THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the private sector like the Go Negosyo, will launch on Wednesday, September 14, the Kapatid's Mentor ME (Micro Entrepreneur) Program in Zamboanga City.
DTI Provincial Director Rolando Acuña said the Mentor ME Program is aimed to assist Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) develop good business sense by capacitating them through the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.
Acuña said it is also intended to help the MSMEs scale up their business through the weekly theoretical, conceptual discussions and mentoring sessions by Go Negosyo's angelpreneurs, experienced entrepreneurs, and seasoned business lecturers on the different functional areas of entrepreneurship.
The Mentor ME Program is divided into two phases and will run for 12 weeks, according to Acuña.
The kick-off program on Wednesday in Zamboanga City will be graced by DTI Assistant Secretary Blesila Lantayona, and DTI Regional Director Sitti Amina Jain.
Victor Madlangbayan will discuss the Module on Entrepreneurial Mindset and Values Formation, while Carlo Calimon will lecture on Marketing and Marketing Trends following the kick-off program.
An Inspirational Forum and Business Cliniquing Sessions will be held in the afternoon by experienced mentors from Go Negosyo, who will endeavor to impart their wisdom and experience to selected mentees from this city.
The Go Negosyo, which started in 2005, is the advocacy of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE), a non-stock, non-profit organization that advocates for a change in mindset and attitude.
For the succeeding weeks, the following modules will be discussed, to wit: Accounting for Non-Accountants, Product Development; Operations Management (Sector-Specific), Human Resource Management, Taxation, Supply and Value Chain, Financial Management including Pricing and Costing, Business Law (Basic Contracts and Obligations), What’s Next (Quick Fix Plan) and Re-entry Plan.
Acuña said the Mentor ME Program will be capped by a Business Plan Presentation of the mentees, which will likewise serve as their graduation.
Acuña underscored the importance of the program to equip the local MSMEs with the needed skills sets, the right mindset, and business know-how to ultimately scale up and sustain their enterprise.
