DTI goes to Ilocos Norte poor communities; trains more entrepreneurs

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

LAOAG CITY—Representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry is reaching out to underserved communities to help them become savvy entrepreneurs.

Starting a business is quite challenging with so many requirements but to simplify government processes, Acting DTI provincial director Rosario Quodala said they are rolling out the “Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay” (NSB) program in various parts of the province particularly in barangays under the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th-income classification municipalities.

Since July 26, 2019, Ms. Quodala reported the agency is coordinating with prospective local government units in Adams, Carasi, Currimao, Bangui, Paoay and Banna for the launching of the NSB.

“NSB aims to see small businesses in the barangay to go mainstream and be empowered,” said Ms. Quodala citing current DTI programs, services and plans they are bringing to the barangays to increase people’s access to trade and industry promotion and development.

On August 2, 2019, Ms. Quodala led the DTI team to Adams town to conduct information and education drive as well as the launching of the pioneering NSB in the town’s lone barangay.

“We, at the DTI-Ilocos Norte bring closer our services through the NSB. Adams is one of the municipalities which is rich in raw materials, and through this launching, we will boost the entrepreneurs here to develop the area to a better marketplace,” Ms. Quodala told the 50 small and would-be entrepreneurs who attended the launching.

She hopes that the program will serve as a bridge for them to scale up their operations.

Among the services offered to MSMEs include business registration assistance and advisories on product development.

“We are thankful for all these government services now being brought close to our doors. We don’t need to travel far just to access these services anymore,” said Dr. Bielmaju Waley, also a wine maker and food processor in Adams.

To date, the DTI continues to establish Negosyo Centers in local communities to make their services more accessible to the public as well as identify the micro, small, and medium enterprises operating within barangays and conducting business development assistance and services in the identified communities.

The program also intends to develop 200,000 new enterprises that are expected to provide more than half a million new jobs by 2022 in support of DTI’s goals under the MSME Development Plan 2017-2022.