Kalampusan October 2016

From school teacher

to business owner

The Mentor Me program is jointly developed by DTI and

the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE),.
The aim of the program is for MSMEs to scale up their
business through the weekly theoretical, conceptual discussions and mentoring sessions by experienced entrepreneurs, and seasoned business lecturers on the different functional areas of entrepreneurship. The Mentor ME
Program is divided into two phases and will run for 12
weeks.

Azatari Souvenirs:
Fitting people to a
Tee

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Chievs stones and

crystals
Opening doors to
MSMEs through
trade fairs
From native wine
seller to beach
owner

2016

Also in the same month, the GIZ and DTI conducted the
closing event of the Promotion for Green Economic Development Project (ProGED) on October 25 at the
Marco Polo Hotel, Cebu City. During the occasion, the
GIZ and DTI shared the projects achievements as well
as conveyed its gratitude to various partners who supported the successful implementation of the project.

A timely event for an

aspiring
negosyante

KALAMPUSAN

During this month, the Department of Trade and Industry

(DTI) launched the Mentor ME (Micro Entrepreneur) Program, a free business seminar consisting of a series of
mentoring sessions for existing and budding entrepreneurs, in Central Visayas on October 7 at the Waterfront
Cebu City Hotel.

October

In this issue:

A Performance Magazine of dti regions 7 & 18

ctober inspired micro entrepreneurs to up their

game in the development of their businesses.

An exceptional
functional art

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers

Kalampusan October 2016

SME Development/Trade Fair

If you spot tourists sporting shirts with tastefully

executed designs of things Negros, chances that
these shirts are from the atelier of AZATRI Souvenirs.
A sole proprietorship business owned and managed by the couple Mr. & Mrs. Ricky & Arlene Infante, AZATRI, defines its t-shirts products from
bold texts to vividly colorful masks that are symbols of Bacolod City.
Twenty-four years had passed since two college
chums started with P100.00 in 1992 to produce
one hand-painted shirt that was sold to one of the
partners sister. This first sale was followed by
many others that in just a month the business
grew to P5,000.00. Then named Hierographics,
AZATRI became a legal entity in 1995 (after a buy
-out of some partners) with the business collaboration of Architecture graduates Arlene Zamora
Agusila (AZA) and Teodulfo Ricardo Infante (TRI)
who both later had a more permanent union.
The mix of romance and business did not get in
the way of AZATRIs upward path. At ANP Showroom, the brand has landed the number 1 spot for
almost two decades. The phenomenal rise of
AZATRIs hand-painted apparels that include souvenir novelties and fashion accessories (bags,
belts, bracelets, and necklaces) can be attributed
to its often fresh take on design and consistency
in quality.
Producing shirts above the industry standards is
AZATRIs key that led them to where they are
now. This means no mass-produced souvenir
shirts, no thin fabrics that tend to develop holes
after a few months of wearing, etc. Each shirt
guarantees long-wearing pleasure until the visitors next visit to Bacolod.
AZATRI now has over 20 outlets in the province
filled up with the exclusive and mostly ethnicthemed designs the company is known for. From
two (2) partners in 1992, the enterprise is now
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employing 11 skilled and talented employees who

assure an ever increasing number of customers a
continuous supply of the souvenir novelties, and fashion accessories in the City.
In support to the proprietorship as well as in recognizing the Filipino talent and Negrense creative minds,
the Department of Trade and Industry has been extending its assistance thru business management
seminars, skills trainings, trade fairs participation,
productivity-related activities, among others. #
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Kalampusan October 2016

Activities in Photos

(Photos above & below) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched the Mentor ME (Micro Entrepreneur)
Program, a free business seminar consisting of a series of mentoring sessions for existing and budding entrepreneurs, in Central Visayas on October 7 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. Mentor Me Program intends to help micro
and small entrepreneurs scale up their enterprises through the weekly coaching and mentoring by business owners
and practitioner-angelpreneurs on the different functional areas of entrepreneurship with the end goal of producing
confident entrepreneurs with the right mindset and business know-how who will be able to sustain and scale up their
enterprises. The program is a component of the KAPATID Project of the DTI in partnership with the Philippine Centre
for Entrepreneurship-Go Negosyo that aims to push big and medium business including the micro and small enterprises (MSEs) or Small Kapatid into their companies value chains either as clients and consumers of their products
and services, or as suppliers of raw materials, producers, or employees.

