SAN JOSE, Antique – Micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in the province of Antique are hopeful that Antique’s newly elected officials can help them push their local products in the market as part of their economic recovery.
Aben Ortega, president of the Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) Alumni Association, said he is confident that the new set of local leaders in the province will assist the MSMEs affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The KMME Alumni Association is formed by MSMEs in Antique who completed the entrepreneurship mentoring session of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“I am looking forward that our local leaders would be able to create activities that could help us market our local products,” said Ortega, proprietor of a school and office supplies business.
He added that there are many local products such as food and non-food being produced by the MSMEs, but lacking in marketing opportunities within and outside of the province.
Among the famous local food products in the province are banana and camote chips, turmeric and ginger tea, tablea or native chocolate, and premium coffee.
For the non-food, the province is known for its patadyong or handwoven fabric, buri (fiber from the leaves of buri palm) bags and wallets, and the recent engineered bamboo furniture.
EDE Engineering Enterprise project manager Engineer Edwin Eraga said MSMEs can look forward to more support from the provincial government. (PNA/PN)
