Liliw, Laguna – The Laguna Provincial Office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Laguna) has continued its provision of extension services to its clients in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Liliw. On November 7, 2023, DTI-Laguna facilitated a consultative meeting for the Liliw-based footwear cooperatives.
The said consultative meeting tackled business opportunities including micro-financing services of Small Business Corporation – the financing arm of the Department of Trade and Industry. The DTI-Laguna Negosyo Center Liliw is established to hone the potential and existing entrepreneurs in their respective businesses. It also helps improve ease of doing business and aims to facilitate growth for the micro, small, and medium enterprises and assist entrepreneurs in improving their capabilities by providing them with different assistance suitable for their respective businesses and linking them to seminars, training, and programs related to setting up a business, marketing, financial literacy and more. As such, consultative meeting such as this is one way to tap prospective clients and gather their insights on a particular topic.
In addition to this, the basics of consumer’s rights and responsibilities were also discussed. Aside from setting up of businesses, consumer education is also a part of DTI-Laguna’s advocacy for business and consumer protection and its focus is to increase public awareness about consumer rights and responsibilities and other trade and industry laws.
Liliw is known for its footwear industry which has been competing in the market effectively given its affordable, cheap, and marketable footwear products. Thus, the localization of the Philippines’ footwear industry roadmap and action planning workshop was also facilitated afterwards.
Before concluding the said seminar, the speakers then hosted an open forum for the cooperative members to voice out their challenges and difficulties as regards to their day-to-day operations as footwear business owners. Liliw Hon. Mayor Ildefonso “Ide” Monleon and Laguna Trade and Industry Provincial Director Mr. Christian Ted O. Tungohan both gave an inspiring speech and welcoming remarks for the attendees. ♦
Date of Release: 17 November 2023