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Kalampusan October 2016

Negosyo Center

very common kind of business, Jenelyn believes

it is a good start for something big. That is why
she decided late August of 2016 that it was time
to start her own sari-sari store.
One of the obstacles she had to face was the
cost and the time it would take to register her
business at DTI. It would mean spending a day to
travel to Dumaguete and spend about a thousand
pesos in transportation, food and the actual registration fee!

Jenelyn Clarion (center) receiving her DTI business name registration certificate from
Anton Gabila, NC Canlaon (right) and Region 7 Director Asteria Caberte (left))

Any person has the choice between working for a

business, and starting a business.
For Jenelyn Clarions family, they chose both. Her
husband, Rolando has been working as a seaman
from the year 2007 until present in order to support
their family of 5. They have three children, one is in
Grade 3, one in Kindergarten, and one in Preparatory
School. Their family is reasonably big such that upon
careful forecast of their future expenses, Jenelyn realized they would need a higher income in order to support the education of their children.

September 20, the Negosyo Center in Canlaon

City was launched. It was very timely for Jenelyn
such that when she heard about it, she went and
visited the launching and decided to register her
business. It only cost her Php215 for registering
her business and Php10 for the habal-habal fare
from Uptown, Barangay Mabigo down to the Negosyo Center in City Hall. Her certificate was released in 5 minutes! So instead of spending a
day, she spent only 5 minutes of her time! She
was very thankful and glad.
Upon asking her what her future plans are, she
said if this business would grow, Rolando need
not work as a seaman anymore. He can instead
come home, help the family, and help in the familys business!

Truly, the Negosyo Center launching in Canlaon

was not in vain. It is a timely event not just for
Jenelyn, but for all businessmen and aspiring
businessmen here and in nearby municipalities.
They need not travel long distances anymore just
to register their business or join trainings, because now, they have access through the Negosyo Center in Canlaon.

Many of her friends and neighbors have been doing a

business in retail and sari-sari store. Though it is a

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Kalampusan October 2016

Negosyo Center

\Angustia was born and raised in San Remigio,

Cebu and started her professional career as a
teacher. After 1 year of spending time imparting
knowledge, she was a little bored with the monotonous life. She wanted to take up something challenging.
Being an adventurous person, she wanted to explore a little further and because of her will to do
something new, it led her to quit her job and find
another opportunity.

Then, she was given an opportunity to work in Dubai. This was the place where she met her husband. A few years later, they went back to Philippines and got married.
After that, she decided to engage into business
and, out of the savings that she had, she started a
small sari-sari store with a capital of P 30,000.00
and put a 10% mark-up to the goods she sells for
a profit.
She could not imagine that her business will be at
its peak in just 3 years. She just started by selling
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grocery items that are very important to the people

and now she caters to their basic needs.
Despite her success, she experienced challenges
and one of these was super typhoon Yolanda which
bulldozed their place. The sari-sari store was totally
damaged. However, with her persistence and zeal to
continue what she ventured, her business gradually
recovered.
Fortunately, DTI came and gave P5, 000.00 starter
kits for entrepreneurs who have been devastated by
the monster typhoon. For this gesture, she was so
thankful to the DTI Cebu Staff for helping her family
get back on their feet.
Her Secrets to Success:
According to Angustia, her perseverance and patience were the major reasons for her business success. She handled her customers properly and the
prices she set for her goods were not too high.
She ended the interview by saying T.S Eliots quote:
Only those who risk going too far can possibly find
out how far they can go. #
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Kalampusan October 2016

Activities in Photos

(Photos above & below) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) called for strengthened disaster resilience
among micro, small, and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) through an enhanced partnership between the government and private sectors during the Visayas Business Forum on SME Development and Disaster Resilience in the
Philippines held on October 24, 2016 at the City Sports Club Cebu.

