43 MSMEs GET MENTORSHIP

Forty-three (43) micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the provinces of Quezon and Cavite graduated under the Online Kapatid Mentor Me-Money and Market Encounter (KMME-MME) Program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 4A, in partnership with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) – Go Negosyo. 

Launched on 4 August 2020, the mentees completed the 10-module program, Government Services Forum, and presented their Business Improvement Plan (BIP) on 7-9 October 2020 to the panelists composed of the representatives from the government and business sectors, certified mentors, and financial partners. 

The mentees were graded based on the effectiveness of their presentation – the organization, flow, time, and ability to respond to the audience’s questions and comments, including their application of the lessons from the modules such as market opportunity, competitive advantage, management capability, financial understanding, and innovation. 

“We are now having online graduations for our KMME-MME program nationwide, and this is part of going digital as the new normal during the pandemic. It is very important that we always think out of the box in these times of crisis, so we are very happy to have our first batch of graduates this year in the CALABARZON region. 

"This shows the determination of our MSMEs and their passion to reboot their businesses to survive the pandemic. There’s always a way, and we do it the right way,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez in his video message. 

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and PCE-Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion in his video message mentioned that they carefully choose business experts as mentors to provide the mentees high-quality education about the aspects of business for free. 

On the other hand, PCE Adviser Merly Cruz congratulated the mentees for being resilient and recognized the hard work and effort they exerted to be able to finish the program. 

“Sa panahon na halos tumigil ang mundo kasama ang aming mga negosyo, naging kaagapay naming mga mentees ang bawat isa at ang KMME-MME program. Maraming salamat sa DTI dahil sa panahon ngayon, ito ang kailangan naming mga negosyante. We thank the DTI for showing us a light of hope,” said Weira Blanca Mortilla, owner of M&M Yema Cake and Pasalubong. 

“Through the KMME-MME program, we learned to recreate our brand and our business, to innovate and give more value in our business, to be more passionate about what we do to grow our business, and most of all, to rise up amid adversity,” added Mortilla. 

DTI-Region 4A Director Marilou Toledo expressed her happiness and excitement to the graduates. She assured them that DTI’s intervention does not end from the program, as there will be more wonderful opportunities that await the mentees. 

To survive and thrive amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a blended KMME-MME program for the new normal is developed as a practical delivery mechanism for the same mentorship modules for the MSMEs. The program addresses the urgent need for the continued access of mentees to Money, Market, and Mentorship.