The Department of Trade and Industry Central Luzon had provided livelihood kits to 393 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the region.

These kits were given to MSMEs on separate occasions from January to June this year. These are provided through the DTI – Provincial Offices under the Livelihood Seeding Program – Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay or LSP – NSB. Nueva Ecija had the highest number of MSME-beneficiaries with 95, followed by Bulacan with 70. Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales each had 55. Bataan and Aurora had 35 and 28, respectively.

The LSP – NSB is a program of DTI that allows a wider reach of business development assistance by bringing government services closer to the people through partnerships between relevant local government units and DTI officials. Through Barangay Development Councils (BDCs), the DTI capacitates Barangay personnel in providing basic business advisory or information dissemination services to MSMEs in their locality.

Beneficiaries of the LSP – NSB program include MSMEs located in identified barangays with priority assistance given to those affected by natural and human-induced calamities including pandemics. Among the recipients are sari-sari store owners, eatery/carinderia proprietors and processed food makers, among others.

The kits, amounting up to P15,000.00 worth, depending on the assessment of the needs of the MSME, contain items that could aid them in restoring and improving their businesses. Total kits provided as of June 10, 2022 amounted to P4.43M. In addition, the recipients can also avail of different services such as facilitation of business name registration, business advisory, business information, and advocacy from the same program.

The Department has so far conducted 80 entrepreneurship seminars and 468 cliniquing sessions and more than 6,000 individuals have already benefitted with the provision of information on various livelihood opportunities as of this date. (DTI Central Luzon)