CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) urges Central Luzon youth to engage in businesses.
During the launch of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP), DTI OIC-Regional Director Leonila Baluyut called on the youth to take advantage of using the innovations and technology of the present to pursue the entrepreneurial path.
“Digitalization accelerated during this pandemic and further changed the world of work and the way we interact. Young people are at the heart of this technological movement, being the most active online users. Taken into entrepreneurship, you are the most capable of using the internet of things to your advantage. Make the most out of it,” she said.
Baluyut also assured the youth of DTI and its development partners’ support in this endeavor.
“We, as part of the government, are here to support you. We are here as your enabler to your full potential. To make that happen, we will mentor and coach you to be the best version of yourself as an entrepreneur. And one of the best ways to prepare yourself for this journey is to put your mind into it,” she said.
DTI Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Blesila Lantayona said that as the largest portion of the workforce, the youth are identified to play role in catalyzing the growth and economic development of the country.
“Youth are very much involved during these trying times in combatting the pandemic and helping to build back better through their creativity and problem-solving skills. Indeed, the youth already possess entrepreneurial potentials and we would like to ensure that this energy and entrepreneurial drive is harnessed by essential support,” she said.
She also mentioned about the 7Ms framework (mindset, mastery, mentoring, money, machines, market access, and models of business, in upgrading the entrepreneurs’ capacity to become globally-competitive and smarter entrepreneurs.
“This serves as a roadmap. This is a promise that you will be able to learn, to know, and to avail the services, not only of DTI, but also of the other government agencies along these 7Ms strategies for successful entrepreneurs. The YEP, supported by the 7Ms, responds to the needs of our time and ultimately help Fiipino entrepreneurs, particularly the youth move forward and prosper,” she said.
Lantayona also assured the youth that though the road to entrepreneurship entails challenges, the government will try its best to ease the journey to unleash the youth’s full potential.
“We want to see more young people going to business. But of course, we cannot legislate that. We cannot force you, but we just have to entice you and show you the way. You have to make the choice,” she challenged.
For his part, DTI Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Director Jerry Clavesillas discussed the different components of YEP, which include Youth Start, Youth Net, and Youth Match.
He also laid down the different initiatives undertaken by DTI and other government agencies to support this program.
Around 1,600 registrants from the various academes, schools, universities, business organizations, micro small and medium enterprises, and partner agencies of the region, participated in the event.