AN official from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Davao) said they had assisted more than 8,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Davao Region as of April 2023.
“Sa (of) 27,000 [target] na MSMEs, as of latest data as of April, naa natay natabangan na (we assisted) 8,496 or 31 percent of the total [target],” DTI-Davao regional information officer and knowledge management coordinator Jenny Grace Mendoza said during Wednesdays media forum at Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall, June 7.
Mendoza said they are “positive” to reach or exceed this year’s target - to assist in developing 27,000 MSMEs this year.
She added DTI had always prioritized enhancing MSMEs growth.
“Because last year we exceeded our target which is 25,200, but the accomplishment is 26,108 MSMEs or 104 percent of the target,” Mendoza said.
The official said their assistance had generated “bigger” sales from different Pasalubong Centers, trade fairs, and exports for MSMEs in Davao Region.
Mendoza added that the DTI-Davao had assisted and accommodated potential and existing MSMEs free seminars, guides in utilizing online platforms to sell products, product development and marketing their goods and products.
In addition, DTI-Davao had given entrepreneurial, skills, productivity, regulatory, financing, livelihood and product development, and trade trainings, among others. DTI-Davao stated the seminars given by their agency had been “yielding satisfactory ratings”.
“Naga-innovate ta in terms of products, for example, dili lang siya basic na banana chips, naa pod ta’y gina-introduce pod sa mga MSMEs na innovative flavors pod for us to additional markets (We innovate products too, such as introducing new innovative flavors to banana chips, so we can accommodate additional market),” Mendoza said.
According to a press release, the DTI-Davao had maintained 53 Negosyo Centers (NCs) and assisted 10,223 clients, as of April 2023. These NCs conducted 300 trainings attended by 7,205 participants in which 70 percent of the total number were women.
The DTI-Davao official said there are also a lot of DTI-assisted MSMEs who had reached export market internationally.
MSMEs are enterprises which generate a capitalization of P100 million or below. ICE