Around 18,690 existing and potential entrepreneurs benefitted from 378 training sessions given by the SME Roving Academy (SMERA) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 2016.
“Our Nueva Ecija Provincial Office had 54 training sessions with 3,679 participants while Bulacan had 61 sessions with 2,851 attendees and Pampanga had 49 sessions with 3,437 participants,” DTI Regional Director Judith Angeles disclosed.
Moreover, DTI Tarlac had 84 training sessions with 3,560 participants, Zambales-55 sessions with 1,702 participants, Bataan-55 sessions with 2,344 participants, and Aurora-20 sessions with 1,119 participants.
“For 2017, we are targeting 365 SMERA sessions where Aurora will have 25 sessions, Bataan will have 50 sessions, Bulacan will have 60 sessions, and Nueva Ecija will have 65 training sessions,” Angeles added.
Pampanga will also be conducting 50 sessions this year, Tarlac will have 75 sessions, and Zambales will have 40 sessions.
DTI provides capability-building sessions in the SMERA program to support the growth and competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises.
They are trained in areas such as Product Development, Visual Merchandising, Food Labeling and Food Safety, Money and Cash Flow Management, Financing Forum, Taxation, Good Manufacturing Practices, Bar Coding, Business Ethics and Accounting.
“Entrepreneurs who are interested to participate in the training sessions may go to their nearest DTI provincial office and Negosyo Centers to inquire on how to participate in the said trainings,” Angeles furthered.