Siquijor entreps join KMME online program to scale up businesses

Some of the entrep-mentees from Siquijor taking advantage of the DICT internet connection to keep up with the ten-week/ten-module sessions of the Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprise (KMME) Money Market Encounter (MME) Online Program. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)

SIQUIJOR, Aug. 26 (PIA) -- At least six aspiring Micro Small and Medium Entrepreneurs joined the Department of Trade and Industry Region 7 (DTI-7) leg for Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprise (KMME) Money Market Encounter (MME) Online Program launched on Aug. 5, 2020. 

Forty-two MSMEs were chosen to be part of Batch 1 who will graduate on Oct. 9, and another 42 - also six of whom are from Siquijor province - will follow for Batch 2 that will start on Oct. 14 this year.

During the launching, DTI Central Visayas Regional Director Asec. Asteria Caberte encouraged both mentors and mentees to be one in this COVID-19 crisis and help each other, while noting that among the major challenges is finding the right strategies on the business to thrive under the new normal.

She said there is a need to change the mindset of micro-enterprises so they can adapt, adjust, and practice innovations and new trends in business.

“Mentors, now is your chance to inspire people,” she said.

The mentoring sessions are seen to help MSMEs scale up businesses since mentees will have the opportunity to discuss issues, challenges, and find models from successful entrepreneurs who serve as their mentors.

“One of the advantages of this program is the networking among the mentees and the mentors, the chambers, etc.,” added DTI-7 Assistant Regional Director Nanette Arbon.

“KMME is like an accelerated, practical Master of Business Administration. You are like 'scholars ng bayan',” Arbon told the mentees and urged them to take advantange of the opportunity to learn, to network, and to expand their reach.

The program is the online version of the DTI’s KMME that started in 2016 together with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) and Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI), where qualified micro-entrepreneurs are given the chance to be mentored by experts in the industry through a ten-week session of intensive mentoring consisting of ten Modules that include topics on Marketing, Financial Management, Operations Management, Human Resource Management, Business Laws and Taxation, Business Model Canvass, among others. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)