DTI distributes business starter kits to Dagupan residents

SOME 25 residents here have each received a business starter kit worth PHP8,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) under the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PBG), through the Negosyo Serbisyo Barangay (NSB) program.   

 

In an interview Tuesday, DTI-Pangasinan provincial director Natalia Dalaten said each of the beneficiaries received either a sari-sari store package, carinderia (food stall) package, salon package, or a rice stall package.

 

“Ninety percent of the beneficiaries already have their businesses but were affected by the pandemic, while the remaining 5 to 10 percent of them have the desire to start a business but they don’t have the capital and the equipment or means to do so,” Dalaten said.

 

She said DTI distributes the goods, utensils, or equipment instead of monetary capital to ensure they will pursue doing their businesses.

 

She added the beneficiaries underwent entrepreneurship and consumer advocacy training before they qualify for the starter kit.

 

“DTI’s mandate is to teach them entrepreneurship as they would also learn their responsibilities to the consumers,” Dalaten said.

 

She said the NSB program aims to encourage businesses in the community while the PBG was conceptualized to help disaster victims like the pandemic recover economically.

 

City administrator Vladimir Mata, who represented Mayor Marc Brian Lim in the turn-over ceremony, expressed support to DTI’s program as he assured the city is also planning to launch soon a program that will further promote economy and support businesses. 

 

Ismael Ayson, 24, sari-sari store package recipient of Barangay Pugaro, thanked the DTI and the national government for the starter kit.

 

Ayson admitted the pandemic has affected his business but he learned strategies from the training and the starter kit will be of aid to boost his income amid the pandemic.

 

Aside from the city residents, some 15 residents in Calasiao town have also received business starter kits from the DTI.

 

Meanwhile, 17 residents of San Fabian town and 10 in Laoac town will also receive their own business starter kits on Wednesday.

 

Some 15 souvenir shop vendors in Alaminos City, who were affected by the temporary closure of the Hundred Islands National Park in the past months, have previously received their starter kits.

 

They were the first recipients in the province as the tourism sector was considered the hard-hit industry due to the pandemic. (By Hilda Austria)