DTI, BPI training program for micro firms goes regional
By MB Business
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is set to conduct its second run of the comprehensive training program for small and micro enterprises in four regions this year.
The Small Enterprise Acceleration Lab - Business Expansion thru Training Application (SEAL-BETA) Program is an integrated training program exclusive for homegrown enterprises by BPI Direct BanKo in collaboration with the DTI-Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) and DTI Regional Offices.
On Monday, Sept. 18, BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo, PTTC-Global MSME Academy (GMEA) Executive Director Nelly Nita Dillera, and DTI Region V Regional Director Dindo Nabol jointly announced that the SEAL-BETA program is set to roll-out in Regions I, V, VI, and XI, during PTV’s morning show, Rise and Shine Pilipinas.
According to PTTC-GMEA Executive Director Nelly Nita Dillera, the program will first roll out in the Bicol region, specifically in Albay from September 26-29 to be followed in Ilocos and Iloilo City by October, and in Tagum City, Davao by November.
BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo said they are targeting 70-100 enterprises from across the said regions to participate in the initiative from across the said regions.
“We focus on qualified small and micro-entrepreneurs. We train them with business skills. We coach them. We provide them access to their expansions. If their expansion plans are viable, we endorse them to access for financial inclusion, specifically,” Cammayo said.
Dillera also emphasized new interventions of the said program for this year’s run, which includes mini-booth set-ups by the participating enterprises, and plotting some officials who will assess participants’ performance in pitching and negotiating their business in a trade fair/roadshow.
There will be a competition to test the learnings acquired by the enterprise groups from the training.
Dillera also said that “BPI will also provide possible cash assistance or loan depending on the projects which will be pitched by our participants,” expressing her gratitude for the partnership.
The SEAL-BETA Program is a four-day initiative that will train participating enterprises on product diversification, visual merchandising, negotiation skills, digital marketing solutions, business pitching, entrepreneurial finance, debt management, and loan requirements on the first two days.
The last two days of the event are intended for mentorship and graduation where participants will be given the opportunities to learn best practices and time to consult their business, followed by the awarding of a certificate of completion for best booth, highest sales, and best negotiator.
By the end of the sessions, BPI will start accepting loan applications from interested enterprises to assist them in expanding their businesses, through the BPI Direct BanKo.
Dillera also noted that partners from the DTI regional offices will help manage identifying qualified participants for the SEAL-BETA Program.
DTI Region V Regional Director Dindo Nabol said that participants for the Bicol region are gathered through individual invitation.
“For Bicol, our target for this run is 70, initially from the three provinces,” he said. (Ma. Joselie C. Garcia)