DTI hands NSB-LSP to Bohol MSMEs to forge wider economic base

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 11 (PIA) –- Hammering to forge a wider base for a more robust and resilient economy amid the global pandemic, the government through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) handed livelihood kits and vouchers to qualified beneficiaries in five Bohol towns as an initial salvo that will cover 480 beneficiaries from 99 barangays across 36 local government units (LGUs) here.

On July 9 and 10, a team from DTI Bohol led by Provincial Director Maria Soledad Balistoy released P6,000 to beneficiaries in Balilihan, Clarin, Maribojoc, Antequera and San Isidro to jumpstart the government assistance through Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay-Livelihood Seeding Program (NSB-LSP), with the aim of stimulating more investment activities in the grassroots.

The kits are DTI's commitment to the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act through its NSB-LSP, according to Balisoy.

Broadening the economic base has been the government’s intent knowing that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprise the widest job generators as the country is faced with issues of unemployment following business closures due to the pandemic.

Twenty-five beneficiaries received their livelihood kits or vouchers in Clarin, 20 in Balilihan, 15 in Antequera, 15 in Maribojoc, and 10 beneficiaries in San Isidro.

By next week, more beneficiaries from other towns would receive their kits or vouchers.

The NSB-LSP is an offshoot program of the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay which started in 2019.

It aims to provide package of livelihood kits and business advisory assistance and services to MSMEs affected by natural and human-induced calamities including health disasters like the corona virus disease, according to DTI Bohol information officer Vierna Teresa Ligan.

Qualified beneficiaries are small investors, mostly sari-sari stores and start-ups, that have registered businesses as micro, small enterprises with barangay clearances or mayor’s permit, attended the NSB orientation in 2019, and who were excluded in the government’s Social Amelioration program, she added.

The small livelihood seeding fund is also the government’s response to usurious money lenders victimizing micro and small enterprises with a micro-financing scheme.

It also aims to capacitate them to be more competent and independent so they can graduate to be empowered entrepreneurs, said Ligan, adding that these beneficiaries would be helped further.

Balistoy stressed that the beneficiaries will not be left alone as they are now part of DTI's database.

She said they will be mentored by the Business Counsellors of the Negosyo Centers who will guide them until they are able to grow and excel in their businesses.

On July 9, present during the ceremonial turnover were Mayor Eugeniano Ibarra of Clarin town and Cong. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of the second district as well as Mayor Ma. Pureza Veloso-Chatto of Balilihan town and Cong. Edgar Chatto of the first congressional district, along with Gov. Arthur Yap.

Yap assured beneficiaries that the provincial government also has the We Survive As One Bohol Program, a stimulus package to help distressed businesses in the province to recover from the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, representatives Chatto and Aumentado affirmed their commitment to the NSB-Livelihood Seeding Program. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

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