LGU trains budding women entrepreneurs through PESO
The business sector in the City of Koronadal, particularly the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a major recession and rising unemployment. Some of them even struggled to get their business back on track due to financial burden, incapacity and business weather is still not conducive.
MSMEs need help, which is why the city government through Public Employment Service Office (PESO) launched a capacity building on entrepreneurial skills, business and financial management to foster their economic well-being as it remains one of the top priorities in the context of local governance.
The said activity is part of PESO’s Pangkabuhayan Financial Assistance (PFAS) program which catered 130 women as beneficiaries wherein each recipient will be receiving their certificate of completion and P2,500 seed money to help incubate their businesses first.
“Continuous ito hangga’t merong budget na pwede naming ibigay sa PFAS. Hindi ito mawawala kasi matuturuan sila kung papaano imamanage yung business at kung paano humawak ng pera,” PESO Head Bernardo Taperla said on Friday.
Basically, the topics covered were gender-based and entrepreneurial values, developing & managing a new business, business recording and access to financial management and resources.
“We have to empower them by making them an entrepreneur. Gusto natin sustainable, hindi yung ningas cogon. Hindi ganun yung program. Sagot ito doon sa pandemic pa ma-uplift yung income nila,” Taperla added.
Aside from PFAS, PESO Head Taperla was elated to convey that there’s an ongoing sectoral organization of associations in the 27 barangays of Koronadal like Skwala (laborers, construction workers), PWDs, OFWs, IPs, STAR women, transport groups, solo parents and the parents of child laborers.
With the local government’s thrust of recognizing MSMEs as the main economic drivers, specifically in fostering growth, employment and income, innovative initiatives have been crafted to ensure the unbridled growth of business and enterprises in the City of Koronadal.