SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) – Micro-businessmen in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro have started receiving livelihood assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
DTI Occidental Mindoro Provincial Director Noel Flores said that the livelihood assistance, under the agency’s Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (NSB) program, reached ₱5 million, which was distributed in batches and made available to small entrepreneurs with a capital not exceeding ₱3 million.
The first batch of 43 micro-business entrepreneurs were given business kits worth ₱705,000 consisting of fertilizer feeds, upholstery tools, and freezers for fisherfolk beneficiaries. The distribution of assistance was done on December 23 last year.
The second batch of beneficiaries, whose distribution was held last February 5, 2025, received materials and equipment worth ₱1,085,000. These include supplies for food processing, vulcanizing shops, furniture stores, and cellphone repair businesses.
Flores said that preparations are underway for the third batch, which will be composed of sari-sari store owners who were allocated ₱1,300,00 for grocery items to support their businesses.
Funds for the package of assistance to the three batches of micro business owners make up ₱3.1 million of the ₱5 million total budget for the NSB program.
“Sa pamamagitan ng NSB, nagkakaloob tayo ng mga pagsasanay, pangunahing kagamitan o equipment sa negosyo o kaya ay materyales na kailangan sa pagproseso ng kanilang produkto,” he explained.
(Through NSB, we provide training, essential business equipment, and materials needed for processing their products.)
He said that the initial training and seminars for the first group of NSB beneficiaries focused on product development and business information advocacy. The succeeding seminars focused on digital payments, cybersecurity awareness, and food safety management.
Flores also stressed that DTI is carefully verifying each target beneficiary to ensure that the NSB assistance reaches the right individuals.
“Malaki ang naitutulong sa ekonomiya ng ating mga micro entrepreneurs sa pamamagitan ng ibinabayad nilang tax at pag-eempleyo ng kanilang mga tauhan. Nararapat na tulungan sila ng pamahalaan upang higit na makatulong sa ating bansa,” he noted. (VND/PIA MIMAROPA–Occidental Mindoro)