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Kalampusan October 2016

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Kalampusan October 2016

Activities in Photos

(Photos above & below) DTI Bohol Provincial Office conducted a seminar on "Capacitating Consumer Welfare Desk
(CWD) Officers on Fair Trade Laws (FTLs) to our Accredited CWDs establishments last September 21, 2016 at JJ's
Seafood Village, Tagbilaran CIty, Bohol.
The seminar was attended by 25 CWD Officers/ company's representatives. The speakers were Mr. Miguel C.
Abuyabor, who discussed on the CWD Programs and the Fair Trade Laws and other pertinent consumer laws and
Mr. Jose D. Hibaya, who presented the Implementing Guidelines for the Marking and Labeling Requirements of DAO
No. 15-01, Series of 2015 and MC No. 16-04, Policies on Christmas Lights/ lighting chains certification.

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Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 8

Kalampusan October 2016

Negosyo Center

Edao was born and raised in Toledo City, Cebu. As soon

as she reached adulthood, she moved to Cebu City and
worked as employee of a rattan furniture factory. After a
number of years of work, she got married, resigned from her
job and lived in San Remigio, Cebu with her husband. The
couple became breeders of cows and sold lottery tickets on
the side.
A few years ago, they sold their cows and used the money
to build a small sari-sari store in their house. They started
the business with a capital of P 1, 800.00. Later on, in 2008,
they expanded their business and rented stalls in the public
market. Mrs. Edao rolled the money she earned in her
store and gradually she was able to build another store in
2010 in Barangay Bahada, Poblacion, San Remigio. This
enterprise earned very well. The store in Bahada was very
accessible to the public and almost all of the products that
are commonly used by the residents there are available at
her store.
The goods she sells in the store are usually acquired on
consignment basis. There are several sales agents who
leave their goods at the store and come back for the payments when they return to the area.
HER REASONS FOR ENGAGING IN BUSINESS
Mrs. Edao said that she decided to engage in business
because the workload is light. She is able to help her neigh-

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bours by giving them jobs. She can be her own boss.

If she gets sick, she is not obligated to work. She can
use her store earnings whenever the need arises. This
is in contrast to being an employee and waiting for a
salary every 15th and end of the month. Above all, she
is able to send her 3 children to prestigious schools
and she can also afford to buy land.
CHALLENGES
Just like other businessman and entrepreneurs, Mrs.
Edao surmounted many challenges. Aside from typhoon Yolanda that bulldozed their place, she occasionaly experienced difficulties in paying the sales
agents because business is slow. When one of the
family members became sick, she struggled to manage her time between business and family.
HER SECRETS TO SUCCESS
According to Mrs. Edao, an entrepreneur must learn
to think on her feet and quick in catering to the needs
of her customers. Family members must help each
other in running the business and they must put extra
efforts in doing so. One must be strong in facing problems. Lastly, one must be determined and passionate
enough to handle her own business.#

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 9

Kalampusan October 2016

SME Development/Product Development/Trade Fair

A group of doctors visited the Association of Negros

Producers Showroom at Robinsons Place Bacolod
Citywalk in Negros Occidental. They were awed by the
quality and the creative use of local materials in the
Negrense products.
After inspecting the beautifully crafted items on display,
one well-groomed lady doctor pointed to some folding
tables leaning by the display window. The tables were
narrow (hence, space-savers), not heavy, and were
smartly designed. Ill take four, said the guest without
batting an eyelash and, most probably, neither did the
sales lady. The table is called Jaime.
Jaime is one of The Showrooms popular items so
the sales lady must not have been surprised. It is a
14(W) x 20(L) x 24(H) foldable table one takes out
for unexpected guests who would appreciate things of
beauty. Although it is conveniently slim and stores well
without taking up space, its lucky owner would probably want to unfold it permanently and show it off in all
its handmade glory.
In 2015, an average of 20 Jaimes were sold per
month at an inglorious price of P2,850.00 each. And
who is Jaime?
The Jaime is named after its creator, Jaime Chan,
who, in 1984 put up Golden Furnishing after working
for 15 years at the biggest furniture shop in Bacolod
City. A janitor, driver, messenger, salesman and wallpaper installer were just among his duties in that furniture shop. His humble but honorable work did not prevent him from pursuing a college degree in Commerce.
His Accounting background would serve him well as a
future entrepreneur.
Golden Furnishing produces home furnishing made
with indigenous, organic materials such as rattan. His
products include tabletop items such as bowls, vases,
trays, placemats, coasters, and, of course, his namesake folding table that is joined by its bigger siblings in
three (3) sizes and their round and hexagonal cousins
in 24 dia. x 24 H.

