GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 12 recently held a three-day training program titled “Creative AGE for SDGs: Accelerating Growth of MSMEs in Region 12” at the Dreamweavers Hotel in Koronadal City.
The event attracted 36 identified micro, small, and medium enterprises, or MSMEs, from various provinces and cities across the region.
The DTI has chosen Soccsksargen as the pilot region for this innovative program, which aims to boost the creative industries.
“We assure you that DTI [Region] 12 is with you in pursuing the creative sector. For the creative MSMEs, at this point, we give value to all your contributions. The DTI 12 team is here to assist you. You contribute greatly to the economy by generating employment and expanding opportunities for your fellow creatives. Thank you for your active contribution to the development of our region,” said DTI Regional Director Flora Politud-Gabunales.
The DTI localized the “Creative AGE for SDGs” program in Region 12 with the goal of enhancing the resilience and capacity of MSMEs in the region’s creative sector, with a focus on women- and youth-led enterprises.
Soccsksargen’s rich cultural and creative heritage makes it an ideal candidate for this program, which seeks to address challenges such as limited access to resources and market vulnerabilities.
The training modules designed by DTI aimed to foster innovation and sustainable practices, thereby empowering local MSMEs to thrive in a competitive market.
DTI’s Bureau of SME Development Director Emma Asusano highlighted that the creative industries play a crucial role in the economy as cultural ambassadors, innovators, and drivers of social change.
She said that through this program, the skills, collaborations, and innovations fostered will enhance economic opportunities and promote inclusive, sustainable development, positioning MSMEs in the creative sector as catalysts for change in both global and local markets.
“The pilot implementation here in Region 12 is more than a local initiative—it is a blueprint for national transformation. As the first region to experience these modules firsthand, the insights, lessons, and best practices gathered here will serve as a model for other regions, amplifying the impact of the Creative AGE initiative across the Philippines,” she added.
The program, in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), aligns with global sustainable development goals while adapting to the unique needs of Soccsksargen.
In July 2024, a national workshop established the foundation for the training modules. The localized implementation focuses on leveraging Soccsksargen’s creative strengths and supporting MSMEs through region-specific strategies and workshops aimed at fostering resilience and innovation.
Under Republic Act 11904, the creative industries comprised nine categories: audiovisual media, digital interactive media, creative services, design, publishing and printed media, visual arts, performing arts, traditional cultural expressions, and cultural sites, which aim to promote and develop the creative industries as a vital pillar of the nation’s cultural and economic landscape. (Genory Vanz Alfasain/Sarangani Creative Industries/PIA SarGen)
