PGIN provides recovery assistance to small businesses

Laoag City—The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Small-Medium Enterprises (SME) Office is in preparation for the immediate provision of recovery assistance for small businesses in the province, specifically sari-sari -store owners.

This “COVID-19 Recovery Assistance to Affected Sari-Sari Store Owners Through KADIWA Program” is an initiative of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc which aims to assist distressed small and micro store owners who are affected by the pandemic, by providing them 2,000 pesos worth of grocery items to replenish their goods.

“Sa pinagdaanan nating krisis, may mga sari-sari store owners na maaaring nagamit nila for personal consumption yung mga paninda nila kaya nawalan sila ng stock. Maaari ring wala na silang ibang pagbilihan ng ibebenta, at kung mayroon man, limited lang. Ito ang dahilan kaya we are giving these store owners a grant for free, to assist them in the form of grocery items,” SME officer Elma Gabriel stressed.

“They will also have the opportunity to buy goods from our KADIWA market worth PHP5,000 at a price 10% lower compared to the suggested retail price. With this, malaki ang chance na makapag-profit sila ng mas malaki dahil sa pagbili ng mga produktong mas mura,” she added.

The submission of requirements for the program immediately opened on June 5, 2020 after Mr. Manotoc announced its urgency. At present, applicants are currently being accommodated at the Provincial SME Office, while simultaneous applications are also being held in other local government units.

The recovery assistance program requires applicants to submit store registration, a mayor’s permit, and must be included in the list of Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) active sari-sari store owners.

Moreover, Ms. Gabriel is hopeful for the program’s further improvement to cater more sari-sari store owners: “Initially, we projected around 1,600 slots but we are hopeful for the revision of this program para madagdagan natin yung slots as well as the PHP2,000 worth of grocery items, upang mas makatulong pa tayo lalo.”

This recovery assistance is a special program under the KADIWA Market program of the Provincial Government, along with the COVID-19 KADIWA which ends on June 15, 2020. (Stewart C, Ocampo)