House Committee on SBED visits Negosyo Center in Aklan

DTI Aklan OIC-Provincial Director Ma. Carmen I. Iturralde and Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist Ma. Stella Caldera welcome the members of the House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development (SBED). (from left)  Rep. Wes Gatchalian (SBED vice chairperson), Rep. Neil Montejo (chairperson) and Rep. Johnny Revilla (member).

The DTI Aklan Provincial Office welcomed the members of the House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development (SBED) during their visit at the Aklan Negosyo Center, last week.

Members of the House Committee on SBED during the consultative meeting with MSMEs and other stakeholders from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Aklan, Office of the Provincial Governor, and Landbank of the Philippines among others.

DTI Aklan OIC-Provincial Director Ma. Carmen I. Iturralde with the SBED Committee, Aklan Negosyo Center Team, MSMEs and PCCI Staff.

Representatives Neil Benedict Montejo (committee chairperson), Wes Gatchalian (vice chairperson) and Juan Johnny Revilla (member) conducted an ocular inspection of the Negosyo Center (NC) on February 15.

The group also had a consultative meeting with MSMEs in Aklan.

DTI Aklan OIC Provincial Director Ma. Carmen I. Iturralde presented the services offered, accomplishments and the targets of the Center. The Committee lauded the DTI Aklan for the successful operation and assistance of the NC to Aklan MSMEs, especially to the OFWs.

The consultative meeting encouraged the MSMEs and other stakeholders to give their inputs on how to better assist businesses in the Province of Aklan. Some of the concerns raised involved financing support programs of the government to small and start-up businesses.

Representatives from the Aklan Provincial Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council, SB Corp., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Aklan Chapter, Office of the Governor, Hugod Aklanon Producers Assn. Inc., Philippine Information Agency, Landbank of the Philippines and Athena Business Solutions, were also present.

The Committee likewise visited the MSMEs in the nearby Boracay Island for another consultative meeting. This activity is in line with the oversight functions of the committee to assess the state of the MSME sector as part of the continuing efforts to address their concerns.