Two micro-entrepreneurs awarded P50K by CEBU

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Government gave two micro-entrepreneurs P50,000 each to help augment their small businesses in their municipalities.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia awarded P50,000 each to Praxedes Pantano of Carcar, Cebu and Lorna Estrera of Poro, Camotes, which is line with the capitol’s Countryside Enterprise Business Upliftment Program (CEBU).

The two were declared winners of the program after successfully implementing the business plans that they presented during the start of the program and showed great interest in the development of their products.

Pantano, who started a business by making bags out of thread and beads, said that she would utilize the money as additional capital for her to be able to purchase more materials.

She added that her working experience in an export company gave her the advantage to start a new business after she was retrenched from her job. Pantano said she used her separation pay to startup her business.

Estrera, for her part shared that she and her husband, Numberiano, have been in the bakery business for more than 20 years now but started with their famous “Camote-made products” during the start of the “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo.”

 Estrera said that they wanted to try something new and unique from the other competing bakeries and since the use of Camote was becoming known as an alternative for the use of rice, they tried to find a way to mix it in dough and have bread made with Camote.

She said that after receiving positive feedback from those who tasted their Camote bread, they experimented on making other Camote products, which are now known in their place as Poro, Camotes’ delicacies.

Some of their new products made of Camote are the Camotestiks, Camotetap, and the Camote cupcakes.

She said that it has definitely helped their livelihood a lot and in fact they were able to send their four children to school since they started with their Camote delicacies business.

The two assured the provincial government that they will use the amount given to them for the development of their respective businesses.

Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale announced that the provincial government will be continuing with the CEBU program in order to help starting entrepreneurs and assisting them with their businesses.