DTI, DSWD Empower Ajuy Beneficiaries Through Training

1 of 3

AJUY, Iloilo — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Iloilo, through its Negosyo Center in Ajuy, partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to conduct a Financial Literacy and Marketing Seminar on May 15, 2025, for Project LAWA and BINHI beneficiaries.

The initiative was held as part of a broader sustainability planning session aimed at strengthening the livelihoods of vulnerable residents in the municipality.

The seminar featured Disa Bretaña, Business Counsellor of Negosyo Center Ajuy, as the lead resource speaker.

Bretaña delivered insights on key entrepreneurship skills, including managing personal and business finances, identifying viable products for market, and exploring diverse income-generating activities.

She also tackled essential topics on food and water security, as well as the long-term benefits of organizing into community cooperatives.

“By understanding basic financial and marketing principles, communities can build more resilient livelihoods that are adaptable to challenges,” Bretaña said.

Participants were actively engaged throughout the session, responding positively to the interactive format and practical lessons drawn from local experiences.

Many beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the actionable strategies, which they said would help them plan more sustainably for the future.

“This session gave us tools we can use immediately, especially in budgeting and improving our products for sale,” said one participant.

The event marked a continuing collaboration between DTI Iloilo and DSWD in delivering inclusive, community-based support programs focused on long-term capacity building.

Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) are joint initiatives designed to address water scarcity and food insecurity in rural communities through integrated livelihood support.

The training aligns with the broader goals of the Negosyo Center Program, which seeks to promote job creation and entrepreneurial empowerment under the DTI’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Plan.

By emphasizing financial education and cooperative development, the seminar contributes to DTI’s thrust of fostering inclusive growth and resilient rural economies.

According to the DTI Iloilo Provincial Office, future sessions are in the pipeline to further deepen skills training and connect community-based enterprises with broader market access.