The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Region 4A, in partnership with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE)-Go Negosyo, conducted its Kapatid Mentor ME and Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) Online Multi-Sectoral Batch 1 for 2021 Program on 27 May 2021 via Zoom with its 50 mentees from the agribusiness, processed food, automotive, construction, furniture, garments, pastries, and tourism industries.
The KMME has been implemented since 2016 as a 10-module mentorship program that optimizes weekly face-to-face interactions between the mentors and the mentees with the key goal of boosting the entrepreneurial capacity through improved access to Mentorship, Money, and Market (i.e., the 3Ms).
With the COVID-19 pandemic upending lives and businesses all over the world, the KMME becomes more relevant and necessary albeit in a virtual or digitalized form. Thus, the KMME-MME Online is developed as the practical delivery mechanism for the same mentorship modules to be used to propel micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to survive and thrive in spite of the unprecedented setbacks that now confront businesses of all types and sizes.
“This is a better program to help our micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to adapt their business strategies to the new normal as digital marketing is incorporated. Moreover, because this program is done online, we are now able to accommodate more mentees instead of the usual 20 mentees per batch,” said PCE Adviser Engr. Merly M. Cruz.
The KMME-MME Online is designed to integrate the MME into the regular KMME Program. This will be achieved through the presentation of the Business Improvement Plan (BIP) to an expanded panel of evaluators composed of representatives from banks, online market platforms, and other business support organizations. Coaching is added to the program to assist the mentees during the drafting of their BIPs and improve their materials and presentation skills. Coaching is also envisioned to further develop their capacities in accessing capital and market. Thus, enabling them to pivot and prepare for the new normal.
“This is like taking up a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, but the only difference is that this is free. The only investment of our mentees is to religiously attend all the sessions, do their homework and activities, and apply their learning in their business. The process is rigorous, but I assure you that it will be rewarding in the end,” said DTI Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Blesila A. Lantayona.
DTI-Region 4A Director Marilou Q. Toledo, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of innovation, resilience, and technology in the business.
“We, in the DTI, are always here to help our MSMEs in their business during this difficult time. We are offering many services such as developing a digital platform for our MSEs to sell their products to a bigger market,” Toledo added.
The KMME-MME Online is a public-private partnership program between the DTI and the PCE-Go Negosyo to provide business coaching and mentorship for entrepreneurs across the country. If you want to be a mentee of the KMME-MME Online, visit your nearest DTI Regional and Provincial Office or Negosyo Center nationwide.♦
Date of Release: 31 May 2021