The Muntinlupa City government will implement the iSTAR Program aiming to provide skills to sari-sari (variety) store and other micro-retailing business owners.
The Muntinlupa City Council approved Resolution 2023-293 authorizing Mayor Ruffy Biazon to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the implementation of the iSTAR Program or the upgraded version of the Sari-Sari Store Training and Access Resources (STAR) Program.
Muntinlupa business owners (Photo from Muntinlupa City government)
According to the resolution, the iSTAR Program “aims to provide access to skill training, resources, and peer mentoring to sari-sari store and carinderia owners and operators all over the country.”
Under the iSTAR Program, “sari-sari stores, traditional food outlets or karinderias and other Micro-retailing business owners will be provided with digital basic entrepreneurship training and access to business resources.”
The MOU aims to “provide both men and women residents of the city business and training to improve their finances and standard of living and at the same time, giving the community easy access to basic goods and commodities.”
Biazon said, "This presents a significant advantage for our microentrepreneurs to upgrade their standard of living and at the same time provide the community with basic commodities and necessities. TESDA remains a significant partner in our goal to empower the grassroots economy.”