Let me give you an update.
For the past few weeks, Go Negosyo has been busy planning and developing the materials and programs for the Kapatid, Angat Lahat project nationwide roll-out. We are more than excited to bring our mentoring, assistance and programs for the development of our micro and small brothers in the entrepreneurship industry.
The Department of Trade and Industry, led by Sec. Mon Lopez and his team in the regional and provincial operations, are committed to the program. With the whole force of DTI and other private partners, this is a joint effort of the private and public sectors.
Recently, I met with the provincial directors and regional directors to share with them the vision for this program. I have to tell them the objectives of this program for them to know why we are doing this. Yes, big task, but together with the Negosyo Centers, we are all supporting MSME development.
Last week, I shared the news of partnerships and additional support from corporations like Ayala Corp., JG Summit Holdings, the LT Group and others. We appreciate the trust they have given to Go Negosyo and its mission of alleviating poverty through entrepreneurship. With their support, we can now reach even the provinces and far-flung municipalities. We understand there are more micro and small entrepreneurs in the rural areas who are maximizing their resources and developing them into quality products. But without the mentorship and assistance, these micro and small will not level up. And that is why we are here. We want them to be sustainable and to improve their products and reach a wider market. We want them to be creative and innovative, to think out of the box, and be enterprising.
Presidential consultant for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion with DTI Regional Operations Group headed by Undersecretary Zeny Maglaya and Assistant Secretary Bles Lantayona.
Our passion is in helping micro and small entrepreneurs.
I was also invited by Sec. Mon Lopez and MSME Development Council assistant director Jerry Clavesillas to join their MSMED Council meeting last week. I was able to meet council members who are important to the development of entrepreneurs in the country. As part of the MSMED Council Meeting, we were able to dig deep on how we can further develop programs for the micro entrepreneurs.
With all these advocacy partners and supporters, we are all Team Kapatid. Together with the regional and provincial offices, the MSMED Council members and other supporters, we shall implement the Kapatid, Angat Lahat program and we will work hand in hand with President Duterte’s government to create an environment that will encourage and empower entrepreneurs.
Aside from these efforts, we are also enlisting 100 inclusive business models in the country. These inclusive business models are sustainable business initiative which still keep its for-profit nature, but at the same time contributes to poverty reduction through the inclusion of the low-income communities in its value chain.
If your company introduces innovation to business models, processes, products and services, making them more affordable and/or better tailored to the needs of the poor or low income communities; or your company provides income opportunities for vulnerable groups or low income communities such as small-scale farmers and fishermen, smallholder groups, small enterprises, women- and youth-run enterprises – micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs), while also enabling buyers to profit; or your company helps improve market access for small producers and micro-enterprises by integrating them in national and international value chains through shared access, contract growing; or your company provides better services to help MSMEs upgrade by increasing the productivity by providing infrastructure (e.g. electricity, health services, logistics requirements) and market access (e.g. to financing, to retail buyers), and by reducing transaction costs; or your company enables them to attain increased and more regular income by providing knowledge through trainings and other capacity building activities - then your business is an inclusive business! We appreciate your contribution towards inclusive growth. And we want to know more about how your IB models work.
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Today, we will have the Mentor Me Innovation Forum on Agriculture. This is in partnership with University of the Philippines Los Baños. We will be joined by Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Effie Ben Matityau, Sec. Mon Lopez and Sen. Cynthia Villar. We will also have a series of forum with agri-entrepreneurs such as Henry Lim Bon Liong (SL Agritech), Rosalind Wee (W Group), Joseph Calata (Calata Corp.), Winston Uy (Universal Leaf Philippines), Desiree Duran (Duran Farms), Josephine Costales (Costales Nature Farms), Paco Magsaysay (Carmen’s Best), Brian Belen (Ato Belen’s Farm), Sherill Quintana (Oryspa), Arsenio Barcelona (Harbest Agribusiness Corp.), and Cathy Turvill (Nurture Wellness Village). Apart from sharing their inspiring stories of success, they will also impart tips, advice and innovative approaches to have a sustainable agribusiness.
Agribusiness enablers forum will feature Leandro Gazmin, assistant secretary for agribusiness, Department of Agriculture; Jerry Montejo, regional director, CARD SME Bank; Jovito Gonzales, division manager of the Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Insitute; Melvin Carlos, director of Technology and Transfer and Promotion Division of DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural resources research and development; Isagani Padolina, director, research and development, quality assurance and business development of Pascual Pharma Corp.; and Aristeo Portugal, assistant Food and Agriculture Organization representative.
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For inclusive business models, please do send the details at mentorme.gonegosyo@gmail.com.