CEBU, Philippines — The office of Cebu Vice Governor Hilario Davide III has stopped accepting applicants for the Sugbo Negosyo program of the Cebu provincial government due to the volume of applications that are yet to be reviewed.
Lawyer Ramil Abing, Davide’s chief of staff, said many of the Cebuanos are very interested to avail of the Capitol program for micro small-medium enterprises, thus, an influx of applicants.
"As of now, we have more than 2,000 applicants. Pending review of their qualifications, we stop receiving applications starting today because ma-exceed mi sa VGO (Vice Governor's Office) budget nga P15 million," Abing told The Freeman.
Personnel from the VGO went to different towns and component cities in the province to accept applicants for the said program.
The VGO conducted a Sugbo Negosyo Program caravan in Camotes island last October 15 and 16 wherein applicants were interviewed and guided in complying the requirements.
Sugbo Negosyo is a program initiated by the Cebu provincial government to help micro entrepreneurs to bounce back from the effects of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The program has three categories namely; “Negosyong Padayonon” for Category A; "Produktong Sugbuanon" for Category B and "Mga Serbisyo ug Ginagmayng Patigayon" for category C.
According to the Capitol news release, Category A is for established microenterprises that need recovery assistance and enhancement which will receive goods, equipment, or raw materials worth P50,000.
Category B is for aspiring micro-entrepreneurs who want to engage in manufacturing or processing of products to receive goods, equipment, or raw materials worth P20,000 while Category C is for micro-entrepreneurs engaged in trading or services to receive goods, equipment, or raw materials worth P10,000.
Qualified beneficiaries will be given raw materials from partner suppliers of the province through the use of a digital card with Quick Response (QR) code to ensure validity.
The application for the said program is set to end on the last day of October yet but the VGO has stopped accepting due to several applications.
The offices of the provincial board members were funded P5 million each to also help in the implementation of the said program. — FPL (FREEMAN)