," the vice mayor added.
Among the new MSME brands who availed of SM City Clark's StartUp program are C' Victoria breads and pastries, Caking Giant cakes, Gats Premium Tarts, The Famous Taiwan Pepper Bun, The Good Steward choco cookies, Fragments Handicraft paintings, Kinomocha learning materials, Cabeza gemstones and crystals, Sulu scented candles and Mallane earrings.
Engineer Junias Eusebio, SM's assistant vice president for North Luzon pperations, said the StartUp program was initiated as the mall's way of giving back by supporting MSMEs.
"SM Supermalls believe in the power, drive, and passion of our MSMEs. Because like them, we started as an MSME. And thanks to the perseverance of our founder, the late Mr. Henry Sy, Sr or Tatang as we fondly call him, and the help he received from family and friends, we've grown into the SM Supermalls we know today," Eusebio added.