An official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is encouraging companies and the public to patronize products of small businesses aided by various government agencies, saying these are of quality.

Lawyer Samuel Gallardo, regional director of the DTI in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), in a press conference here Wednesday during the opening of the Consumer Welfare Month celebration, said among the sought-after products from the region are coffee, chocolates from locally-growth cacao, and furniture.

“We have souvenir items and products that have passed product development programs. These products are being sold at the One Town, One Product (OTOP) hubs. They (the public) can visit these shops and check the items for sale,” he said.

These gifts packs are worth PHP1,500 up to PHP2,000 and buyers can choose from the selections of coffee, fruit jam, vegetable noodles, scented candles, wine, vinegar, organic tea, scarf or a small handwoven apparel, small handicraft items, preserves and even pastries.

Gallardo said there are at least 22,000 registered micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that are being assisted by the different government agencies to improve their enterprises, and eventually increase income and create jobs.

He said interventions like strategies on opening a business, improving operation, marketing development and strategies, packaging, licensing and permitting are among the available training to step up MSMEs’ operation.

These are given through different programs such as the business coaching dubbed “Kapatid Mentor Me”, which is implemented with the help of big businesses.

The boost to MSMEs is being done since the sector accounts for more than 90 percent of businesses in the country.

“We want MSMEs not just to survive and thrive but to become big because when they do, they start to hire workers that create livelihood to other people,” Gallardo added. (PNA)