DAET, CAMARINES NORTE: Stakeholders talked about various assistance and support  to the Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Camarines Norte during its council meeting held recently here.

This was presented during the Camarines Norte Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council (CNPMSMEDC) meeting convened by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

To ensure full compliance with labor laws, promotion of safety and welfare of the employees, and cultivation of ethical voluntary compliance with the labor standards, a total of 649 or 94.46 % micro establishments were visited by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as part of their Technical and Advisory Visit (TAV) from June to August 30, Renalyn Alano, labor employment officer said. 

This is in line with Department Order No. 238-23 on the rules for the administration and enforcement of Labor Standards pursuant to Article 128 of the Labor Code of the Philippines as renumbered under Republic Act 11058.

The DOLE  said that micro establishment with 9 employees and below are identified under the TAV program. This also goes true to same institution with 10 employees and above. They are subject to labor inspection while those engaged in hazardous work are subject to compliance with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).

Under the TAV program, the DOLE conducts orientation, seminars, and authorized advisory/assistance and follow-up visits by labor inspectors to micro establishments with an employment size of 9 workers or less to assist them in mapping out a development program.

The support and services/assistance to businesses include registration of establishment under Rule 1020, the conduct of Basic Occupational and Health (BOSH) for Safety Officer I, the conduct of productivity toolbox training to enhance enterprise and workers, facility evaluation order and wage exemption through DOLE while registration of Barangay Micro Business Enterprises is through DTI and First Aid Training under Phil. Red Cross and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Cooperative Development Specialist Toni Galvan of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) on the other hand said that they assist 202 registered cooperatives in Camarines Norte. Of the 202, there are 4 large cooperatives, 13 medium, 15 small, and 170 micro.

They regularly conduct capability training and seminars for cooperatives in the province, he said.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) approved eight (8) projects under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP)  in Camarines Norte this year according to Jefferson Boral, Project Technical Assistance.

The SETUP is a nationwide strategy encouraging and assisting MSMEs to adopt technological innovations to improve their products, and services and increase productivity.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the other hand conducts training on the processing of business permits and licenses and the 12 municipalities submitted their report for compliance according to Edmund Banares, LGOO.  

The standardization in securing business permits is based on the DILG, DTI, and Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) joint circular.

Majority of the effort for the MSMEs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the community-based development of an ecosystem, according to Forester John Arlan Balanta.

This is by providing livelihood to the community through the conservation and preservation of resources in the upland areas wherein the beneficiaries were given 25-year contracts with another 25-year renewal to develop the area.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on the other hand has given interventions to eight (8) KADIWA partners in Camarines Norte by providing a capital of P800,000 to farmers organization.

They also conduct capacity building and support the marketing linkages and matching of agricultural products, Eliazar Demin, APCO staff said.

He also urged MSMEs to join in agricultural investment, trade fairs, and other activities of the DA.

The DAR on the other hand focuses more on the agriculture enterprise development and assists more than 60 agrarian reform beneficiaries in partnership with the DOLE or DTI.

DTI Provincial Director Christie A. Rivera, CNPSMSEDC Secretariat said that through the council, they were able to  determine the services offered by stakeholders that will lead to the convergence of the programs and projects. It will also benefit the MSMEs in the province, he added. 

The meeting was presided by Mergie N. Moraleda, CNPSMSEDC Co-Chairperson, Private Sector.

Earlier,  Gov. Ricarte Padilla signed Executive Order No. 054, an order "creating and reconstitution the CNPMSMED Council and strengthening the promotion, growth and development of its programs and services."

Gov. Padilla chaired the said council and co-chaired by Moraleda. The members are SP-Chairman of Committee on Trade and Industry and department heads of the OPAg, PPDO, Provincial Tourism Office along with NGAs chief of office from CDA, DA, DAR, DENR, DILG,  DOLE, DOST, DTI, LBP, PCA, PIA AND SB Corp. (RBManlangit-PIA5/Camarines Norte)