Famy, Laguna — With its aim to have a wider reach of business development assistance by bringing programs, activities, and services closer to the people, specifically to MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Trade and Industry – Laguna Provincial Office (DTI-Laguna) conducted an orientation to Barangay Officials and Barangay Development Council (BDC) Personnel of five (5) barangays (Balitoc, Bagong Pag-asa, Magdalo, Mayatba, and Salang Bato) at the Famy, Laguna Municipal last 22 June 2021. A total of 59 barangay officials, BDC members, and Local Government Unit personnel attended the said event.

Five desk signages and 500 informational materials were distributed to start the operation of the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay Desk in their respective barangays. The roles of the BDC, in collaboration with DTI and its negosyo centers, were emphasized to attain the five strategic goals of the MSME Development Plan 2017-2022 which are to improve business climate, improve access to finance, enhance management and labor capacities, improve access to technology and innovation, and improve access to market. Other DTI programs and services for SME development and consumer protection were also tackled during the event.

This activity, under the Livelihood Seeding Program – Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay, is part of the Republic Act No. 11469 also known as the Bayanihan Heal as One Act. This program aims to provide packages of livelihood kits, and business advisory assistance and services to MSMEs affected by natural and human-induced calamities including health disasters like the coronavirus disease.

A Consumer Education and Advocacy Initiative was also conducted by DTI-Laguna whcih discussed the basic consumer rights and responsibilities, and the salient features of the Consumer Act of the Philippines.♦

Date of Release: 7 July 2021