KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato Province (PIA) — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is not only upskilling small business operators but also empowering women by making available programs that would help their businesses thrive and develop themselves as contributors to economic progress.
This Women’s Month, the DTI-Cotabato takes pride in highlighting the impact of the Kapatid Mentor ME (Micro Enterprise)-Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) program in creating a positive impact in the lives of women beneficiaries in the province.
KMME-MME is a 10-module program that equips entrepreneurs with the right tools to run their enterprises. It is specifically designed to provide mentoring and training for micro, small, and medium enterprise owners to help them improve their business management skills and expand their businesses.
“The program pairs business owners with experienced mentors, who are often successful entrepreneurs or industry experts. These mentors provide personalized guidance on various aspects of business, such as marketing, financial management, operations, and human resources,” Samsia Banlasan, KMME coordinator of DTI-Cotabato explained.
Entrepreneurs in the program often gain access to resources such as funding opportunities, business tools, and government support programs that can help their businesses grow.
“The program also fosters a community where entrepreneurs can network with each other, share experiences, and potentially form partnerships or collaborations,” Banlasan stated.
Since 2017, a total of 177 individuals have completed the KMME-MME in the Cotabato Province; 130 of them are women.
Two of the successful beneficiaries are Oshin Kaye Gonzaga of Barangay Dado, Alamada and Rosalie Bertico of Barangay Tuael, President Roxas.
Gonzaga started as a youth entrepreneur, balancing her studies while running a business to support her education. From selling banana cues, she recognized the rising popularity of milk tea until she launched her milk tea line on Facebook branding it as Enchantea Garden Blends and Brews.
Meanwhile, Bertico’s passion for baking resulted in the birth of TresMaria’s Food Products offering traditional kakanin or Filipino rice delicacies. With no formal training, she honed her craft by studying recipe booklets and experimenting in her modest kitchen.
Like many entrepreneurs, the two beneficiaries faced challenges in sustaining and expanding their businesses. The two availed of the KMME-MME program which equipped them with essential knowledge, skills, and mentorship. The program helped them make strategic decisions and improve their business.
With assistance from the DTI, Gonzaga has introduced 16 unique milk tea flavors, along with homemade fried siomai, lumpiang shanghai, and other best-sellers while TresMaria’s Food Products has reached markets within and beyond the municipality with consignment partnerships in local grocery stores and the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Hub in Kidapawan City.
“Taos-puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa Department of Trade and Industry sa kanilang patuloy na suporta at pagpapatupad ng mga programang tumutulong sa maliliit na negosyante tulad ko. Malaki ang naitulong ng DTI sa pagpapalakas ng aming negosyo, lalo na sa aspeto ng pagsasanay, pagpopondo, at pagpapalawak ng aming kaalaman sa tamang pagnenegosyo,” Gonzaga said.
(I sincerely thank the Department of Trade and Industry for their continued support and implementation of programs that help small entrepreneurs like me. The DTI has greatly contributed to strengthening our business, especially in terms of training, funding, and expanding our knowledge in proper business management.)
Meanwhile, Bertico urged her fellow business owners to avail of the programs of the DTI to help them develop their businesses.
“Sa mga kapwa ko negosyante lalo na sa kababaihan, habang may panahon pa, i-grab ‘yong opportunity na mag-avail ng mga programa ng DTI. Napakalaking tulong po ng mga programa ng DTI sa pagpapaunlad ng kanya-kanya nating negosyo,” she emphasized.
“To my fellow entrepreneurs, especially to the women, while there’s still time, grab the opportunity to avail of the DTI programs. The programs of the DTI are a great help in developing our respective businesses.”
This Women’s Month, DTI Cotabato Province is set to launch another round of KMME MME. With this, the department encourages business-minded individuals, particularly budding women entrepreneurs to join and expand their horizons in business management and meet other entrepreneurs who could be their potential partners. (SJEDM, PIA Region 12)
