DTI-Region 6 Summary of Programs and Projects
SSF Project is one of the government’s strategies to achieve its goal of inclusive growth and jobs generation. It is specifically aimed at increasing the productivity and improving the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within the priority industry clusters by providing them with machinery, equipment, tools, systems, accessories and other auxiliary items under a shared system. FabLab is a small-scale workshop offering digital fabrication, which is generally equipped with an array of flexible computer controlled tools that cover several different length scales and various materials, with the aim to make “almost anything”. This includes technology-enabled products generally perceived as limited to mass production. SMERA is a management training program for would-be entrepreneurs, SME owners, and managers of micro and small to medium-sized businesses. This initiative is meant to provide a continuous learning program for entrepreneurs to help them better set up and step up their operations and improve their competitiveness, thereby facilitating easier access to domestic and international markets. The Mentor Me Program aims to help MSMEs scale up their businesses thru the weekly coaching and mentoring by business owners and practitioners on different functional areas of entrepreneurship. This will be held in Negosyo Centers nationwide. The Negosyo Center is responsible for promoting “ease of doing business and facilitating access to services for MSMEs within its jurisdiction”, such as: business registration assistance, business advisory services, business information and advocacy and monitoring and evaluation. The Development and Promotion of Industry Clusters are identified as a major strategy under the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 in helping achieve its vision of a globally-competitive and innovative industry and services sector that contributes significantly to inclusive growth and employment generation. It supports the President’s social contract particularly in the creation of conditions conducive to the growth and competitiveness of private business, big, medium and small. 6 Industry Clusters of DTI6