BY: VALERIE ANN DISMAYA
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Pangasinan continue to thrive thanks to the ongoing support of the provincial government under Governor Ramon V. Guico III.
“I have always admired the spirit of my kababayans. They’re not only warm and dedicated people, they’re also very creative and resourceful. That’s why we’re doing our part to help them achieve their goals by supporting their livelihoods. Pangasinan is here to give 100% support,” said Governor Guico.
Business owners credit programs like “Kadiwa ng Kapitolyo” and food exhibits for helping them reach more customers, both locally and internationally.
Rose Chua, chairperson of the Cocoa Growers and Marketing Cooperative, expressed her gratitude. “We’re really thankful to the provincial government. Because of Governor Guico’s consistent support, our production increased and we’re now known even outside the country.”
Jocelyn Ong Perez of Crafter’s Joy PH added, “It’s a great platform to showcase our locally made products to the world. I’m really happy that we now have an avenue to market them.”
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) confirmed that the provincial government shoulders the expenses for MSMEs participating in international expos.
“MSMEs in Pangasinan are fortunate,” said DTI Pangasinan Provincial Director Natalia Dalaten. “International expos are expensive, but the provincial government covers the cost, showing how committed they are to helping our local businesses grow.”
Through the efforts of the Provincial Agriculture Office and the Department of Agriculture, the “Kadiwa ng Kapitolyo” program was launched in 2022 and expanded in January 2024.
According to Ramy Sison of the Provincial Agribusiness and Marketing Services, “We started with only about 20 exhibitors, and now we average over 40 per event. From 2022 to 2024, we’ve held 97 Kadiwa activities, generating over 20.9 million pesos in total sales. We’ve helped more than 2,500 exhibitors and saved households nearly 4.5 million pesos in spending.”
Sison added that the program will continue through 2025, with improvements underway to help MSMEs produce higher quality products.
With continued support from the provincial government, business owners are hopeful for even more opportunities, especially on the international stage.
