Friday, July 15, 2011

Congressman Ramos funds MSMEs in the 2nd district of Sorsogon

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, July 15 (PIA)......A  P1.5 million fund  was released through the office of 2nd district representative of Sorsogon, Diogracias B Ramos to support the entrepreneurship and livelihood development  of  the Micro , Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) for the 9 municipalities in the 2nd district.

This was learned from Senen C. Malaya, Information Officer of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here in Sorsogon.

Dubbed as "Development Initiative in Building Resourced-based Enterprise" (DBR), the congressional allocation provided by the office of congressman Ramos is geared towards the strengthening of the MSMEs in his 2nd congressional district according to Malaya.

According to Malaya , congressman Ramos earmarked the amount to fund the  revitalization of  the handicraft industry, food processing production and to strengthen the production capacity of MSMEs  in the municipalities  of the 2nd district to eventually  propel the economic activities in rural communities.

 Malaya said that  Congressman Ramos is hopeful that  this project, with the  technical assistance of  DTI Sorsogon, will  upgrade  the production and entrepreneurial competence of SMES, provide them tools, equipments and machines needed for their production.

Congressman Ramos in his dialog with DTI regional and provincial personnel stated that the fund allocation  should  also shoulder costs to introduce latest designs and trends for craft producers, improve their packaging and labeling of products to be sold, improve product shelf life as in processed foods to enhance its marketability and enable the micro, small and medium enterprise to participate in trade exhibits and other marketing  activities as explained by Malaya.

Malaya said that congressman  Ramos in his stint as municipal mayor of Gubat has seen a lot of raw materials   found in the different municipalities in the 2nd district that can be made into different kinds of saleable product

Ramos believed that MSMEs need only capitalization that is why his office provided the financial intervention and lead agencies for MSMEs development  should be assisted by DTI.

Malaya said that with the dialog they have conducted with Congressman Ramos spearheaded by Leah Pagao in the presence  of regional director of DTI RO 5 Jocelyn L.B. Blanco ,  the overall view and plans on how this allocation should assist the local government units of the 2nd district in terms of enterprise and livelihood development was clearly spelled out so that return of investment should be generated as a way to improve the quality of life of his constituency.

Malaya said that they have now conducted a dialog  with the Local Chief Executives  (LCEs) of the municipalities of Bulan, Sta Magdalena, Matnog, Irosin, Bulusan, Barcelona, Prieto Diaz , Juban and Gubat together with representatives coming from various MSMEs.

115 participants from the different sectors of entrepreneurs like those involved in food, crafts,furniture industry, and point persons in the 2nd district  of the One Town One Product (OTOP)  were present in the dialog..

Discussion on the  manner and process of on how the allocation will be  and  given was agreed upon by the LCEs following the guidelines provided to them .

Malaya said that with this dialog conducted they can now  jumpstart the process on who and how to access the funds. (PIA- SORSOGON)

No comments: