The Department of Trade and Industry has spearheaded programs to benefit multi-level entrepreneurs. With their numerous projects underway, the department has given a platform for all Filipinos, regardless of class, privilege, or ability, to support and develop their businesses.
These programs include the SME Roving Academy (SMERA), a continuous learning program for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to become competitive in the domestic and international markets.
Its main strategies contain the integration of business development services for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at the national and local levels, while establishing the Provincial, Regional, and National Entrepreneurship Development Networks. Finally, it aims to manage an inclusive promotion program for SMEs.
The DTI-Bagwis Program, on the other hand, gives due recognition to establishments that uphold the rights of consumers while practicing responsible business where consumers get the best value for money.
The program also encourages the setting up of Consumer Welfare Desks or an equivalent customer relations office inside the mall that will provide information to consumers and serve as a mechanism for the speedy resolution of consumer complaints.
DTI says retail establishments like Supermarkets, Department Stores and Specialty Stores, Appliance Centers, Hardware Stores, as well as DTI Accredited Service and Repair Shops, are welcome to join the program.
Furthermore, the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Plan was developed,in consultation with national, regional, and provincial stakeholders.
The MSMED Plan has four major outcome or result portfolios, namely Business Environment (BE), Access to Finance (A2F), Access to Markets (A2M), and Productivity and Efficiency (P&E). It will also take into consideration global themes and cross-cutting issues related to gender, climate change, corporate social responsibility, and migration.
A participatory approach was adopted involving a series of stakeholder consultation, validation, and recalibration workshops participated in by representatives from the private sector, local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), the academe, and civil society.
One unique program of the Department is its Go Lokal campaign, dubbed “A Filipino Concept Store for MSMES” which promises to present products as cool, modern, and 100% Filipino.
Innovative, high-quality Philippine products crafted, designed, and produced by the country’s MSMEs are at the forefront of this idea, with an opportunity to go mainstream via the free marketing platform provided by DTI’s retail partners that enable suppliers to gain access to the local market, and ultimately, the global market.
DTI’s inspiration for this is challenging entrepreneurs to build their products to global standards while discovering suppliers and products with high market potential. The department says it also wants to uplift communities by sharing part of store sales to community-based projects
Moreover, through this program, product specialists from the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP) collaborate with MSMEs to develop one-of-a-kind and modern designs, dynamic packaging, assured quality, value for money, and consistent supply of the products.
In addition to all of these, the government agency also has programs for the differently-abled.
Their Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Program is in support of the government’s thrust to achieve inclusive growth. The DTI formulated the Department’s PWD Economic Empowerment Program to help facilitate integration of PWDs into the mainstream of society.
The program provides interventions in terms of enterprise-level assistance, enabling environment, and policy advocacy for our PWD brothers and sisters.