DSWD provides startup capital to 35 enterprises in Agusan Norte
By Nora Lanuza-Molde
Each
enterprise received P300,000 as startup capital to sustain, expand and venture
into other businesses.
The
program, with a total amount of P7.5 million was facilitated by 2nd District
Rep. Dale B. Corvera through the DSWD.
The 25
enterprises, composed of 381 individuals, underwent capacity training on the
development and production of various products and services for the community
and other potential markets, as a prerequisite to the release of the program
assistance.
Following the development campaign of Rep. Corvera and Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante of Agusan del Norte, dubbed as AGUSAN UP!, as the 8-point development thrusts and priorities of the province, the priority enterprises are those businesses that are engaged in the development of value chain in abaca, banana, coconut, cassava, mango and other fruits, rice, vegetables, commercial trees and bamboo.
To support and properly monitor the business ventures and progress of these enterprises, the key officials created a local program called, “Hugpong sa Panginabuhian Ngadto sa Paglambo.”
Corvera
said, “The capital that you received from this program will serve as your
startup fund as capital and to support other operational expenses to help
improve our local economy.”
“By
helping and improving the business performance of the association, this will
give stable income to the members,” said Corvera.
Florifice
Magallanes, acting president of the Beyond Rice Kakanin Makers in the
municipality of Remedios T. Romualdez (RTR), Agusan del Norte said that the
group will use the capital to purchase equipment for cooking their kakanin
products.
“We are
happy that we have this capital, now we can improve our services and production
to cater more customers, especially now with our new strategic location in
front of the RTR bus terminal, where we have more customers and clients,” she
said.
“We are
grateful to the government for this SLP program. We are also thankful to the
Department of Trade and Industry for helping us start our business by providing
us training, and linkage to the DSWD, our members now have a sustainable source
of income to address their daily needs,” Magallanes said.
The program is set to assist another 98 enterprises with more than 1,500 members to receive their respective capital in June of this year. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)