AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO:
ARMM pushes for MSME sector growth THE AUTONOMOUS Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is aiming to make micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) a major growth driver, listing its promotion and development a priority strategy under its Regional Development Plan 2017-2022. “Handa po ang regional government na tumulong sa inyong mga maliliit na negosyo, pero ang pakiusap namin, gawin natin itong negosyo hindi lamang para sa ating mga sarili, kundi pantulong na rin sa ating komunidad, lipunan, sa ating rehiyon
at sa buong bansa (The regional government is ready to assist small business owners, my only request is that you grow your enterprise not just for yourself, but for the community, the region and the country,” Governor Mujiv S. Hataman said during the first ARMM MSME Summit held Tuesday, Dec. 12. The summit, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry-ARMM and the MSME Development Council, was attended by MSMEs, local government units, the academe, business support organizations, partner government agencies, chambers of commerce and industry, and MSMED councils. DTI-ARMM also conducted the Agro-Industrial Forum yesterday, while the Halal Chevon Stakeholders Workshop is set on Dec. 18. Recently, DTI-ARMM granted P100,000 seed funding and mentoring support to each of the five winners of its first Social Enterprise Ideation Camp. The five winners are: Langkit Weaving, Halal Organic Agricrops Production, and Anaya Solutions, all from the province of Lanao del Sur; Center for Integrated Organic Farming System from Maguindanao; and There is Hope in Daing from Basilan province. The ideation camp was held in partnership with the Strengthening Civil Society Participation in Social Enterprise Education Development. —