The Department of Trade & Industry in Negros Oriental on Tuesday cited unhealthy competition, and the lack of skills and network as common problems why local businesses struggle to succeed.
“When someone establishes a sari-sari store, you can be sure that another person in the neighborhood will also do the same immediately,” Geo Israel Alviola, trade & industry specialist, said.
Alviola spoke to some 40 participants, including sari-sari store owners, during a series of lectures at a local hotel here, initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment in the Province, to help them level up their businesses, and expand their markets.
The DTI specialist lamented that the Filipino mentality of “not wanting to be outdone by another” usually leads to unnecessary difficulties keeping the business afloat, and its eventual closure.
He said this is on top of other problems that Filipino entrepreneurs usually face which cause their businesses to fail.
Other problems include financing, the absence of extensive marketing networks, lack of technical knowledge and skill to operate the business, and the lack of capability to link with big entrepreneurs.
He said other factors to lead to inefficient operations include poor location/inaccessibility, no market visibility, mismanagement of limited resources, and poor credit practices.
Some entrepreneurs are not even aware that there are government programs that could actually help them, he said.
To correct these problems, government agencies like the DTI, DOLE, Department of Science & Technology, and the Technical Education & Skills Development Authority continue to provide services, training, and information and education for their clients.
Rubie Cempron, DOLE-Negros Oriental livelihood focal person, said they continuously connect with different agencies to ensure their clients are constantly updated on recent developments relevant to their businesses.
DOST’s Thara Anne Banogon highlighted the importance of packaging, which she calls the “silent salesman”. “Well-packaged products contain almost all of the information that a customer needs,” she said.
Meanwhile, income from sari-sari (neighborhood sundry) stores in Negros Oriental is expected to rise following Wednesday’s nationwide launch of the Tindahan mo: e-Level up mo program of DTI.
Krystle Jade Bato, DTI-Negros Oriental spokesperson, said sari-sari store owners, considered the “lowest tier” of the micro, small & medium enterprises sector, are the focus in their latest initiative.
“The sari-sari store is usually the go-to outlet in the neighborhood for our basic commodities. In the digitalization age, they need to level-up so they can thrive and contribute to our economy,” Bato said in an interview.
She said the program paves the way for sari-sari stores to use cashless or mobile payments through G-Cash or Pay Maya, direct purchases with suppliers through online transactions, and expand their markets through online selling.
During the launch, 241 sari-sari store entrepreneurs from Negros Oriental gathered at designated areas in the cities and towns for the first module, e-Level up ang Negosyo.
The onsite participants were from Dumaguete City (50), Bindoy (21), La Libertad (27), Dauin (24), Amlan (28), Valencia (16), Bais City (31), Siaton (38) and Sibulan (six).
The local government units provided the venues for the participants, while the DTI set up the technical requirements.
Two “add-ons” that highlighted the activity in this City were the presentation of Small Business Corp.’s loan windows intended for sari-sari store owners and other MSMEs.
SB Corp. is DTI’s in-house financing unit that provides loans to qualified clients at lower interest rates, with easy filing of loan applications online.
Smart Wireless, in partnership with DTI, also introduced its Smart Ka Partner Mo package, intended for sari-sari stores to improve their internet connectivity at special promo rates.
The DTI is optimistic that more sari-sari store owners will participate in the four modules scheduled for October this year. (Judy F. Parlow/PNA)
