NASIPIT, AGUSAN DEL NORTE – Dili available ang gym (the gym isn’t available). These words would have stopped the launch of the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay-Livelihood Seeding Program (LSP-NSB) at Barangay Camagong here, but because of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga’s “serbisyong higit pa sa inaasahan,” the activity was pushed through outdoors — under a tree.
As the Camagong barangay gymnasium was turned into a COVID-19 facility, Negosyo Center Nasipit Business Counselors looked for an alternative venue to provide existent and potential entrepreneurs with the services of the LSP-NSB, August 13.
“Naa man ang mga tao. Sila ang importante, bahalag walay atop ang venue, basta naa ang mga tao nga among servbisyohan, mupadayon gyud mi, bisag sa ilalom pa na sa kahoy (The beneficiaries here matter the most. So even if the venue is roofless, as long as the people we are serving are here, we would push through with the activity even if it is held under a tree),” said Senior Business Counselor Ruben Paul Timogan.
During said launching, Timogan added, programs and services of DTI that can be possibly availed by the participants were discussed.
These include an orientation on the NSB-LSB, the Shared Service Facility (SSF) that may help the furniture-makers in the area, and the Small Business Corporation’s COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) Program, a financing program intended for micro and small enterprises affected by the pandemic.
“Situations like this showcase the dedication of our staff in carrying out the mandate of DTI especially in a time where everyone is greatly affected by the circumstances brought about by the pandemic,” said OIC Regional Director Gay Tidalgo.
Tidalgo added that true public service does not stop when faced a challenge.
“Indeed, with the beneficiaries on mind, the personnel of DTI will always find a way to serve, even more than what is expected of them,” Tidalgo said.
LSP-NSB was crafted to create awareness of the agency’s programs and services, to reach out to existing and potential MSMEs, and to assess and provide needed interventions to spur economic activities, employment opportunities and wealth creation in the barangays. Despite the unusual circumstance, the participants showed interest on the programs laid down to them. NC Nasipit BCs vouched to assist both the existing and would-be-MSMEs in the area.♦
Date of Release: 24 September 2020