Department of Trade and Industry – Rizal OIC-Provincial Director Ms. Cleotilde Duran together with Mayor Bernardo P. San Juan, Jr. of the Local Government of Cardona led the awarding of sari-sari store livelihood kits to pre-identified MSMEs last October 13, 2022, at Barangay San Roque Covered Court, Cardona, Rizal.  Fifty MSMEs – forty from mainland and ten from island barangays – were awarded livelihood seeding kits worth P 10,000.00 under the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) Program.

In his welcoming message, Mayor San Juan first conveyed his gratitude to DTI Rizal for its never-ending support to Cardona and its people throughout the years, and then to the MSMEs for their resilience that not only benefited them as business owners but also their communities. He also expressed his confidence in the beneficiaries’ abilities to enrich the livelihood kit that they will receive, as evidenced by their years (even decades, for several beneficiaries) of existence that withstood the pandemic which toppled numerous businesses.

OIC-PD Duran echoed Mayor San Juan’s high expectations and also shared invaluable insights to the beneficiaries, most notably believing and striving for continuous improvement and earning more by adding value to simple goods.

Concluding the program, Municipal Planning and Development Officer Ms. Janet Ramos thanked DTI Rizal for its assistance to Cardona MSMEs and stressed how the beneficiaries’ adherence to regulations in operating a business made it easier for them to be short-listed in such programs. ♦

Date of Release: 20 October 2022