50 entrepreneurs successfully complete DTI-6’s KMME Program

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BACOLOD City – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 6’s Assistant Regional Director Rachel Nufable congratulated the newest batch of graduates of the Kapatid Mentor Me: Money and Market Encounter (KMME MME) Program.

The graduation ceremony was held on June 27, 2023 at Park Inn by Radisson here.

A total of 50 graduates successfully completed their journey after three months under the DTI R6 program, with 48 hailing from Negros Occidental and two from the Province of Iloilo.

The participants acquired knowledge and skills to thrive in a competitive business landscape, setting the stage for their future success.

The KMME program, implemented since 2016, is a 10-module mentorship program that facilitates weekly face-to-face interactions between mentors and mentees. Its primary objective is to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of mentees by improving their access to mentorship, money, and market opportunities.

Aside from a 10-module mentorship, the program includes coaching sessions to help mentees draft their Business Improvement Plans (BIPs) and improve their materials and presentation skills.

In her message, Nufable said the graduates were the first batch for Region 6 this year, with one more batch for KMME scheduled in the second semester.

Negros Occidental successfully hosted the program for the third time.

Nufable expressed confidence in the mentors from Negros who achieved success in their respective fields, emphasizing the valuable lessons the mentees have learned from them.

She also emphasized the importance of being prepared to confront any challenge head-on, encouraging participants to face adversity with determination and resilience.

The graduation ceremony provided a dynamic and inclusive experience for all participants. Virtual attendees joined the event via the Zoom platform, while a group of graduates had the privilege of attending in person at the Park Inn by Radisson in Bacolod City.

This setup ensured the safety and well-being of everyone involved while maintaining the essence of a traditional graduation ceremony.

The event coincided meaningfully with the International MSME Day which brought an extra layer of importance to the graduation ceremony, underscoring the vital role that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) play in fueling economic growth and nurturing entrepreneurial endeavors.

The Project KMME is an initiative of the DTI in partnership with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE)-Go Negosyo to help and mentor entrepreneurs through online mentoring.

Nufable also extended her gratitude to PCE-Go Negosyo for the partnership which has proven to be relevant in helping MSMEs recover and enhance their competitiveness.

Joey Concepcion, the founder of PCE-Go Negosyo, emphasized the value of mentorship and how it can help mentees develop their capacities for accessing capital and the market, allowing them to pivot and prepare for the new normal.

Concepcion mentioned that the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurship Network has adopted the program and has been implemented in other ASEAN countries. This widespread adoption serves as evidence of the key role that mentoring plays in enabling the success of MSMEs in their businesses.

He further affirmed Go Negosyo’s commitment to delivering top-notch mentorship across various entrepreneurial domains, ensuring continued support for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, DTI Usec. for Regional Operations Group Blesila Lantayona virtually expressed her support for all the MSMEs through a video message.

“Officially you are now part of a network of more than 8,000 KMME mentee graduates in the country whose objective is not only to survive but more importantly to scale up their businesses under the continued mentorship of the program’s 800 accredited mentors.”, said Usec Lantayona in her keynote message.

OIC-Provincial Director Romel Amihan of the DTI Negros Provincial Office, which hosted the graduation, extended his hope that the mentees would become commendable mentors in the future, utilizing the knowledge they acquired from the program as a means of giving back to others. (Photo Credits: DTI Negros Occidental Provincial Office)