Good morning po sa inyong lahat,

To all participants in this 3R Bootcamp, again, I’m here to give my support and as always joining Executive Director Nelly Dillera and her team at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC). Napakasipag po ng team na iyan, angdaming seminars, almost every day, and workshops. Tomorrow we are going to launch the Philippine Skills Framework, it is a very exciting time for the country.

Doon po sa pandemic, madami pa rin po nating mga activities that will really empower and will help out our kababayans. Ngayong time of pandemic, it is time to rebuild our business models at marami rin po tayong nalaman na mga naapektuhan ng pandemic. That is the reason why we are developing this program and will help everyone to rebuild their business model, to pivot, and really make business model relevant.

Kaya po marami tayong na develop na mga programs. Ang objective po talaga natin sa Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), sa PTTC, sa Regional Operations Group— headed by Undersecretary Blesilia Lantayona—, Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED)—led by Director Jerry Clavesillas—at ang ating mga Regional Directors ay makapag-develop tayo ng program that will assist our MSMEs na tuloy-tuloy magbago at mag-sustain ‘yung businesses amidst the pandemic that has really affected many of our businesses.

It is really about renovating, innovating our business models and that is the reason why ang ating partnered po dito ay ‘yung improvement po ng entrepreneurs. Hindi lang sila entrepreneurs, kung hindi sila rin ay may puso din magturo, magbahagi ng kanilang alam, teaching us the framework how to do it systematically but at the same time combined with their experience in teaching because sila po ay mga experienced entrepreneurs, hindi lang po academic ang pinag-uusapan kung hindi ‘yung actual experience on the ground since they established their respective businesses. Yes, there are challenges but they will also share with you how they were able to change their business models and that is why I would like to thank our partners, we call them Angelprenuers. Sila po ‘yung mga mentors.

This advocacy of teaching the nation how to fish instead of giving them fish since 2005 under GoNegosyo. Ito po ay pinapamahagi natin sa programa natin at maganda po dito once you’re finished with your business models, it will allow you, and the business plans, to discuss with banks or Small Business Corporation (SB Corp) continues to provide microfinancing dito po sa mga existing projects ng entrepreneurs. So, we would also be ready to help you with the financing side.

In the SB Corp, we have this program now, CARES program, this is a COVID-19 assistance to rehabilitate, and revive entrepreneurs. Ito po ay zero interest, no collateral, may grace period, and the application is basically online.

With your new business plan that you will be able to develop as part of this program, it will make you eligible to participate in this program. So, ang ganda po ng ating mga programa natin and your products, at the same time, DTI can provide assistance in terms of marketing, whether putting it in our platform, digital marketing, or putting it in our physical platform. We have Go Lokal! platform and even the OTOP hub as a platform for selling your products, giving it exposure.

Nowadays, kahit po pandemic, we are seeing signs of recovery and now as we reopen the economy we will continue with this process. Tayo po sa DTI, as part of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), we have been really pushing for the gradual reopening of many sectors and many segments of the market. Kahit nag-Enhance Community Quarantine (ECQ) tayo, we are able to make 100% operating capacity for business process outsourcing (BPOs) and exporters. Kaya po ‘yung export sector natin noong March and April, 72% growth. Ibig sabihin naka-recover na, dati nag 50% decline po iyan. ‘Yung ating mga volume of production index, 162% higher than last year. So, there are many good indications.

Unemployment is going down but we are still trying to further bring it down to 5%—it is the rate of unemployment pre-pandemic times—ngayong po ay 8.7% but it came from a bad situation of 17.7%. Ibig sabin, lahat ay bumabalik na and of course, para po tayo ay makinabang sa recovery ng ating bayan, maganda po mag-participate tayo. Pano po tayo mag-pa-participate? Puwedeng employed ka o kaya ay may negosyo ka. Para pag- akyat ng economy, kasabay na rin sa recovery ng ating economy. Doon po namin kayo pine-prepare.

Again, salamat po sa mga grupo ng Angelpreneurs, who will teach you on the different facets of entrepreneurship. It will be challenging, it’s not an easy session but definitely marami kayong matutunan. And it will really prepare you to face a more challenging future but definitely, one that offers a bright opportunity. With that, I wish you success in this intensive program at mabuhay po kayong lahat.

Stay safe at magpabakuna po kayong lahat, dahil iyan po ang solution para tuloy-tuloy na mag-reopen ang ating economy and will bring us back to the “New Normal,” still with minimum health protocol but at the same mas maraming bukas.

The reopening will bring back more jobs and businesses. Our economy is still very strong, in terms of its fundamentals, and with the spending power that can support your businesses. Kaya po ang ating mga investments ay tuloy-tuloy pong pumapasok, mga 140% growth ang ating Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). So, nag-pick up na, kasi ang Philippine economy maganda talaga ang fundamentals. Yes, affected pa rin tayo ng pandemic but the solid fundamental is there kaya any chance of reopening, mabilis pumi- pick up, kaya gusto po namin na kasama kayo doonMagandang umaga po sa inyong lahat, God bless, and stay safe! ♦

Date of Release: 29 June 2021