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ty-eight (48) entrepreneurs from the Bicol region, including eight from Catanduanes, have begun their online business mentoring course as the first batch of the 2024 Kapatid Mentor Micro-Entrepreneurship (KMME)-Money Market Encounter (MME) program.
The local participants are Maricar P. Alejandro, owner of M’M Food Products of Concepcion, Virac; Ma. Minda M. Borja, owner of Minoa Food Hub in Gogon Centro, Virac; Jhing F. Cotuna, manager of JD Brooms Manufacturing in Hitoma, Caramoran; Jenny Ric B. Dado, owner of Ben’s Food Products of Gogon Sirangan, Virac; Isobelle Caridad T. Pastor, owner of 2284 Restobar of Sta. Cruz, San Andres; Fredlyn F. Teodones, owner of B.A.D.D. Printing Services of Banawang, Bato; Arnel P. Tubice, manager of Arturo T. Tubice Enterprise in Ilawod Poblacion, Bato; and Aliza D. Valeza, owner of AC Food Hub in Cavinitan, Virac.
Three of the participants are either employed in the government or private sector while the rest are self-employed, with majority below 35 years of age.
Sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Council for Entrepreneurship (PCE) Go Negosyo and the National Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED) Council, the program was launched online simultaneously in the Bicol region last April; 16, 2024, with the Catanduanes event held at the ARDCI Business Center in the presence of DTI Catanduanes Provincial Director Ma. Belma Escueta and KMME-MME Provincial Focal Person Geraldine Bagadiong.
During the launching, DTI Bicol Regional Director Dindo Nabol assured support for the mentees and expressed hope that their respective Business Improvement Plans would enliven their businesses.
DTI Undersecretary for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Group Ma. Cristina Roque said the training they would get on financial management would be of help as the entrepreneurs navigate the ups and downs of business enterprises.
On the other hand, Go Negosyo Senior Adviser for MSME Development Engr. Merly Cruz bared that 1,577 graduated from the program in 2023, bringing the total since 2016 to 13,820, and the target for the current year are 2,000 mentees whose businesses would hopefully become sustainable.
She cited an impact assessment study conducted by John Paul Flaminiano of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness entitled “Empowering MSMEs: Examining the Short- and Medium-Term Effects of the DTI-Go Negosyo KMME-MME Program.”
The survey of 193 mentees chosen randomly across the country showed improvement among the graduates in communications and analytical skills as well as financial analysis.
It also found similar improvement in other areas such as problem solving, adaptability, flexibility, leadership, record keeping, organizational knowledge, financial management, collaboration, teamwork, networking and relationship building.
For this year’s first batch of mentees, they will attend weekly classes on the following modules: entrepreneurial mindsetting, marketing mind-set, business model canvas, operations management, digitalization, supply and value chain, good governance & ethics, market expansion and internationalization, product development, HR/organization management, and enterprise accounting/financial management.
Coaches will supervise the drafting and finalization of the BIP drafting, finalization and presentation, as well as the culmination and product exposition.