South Cotabato urges public to patronize MSMEs, buy local products

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews) – The provincial government of South Cotabato has launched a convergence initiative to bring more growth and market opportunities for the province’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Tyronn Jan Villanueva, head of the South Cotabato Economic, Investment and Promotions Center (SCEIPC), said they have launched a series of initiatives to help develop more local MSMEs and bring their products to larger markets.

Dubbed Negosyong Angat Convergence Program,

he said they are working on bringing together local producers, government agencies, banks, other private financial institutions and cooperatives, and companies that offer services to MSMEs.

“We will serve as a bridge that will connect all available programs and link them to our MSMEs,” he said in a briefing.

SCEIPC has been assisting at least two MSME groups, the South Cotabato Food Industry Association and the South Cotabato Crafters Association, through financial and materials grants in coordination with government agencies and private partners.

Villanueva said they are in the process of organizing the South Cotabato Association of Young Entrepreneurs, which is composed of startups and small businesses initiated by young entrepreneurs.

On Monday, the local government opened an MSME kiosk inside the provincial capitol compound here to help promote and market various top quality local food and nonfood products.

Villanueva said the kiosk, located in front of the SCEIPC office and near the office of Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., showcases locally-produced food products such as mushroom chips or chicharon, biscocho, pastillas, tart with malunggay powder, crispy amik (tinagtag), calamansi juice and packed coffee.

He said it also offers a variety of fashion accessories like trinkets, beads and Tnalak products from Tboli weavers from Lake Sebu and Tboli towns.

The official said the initiative is in line with Executive Order No. 8 issued earlier by Tamayo that adopted the “Buy Lokal, Go Lokal” program and advocated the promotion of local products.

“We are encouraging government and private offices to avail of these products. They can buy tokens from our crafters and some of the food products whenever they have visitors or events…they can also coordinate with us for bulk orders,” Villanueva said.

He said they are coordinating with the hotel and restaurant association in the province to open a display area for local products to help market them during conferences, seminars, workshops, and other related activities.

Villanueva said they will continue to assist local MSMEs in bringing their products to regional and national trade fairs and expositions and related festivities.

“We will also conduct business technology forums to capacitate our MSMEs and further improve the quality of their products, their packaging and marketing,” he added.