True to its vision of propelling entrepreneurship development undeterred by the setbacks caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), together with the Go Negosyo, has successfully conducted the first-ever digital Kapatid Mentor Micro-Enterprise (KMME) program, benefitting over 80 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in MIMAROPA.
KMME Online was developed as the practical delivery mechanism for the same mentorship modules to be used to drive MSMEs to survive and thrive from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
DTI MIMAROPA’s run of the KMME Online was divided into two batches, with the first batch consisting of mentees from Palawan, and the second batch of mentees coming from the remaining provinces of Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon.
Forty (40) mentees from Palawan were among the successful graduates of Batch 1 of the program, and 47 graduate mentees from Batch 2. Completing the roster of mentors were business professionals emerging from different industries and sectors, the academe, and previous mentees turned mentors.
The mentees were trained on entrepreneurial mindset and values formation; marketing mindset, product development; market growth and expansion; business model canvas; operations management; supply and value chain; human resource management; entrepreneurial accounting and financial management; and business law.
Each mentee was required to prepare a Business Improvement Plan (BIP) to present to a panel for evaluation and critiquing. This wrapped-up a seven-week program filled with comprehensive module sessions.
DTI MIMAROPA Regional Director Joel B. Valera underlined the continuous commitment and passion of DTI in reaching out to the MSMEs amid the crisis. RD Valera believes that despite the geographical limits of MIMAROPA’s island-provinces, the KMME Online is a great platform for small businesses to cope with the situation through digitalization and innovation. RD Valera expressed his delight as the mentees were in high spirits during the sessions despite the new digital set-up.
The initiative is guided by the following objectives: to provide a platform for existing and aspiring entrepreneurs to learn and be inspired from the entrepreneurial journey of the mentors online; to be the channel for capacity building on an online platform using the KMME modules and canned lectures via webinar; to provide an avenue for business mentorship of waitlisted MSMEs across the regions and enhance their resiliency through crisis; and to inspire the MSMEs to adapt their business strategies, e.g., rebuild/repurpose/retrofit, in responding to the challenges of the “new norm” business environment. (DTI MIMAROPA)
PIA MIMAROPA 