First MSME Regional Congress held in GenSan

By Ian John M. Lagare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (23 June 2014) – Hundreds of Micro, Small and Medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) across Region 12 gathered in General Santos City on June 17 for the first ever MSMEs Regional Congress.

Held at KCC Convention Center, the “Yabong Maliliit na Negosyo sa Rehiyon 12: the 1st MSMEs Regional Congress” was hosted by the General Santos City Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council Inc. (GSC SMEDCI), in coordination with City Mayor Ronnel Rivera.

The congress garnered support and attendance from different government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Budget and Management, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Science and Technology, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority .

Rosanna Bernadette Contreras, GSC SMEDCI president, expressed her delight for the success of the congress and expressed her high hopes that the event would yield good outcomes for the MSMEs community.

“Perhaps, the person right beside you or the person on the next table will be your future business partner. Anyone in here could be your next supplier, associate, or investor,” Contreras stated.

“The goal of this event is to acknowledge the role of MSMEs in gearing the economy of this region. We play an important role in creating progress and employment in our respective places, and that what we should develop more,” she added.

Also discussed in the congress were the overview of MSMEs in Region 12, the RA 9178 or the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise, the local government units’ initiatives in support of MSME development, and the government agencies’ initiatives in support of MSME development in Region 12.

The GSC SMEDCI included topics regarding the role of social media in the growth of MSMEs to teach local business owners to utilize the benefits of the technology.

Contreras also thanked Mayor Rivera for helping the GSC SMEDCI in organizing the 1st MSMEs Regional Congress.

Mayor Rivera stressed the importance of the congress to support MSMEs in the entire Region 12 and gave his insights as a fellow businessman.

“I understand that the role of our MSMEs is imperative in creating new industries and employment. They generate jobs in the locality, and they bring about a more balanced economic growth and equity in income distribution,” Mayor Rivera said.

“To attract investments, there are several critical areas we must address. There are several steps to be taken and several processes to undergo. We need to give them the support and mechanisms that will strengthen their capacity to sustain and to expand, to create and innovate,” the mayor said.

Mayor Rivera emphasized that he supported the 1st MSMEs Regional Congress because it “serves as a venue to help the constituents of the city in giving them employment and income.”

The GSC SMEDCI is also gearing up for the 12th Yaman Gensan this coming July. (GENSAN CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)