Fund aid program for CV entrepreneurs launched

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines - A total of P29.6 million in development and financial assistance for small and medium scale entrepreneurs in Central Visayas has been set by the DTI under its Shared Services Facilities (SSF) program during the Bohol Sandugo Trade Expo 2013 ceremonies recently.

DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya launched the SSF as she opened the trade exhibit with Governor Edgar Chatto and wife Pureza, City Mayor John Geesnell Yap and wife Jane, DTI-7 regional director Aster Caberte, members of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other government officials.

The money was sourced from the P700 million budget for the SSF, which is managed by the DTI, said Maglaya after the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the department and the beneficiaries of the financial assistance.

Among the recipients of the fund assistance were those into food processing, such as makers of pineapple marmalade in Carmen town and of banana chips and coffee in the towns of Anda, Balilihan, Maribojoc and Sevilla. They got a total of P820,000 in monetary aid.

Those producers of kalamay, a grounded sticky rice cooked with coconut milk, from the towns of Alburquerque and Jagna received P685,000, while fine jewelry makers in Dauis town got a total of P1.335 million.

The biggest recipients were the producers of raffia, a fiber from buri plant, from the towns of Tubigon, Inabanga, Danao and Catigbian who received P3 million, and those salabat makers of Loboc town who got P1.4 million.

Maglaya further told the local media that Cebu province also had its share of the SSF budget, as follows: Abaca stripping and fiber extraction in Balamban town (P1.7 million), shoe production in Carcar (P1.780 million), coconut fiber processing in Liloan (P2.7 million) and product packaging in Compostela (P8.759 million).

The bamboo processing entrepreneurs in Dauin town of Negros Oriental had their share of assistance amounting to P1 million, added Maglaya.  (FREEMAN)