GrainPro Philippines, Inc., a micro small and medium enterprise (MSME) in Zambales, was hailed as national winner during the virtual awarding ceremony of the 2021 National Productivity Olympics on October 21, 2021. Its win in the agribusiness sector category has finally ended Central Luzon’s decade-long drought in the said competition.

According to Jerome Yanson, head of RTWPB-III secretariat, GrainPro’s win comes with a P150,000 cash award and trophy to be awarded on 11 November 2021. “This is a milestone for RTWPB Central Luzon whose mandate is to promote productivity improvement in the region. We were able to show that our MSMEs can be resilient and productive by adopting innovative productivity tools and strategies and thereby provide employment opportunities even in the midst of adversities like the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Yanson.

Meanwhile, DOLE Regional Director Geraldine Panlilio, Chairperson of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board III, also congratulated GrainPro for winning in the competition. “After many years of striving for a win, Central Luzon bagged another national winner in the Productivity Olympics. GrainPro was able to showcase its readiness and the spirit of resiliency and ingenuity in terms of managing its business amidst disruptions. It only proves that amid the difficulties brought by the pandemic, enterprises in our region are capable of bouncing back better and now ready to adapt to the new normal,” RD Panlilio said in an interview.

Aside from GrainPro Phils. Inc., Boba Time Food Corner, another Zambales-based MSME, was also recognized for being finalist in the service sector category during the 2021 National Productivity Olympics.

Around 150 MSMEs nationwide participated in the national competition that sought to recognize and benchmark MSMEs that have demonstrated resilience, preserved employment, and implemented excellent employee engagement programs amid the Covid-19 pandemic.