The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) continues to aid micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Iloilo through its shared service facilities (SSF).

“The purpose of SSF is to focus on industries with huge potential, but our MSMEs or processors have no capacity to invest in equipment. So, this is what the SSF is trying to address,” Jonathan Tejida, Supervising Trade-Industry Development Specialist for DTI Iloilo, said in a press conference on Friday.

He said this year, they already launched the SSF for weaving in Barangay Baje in Leon town.

They are waiting for the completion of the showroom to unveil the SSF for bamboo processing, pasalubong (souvenir) and the showroom in Barangays Mandog and Bolo in Maasin town, and the delivery of SSF for virgin coconut oil (VCO) and coconut milk in Barangay Cagbang, New Lucena.

“Currently, we have established 34. At the end of the year, it will be 36 once the VCO SSF is delivered,” he said.

This year, three of the six proposals for additional SSF received conditional approval from the regional technical working group (RTWG).

These are the peanut project in San Joaquin, batwan powder and cookie enterprise in Batad, and mushrooms for Dumangas.

Tejida said they also have three upcoming projects for 2025, including the additional equipment for garments in Lambunao, cacao processing for Dingle, and bamboo for Alimodian.

After two years, if the SSF is well-managed, he said the DTI will turn them over to the co-operator, which can already propose an enhancement. (PNA)