DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry regional director Rebecca Rascon and Iloilo City Lone District representative Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda are collaborating on possible projects to improve the working condition of micro entrepreneurs in the metropolis.
On Oct. 18, Baronda brought Rascon to Brgy. Baldoza in Lapaz, Iloilo City to show a group of people producing various native delicacies like fired lumpia, suman, puto lanson, and becho–becho, among others.
Baronda said the residents have been into this kind of business for a few decades already.
These delicacies are supplied to restaurants, displayed in local stores or sold by hawkers in the city and nearby areas. But until now, government intervention has yet to reach them.
The representative said that she had been reaching out to the constituents on possible programs and initiatives to improve their livelihood. Instead of these people visiting her office, she prefers to immerse with them to identify the problem and recognize the interventions needed.
Rascon and Baronda also visited a group of seamstresses producing bags in adjacent Brgy. Kaingin. Baronda said the community had been producing bags made of katcha cloth.
“DTI could bring programs and projects to these communities such as the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay and linking possible funding from the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso or P3 Program with the Small Business Corporation,” Rascon said.
“We have trainings and seminars to improve their products and their packaging. Qualified beneficiaries can also avail of our Shared Service Facility Project,” she added. (DTI 6/PN)
