MORE than a hundred entrepreneurs and aspiring business operators from all over Northern Mindanao benefited from the Department of Trade and Industry’s Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) program, an official said.
DTI Northern Mindanao regional director Linda Boniao said 141 entrepreneurs have been able to complete the 12 training modules under the program and presented their business improvement plan to their mentors since the program was launched in the region in 2016.
Boniao said 154 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), out of the 1,445 who attended the launching ceremonies last year. were able to proceed to the 12-week mentoring and coaching.
The department launched the program in Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Misamis Occidental.
The program is designed to equip MSMEs with the right entrepreneurial mindset and basic management skills.
“These 12 modules aim to shape MSMEs so they can scale up their businesses, no matter what field, services or products they chose to sell,” said in a statement.
The KMME program comprises of training sessions on basic accounting, recording, human resource, operation management, among others.
Boniao said the training that the DTI regional office provided under the KMME is “comparable to a Master’s degree. You are not with the academicians, you are going to be mentored by the businessmen themselves.”
The regional director has assured that all deserving entrepreneurs from the region can avail of the 12-week business mentoring program.
“This is the first KMME with no fall-out, which means that no one is wait-listed; all of you will be enrolled in the program for two and half to three months. You are all selected from the different provinces and, together, we will have our grand graduation day,” she told the participants during a recent KMME launching here.
During the launching, two speakers shared their insights on how entrepreneurs can be successful in their respective enterprises.
Dean Lapid, the managing director of Southwest Professionals and an active advocate of Go Negosyo, gave the attendees tips on how to succeed in their businesses, including the values and characteristics one should have in order to succeed.
Another resource person, Paolo Tibig, explained that entrepreneurs should be versatile and be willing to do whatever it takes for their businesses.
Both Lapid and Tibig are from the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE), with which DTI partnered to develop the skills of entrepreneurs nationwide.