Palawan business mentors prepare to strengthen MSME

The Palawan Provincial Economic Enterprise Development Office (PEEDO) sponsored recently a Small Business Counselors Course in a bid to strengthen the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the province. Dr. Myrna Lacanilao, PEEDO officer-in-charge, said Monday the counselors’ business course was done on September 4-7, 2018, to enhance the competence and confidence of municipal business mentors to provide administrative and technical assistance to MSME clients. She said the course will prepare the business counselors in the municipalities to assist MSME clients on how they should face issues that concern their ventures by providing sound bits of advice that can help them. The first day of the activity was handled by assistant regional director Rodolfo Marispoque of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-MIMAROPA. He inspired the business mentors to encourage startups to persevere and not be discouraged by failures in the early stages of their venture projects. “Sa pagnenegosyo, lagi lang nating tandaan na ang puhunan ay hindi pera lang kundi ang pagsisikap, kaalaman at talento ay inyo ring puhunan,” he said. Lacanilao said the provision of the course to the business mentors was timely because the provincial government is aiming to strengthen the MSMEs, believing they can help boost Palawan’s economy in their own ways. “It is a perfect venue to learn. Sana marami tayong matutunan sa gawaing ito dahil malaking tulong ito sa atin lalo na kung may mga problema tayong mae-encounter,” said Lacanilao. She said the attendees were taught strategies to set up MSME business ventures, financial plan, human resource management, financial analysis, enterprise development functions, and business counseling process and Palawan economic mandates. The business course was attended by participants from Roxas, Narra, Rizal, Sofronio Española, Quezon, San Vicente, Araceli, Taytay, Culion, Bataraza, Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, El Nido and Puerto Princesa City. Other course speakers who attended were Renea Cruz Tan, masters in Business Administration, Engr. Yamani A. Saed and Crispina B. Almonte, facilitators at the Center for Research and Communication. (PR)