ILOILO City – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Iloilo committed to extend entrepreneurship training to hog raisers in Oton and San Miguel towns in Iloilo province affected by African Swine Fever (ASF).
DTI-Iloilo provincial director Ma. Dinda R. Tamayo discussed with Oton mayor Sofronio Fusin Jr. and San Miguel mayor Marina Luz Gorriceta on Oct. 27 the possible assistance DTI can extend to the hog raisers.
DTI mulls entrepreneurship training because the provincial government, local government units and other government agencies already assured the hog raisers of financial assistance, said Tamayo.
Hog raisers will be taught how to use their financial assistance as an alternative or sustaining tool for recovery. The training may be on food and meat processing, among others.
“We will expand their mindset nga indi lang baboy ang pwede mo ma-negosyohan. Because you have the entrepreneurial skills and spirit, maybe you can venture to another livelihood where accessible ang raw materials,” said Tamayo.
The DTI provincial director noted that this endeavor is part of DTI’s Negosyo Center services and could be a partnership with government agencies like the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Meanwhile, Ma. Dorita D. Chavez, OIC-unit head, Consumer Protection Unit of DTI-Iloilo, said the respective local price coordinating councils of Oton and San Miguel, headed by their respective local chief executives, signed an order implementing automatic price control of the basic commodities in town.
The price freeze also includes processed pork products, for which, based on their monitoring, there has been no price movement so far.
Chavez said the DTI-Iloilo is open for any complaints regarding the prices of basic commodities.
It can be noted that the said towns are currently in a state of calamity due to the damage caused by ASF./PN
