GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 12, through its General Santos City Satellite Office and in partnership with the City Mayor’s Office – Youth Affairs and Development Office (YADO), organized the Tienda Heneral Bazaar 2023 as a market platform to test and showcase the products of the emerging young entrepreneurs in General Santos City, offering them for sale to the public.
The Tienda Heneral, a component and enrolled activity of DTI to the Gensan Summer Youth Festival, was participated in by 26 youth entrepreneurs who are being assisted by DTI through its Youth Entrepreneurship program.
A total of Php 631,000 was recorded in sales for the four-day bazaar held at Veranza Mall Activity Center, which culminated on July 18.
In her message of support, DTI 12 Regional Director Flora Politud-Gabunales mentioned that the bazaar is one of the ways the agency supports the youth through its Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP), aiming to prepare them to become key players in the economy of General Santos City.
“We at DTI support the youth through our Youth Entrepreneurship Program and give great importance to the youth, as we firmly believe that they are the future of our country. This bazaar will truly showcase the products and services that you, as young entrepreneurs, can offer for sale. Rest assured that we are always here to provide assistance and collaborate with other agencies, particularly the local government unit, to further enhance your businesses and enable you to become key contributors to the economy of Gensan,” said Politud Gabunales.
Jezza Mae Nunez-Fuentes, one of the bazaar exhibitors and owner of Wood’n Palette Painting Services, expressed that the bazaar provided an opportunity for her products to be showcased in a larger market, thanks to the interventions and support received from DTI through the YEP and the Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprises (KMME) program.
She also added that she looks forward to attending more seminars offered by the agency in the near future.
The YEP is a targeted program of DTI designed to empower the young demographic of the country and help them become productive individuals through entrepreneurship by offering a comprehensive package of interventions aimed at equipping them with the necessary skills and support. The said program is based on Republic Act No. 10679, also known as the Youth Entrepreneurship Act, which mandates the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Council (MSMEDC) through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to implement a national program aimed at promoting the development of youth entrepreneurship.♦
Date of release: 29 June 2023