THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental will launch the “Kapatid Mentor Me” program for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on June 29 at the Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod City.
Engiemar Tupas, senior trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the “Kapatid Mentor Me” program is a pilot project jointly implemented by the DTI and the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE).
Tupas said the initiative aims to scale up MSMEs’ businesses through a series of mentoring sessions.
“The Mentor Me will equip existing and budding entrepreneurs in the province with the needed skill sets, right mindset, and business know-how," he added.
Through the program, experienced entrepreneurs and seasoned business lecturers accredited by the PCE to become mentors will conduct the 10 modules covering the different functional areas of business.
The output, which is a business plan, will be presented to a panel during the culmination activity, Tupas said.
“The selected MSME mentees who will attend the classes are hoped to be inspired listening to experiences of these entrepreneurs as well as gain valuable learnings from the members," he added.
DTI-Negros Island Region Director Asteria Caberte had earlier told VoxPop Bacolod that the program will initially benefit 20 mentee-entrepreneurs who will be trained to become competent entrepreneurs.
Caberte, also the head of DTI in Central Visayas, said that after the first batch, they will select another 20 MSMEs as recipients until the program covers all potential entrepreneurs in the province.
The program will be availed for free by entrepreneurs, provided they are committed to finish the program by attending regularly the weekly training-sessions, she said.
“DTI aims to produce competent graduates who are bankable entrepreneurs, those who can survive amid the emerging challenges in doing business,” Caberte added.
Moreover, there will be an Inspirational Forum during the launching. Successful local entrepreneurs will share their success stories to at least 200 attending entrepreneurs.
They will be covered by the first two modules, including entrepreneurial mind-setting and values formation, and marketing.
