SOUTH COTABATO – On 14 June 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., along with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual, led the distribution of assistance to business owners affected by crises and calamities in South Cotabato.
The government, through the DTI, distributed new machineries to cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). With this, Secretary Pascual said that, “The DTI is always ready to assist Filipino consumers and ensure that they have access to high quality and affordable basic necessities at prime commodities (BNPCs). We are committed to assist businesses, particularly MSMEs to help them recover from calamities and other crises.”
During the distribution ceremony, nine (9) sari-sari store beneficiaries received livelihood kits through DTI’s Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) Program. Each beneficiary was granted PHP9,000 to PHP14,000 each. PPG is a livelihood seeding program that aims to provide livelihood kits or financial assistance to beneficiaries who fell victims of fire accidents, flooding, typhoons and other natural disasters.
Further, six (6) cooperatives were given new machineries by the DTI under the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) Program. More than PHP4.5 million were allocated by DTI to several processing and production center for agricultural and dairy products. The SSF is a flagship program of DTI that aims to provide new technologies, equipment, and facilities to cooperatives, associations, and other businesses and labor groups. It also envisions to strengthen the production and develop the capabilities of small businesses by providing them new and sufficient technological knowledge.
Likewise, Secretary Pascual joined the opening of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo in South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center, which provided affordable agricultural products and goods to consumers, as well as unique products made by MSMEs assisted by the DTI. Through Kadiwa, the DTI is committed to assist MSMEs, enabling them to reach wider markets, while also ensuring that Filipino consumers have access to affordable and high quality BNPCs.♦
Date of release: 14 June 2023