DTI-ZDS concludes Batch 1 of Project KAPATID’s Mentor ME Program

By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (June 1, 2017) - The Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) Go Negosyo, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), envisioned to strengthen the mentorship program for the micro and small enterprises (MSEs), as well as link these MSEs to the value chain of medium and large corporations through inclusive business models, thus, the development of the Project KAPATID. The term “Kapatid” is the Filipino term for “siblings”, which the PCE Go Negosyo used to show Filipino’s passion to help their families.

DTI Provincial Director Maria Socorro M. Atay said, there are three programs composing the Project, namely the Adopt-an-SSF (Shared Service Facilities), Inclusive Business and the Mentor Me Program. The Mentor Me Program, which aims to help Micro and Small Entrepreneurs scale up their business thru the weekly coaching and mentoring, was launched last March 14, 2017 here in the province of Zamboanga del Sur. It has produced 26 mentees coming from the different municipalities of the province, who were selected to undergo a series of trainings through discussion of concepts (lectures) and actual mentoring/coaching sessions.

In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, these 26 MSMEs were selected to be coached by distinct mentors from the academe, private sectors and various agencies, as well as successful entrepreneurs who imparted their knowledge in different fields such as marketing, product packaging and labelling, business processes and laws, costing and pricing and other modules to fully equip these micro entrepreneurs in the development of their businesses, she added.

PD Atay further said that after going through the 11 modules, the Mentees are set to undergo the 12^th module, which is the presentation of their Business Improvement Plans yesterday (May 31) at the Hotel Alindahaw, Pagadian City. The session set to determine the specific plans that these MSMEs has drafted for their respective businesses, geared with their technical or personal learnings on the different aspects of business operations, which where discussed throughout the program. With the objective to produce confident entrepreneurs/businessmen with the right mindset and business know-how, the program will identify who among these mentees are prepared to introduce their products to the market, which will be judged and evaluated by representatives from Micro financing institutions, some of the program mentors and DTI officials.

Successful participants were awarded with Certificate of Completion and will graduate from the program.

The DTI-ZDS then proceeded to catering the 2^nd batch of mentees, gathering another set of aspiring entrepreneurs who will develop their products and continue bringing pride to the province.