310 graduates from city's livelihood training program
Iloilo City -- Around three hundred ten (310) residents of the city have successfully completed a series of livelihood trainings in the pursuance of the government's ultimate goal of giving the impoverished sector of our society the opportunity to improve their lot economically.
The beneficiaries of the livelihood training program have availed of the necessary skills on meat processing, business management, entrepreneurship, current good manufacturing practices, food packaging and labeling, candle making, delicacies making, swine management and production, reflexology, shiatsu and foot spa.
Press report from the Department of Trade and Industry Iloilo Provincial Office said that the beneficiaries of the different training programs come from the districts of Jaro, La Paz, Mandurriao, Molo, Arevalo and the City proper.
The DTI-Iloilo office also reported that the series of livelihood trainings were funded by the Priority Development Assistance Fund of the City's Lone District Representative Raul T. Gonzales, Jr.
The DTI-Iloilo office said that the objective of the livelihood program is to improve the socio-economic condition of the beneficiaries through the creation of new SMEs and the strengthening of existing entrepreneurship in Iloilo City.
With the provision of the package of assistance to the SMEs, the following results are expected to be realized: a) emergence or establishment of new micro business, b) employment of at least 100 people, c) increase in the income of every beneficiary household by at least 20%, d) strengthening of at least ten existing businesses, and e) generation of an investment of around P500,000.00.
Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said in one of her statements, that entrepreneurship is not only the key to economic growth and stability, but is the ultimate solution to poverty. The President also said that without entrepreneurs, there can be no production, no innovation, and no risk taking. If there is no risk-taking, the country cannot move forward. (T.Villavert/PIA)