It is incredible to see how materials such as capiz shell,

coconut twigs and shell, Chinese bamboo, jungle vines,
coconut lumber, and even the unusual banana bark and
cassava stalk are given special treatment to create fantastic pieces of functional art.
The business has developed further with DTIs continuing
assistance on SME development programs that include
among others, managerial training, product development,
market matching, participation to local and international
fairs and raw material sourcing.
His company was among the top ten (sales generation)
companies at the recently concluded Negros Trade Fair at
Glorieta, Makati City on September 14-18.
Jaime Chan was also one of the participants in the Manila
FAME Artisan Village held on October 20-22, 2016 at Manilas World Trade Center.
Chans business grew big enough to employ 220 employees to fill a huge demand for his artisanal products in the
export market.
In 2010, the company experienced setbacks in the wake of
the global crisis that caused it to lose foreign clients and
reduce its workforce to 10 regular workers.

In 1991, Golden Furnishing joined the roster of producers of ANP and Mr. Chan attended various trainings
and seminars and was able to join the DTIs Center for
International Trade Exhibition and Missions (CITEM)
where his business attracted European buyers.

Resurrected as Golden Arts and Furnishing in 2014 under

the helm of Jaimes son Jeffy Chan, the Jaime realized the
need to bring in more domestic buyers to make Negros
handicraft businesses sustainable.

It was during his membership with ANP that Mr. Chan

conceptualized the incorporation of indigenous materials in his designs.

So far, it has not been difficult to get the locals to appreciate the excellent work of Golden Arts and Furnishing. After all, the companys art is functional and practical.

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Kalampusan October 2016

Bottom-up Budgeting and Local Regional Economic Development Seminar

One of the famous delicacies in the southern part of

Cebu is Torta, a native pastry made with fermented
coconut wine. It is more known during fiestas especially
for pasalubongs. Maam Procees Torta is a supplier
and manufacturer of Torta in the Municipality of Dalaguete.
The shop is currently owned by Mrs. Procesa Amaya.
She is one of the beneficiaries of the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) of DTI through LGU-Dalaguete. Procesa is
also a member of the Dalaguete Entrepreneurs Business Uplifment Transformation Project Association or
better known as DEBUT.
Mrs. Procesa started her business enterprise in 1995
together with her husband and siblings. At first, she
didnt have any place to display her products. For them
to attract customers, they only took orders from guests
and their friends. She operated her business with only
one turbo machine for Torta cooking with an initial capital of around P15, 000.00 .
In 2000, she started to display her products in front of
her house. She then developed strategies to be able to
attract more customers, one of which was teling her
friends about how she made her Torta differently from
other Torta makers.

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In 2008, she improved on the delicacy. She also learned

how to bake Tostado Special. By continuing the business,
she encouraged her nieces and nephews to work with her
part time.
At present, Mrs. Procesa has less than 10 workers at her
home. As a graduate of Bachelor of Science Major in
Home Economics, she continued to improve on her recipes.
In 2013, she became one of the members of the Association of Delicacy Makers in Dalaguet,Cebu. The association
was a beneficiary of the 2014 DTI-LGU BUB project and
also joined the Local Regional Economic Development
Seminar (LRED). She also participated in trainings and
seminars of the Department of Trade and Industry, such
as packaging and labelling.
Mrs. Procesa became relatively successful in her business
and is able to provide financial and educational support for
her children.
At the age of 64, she imparts her knowledge of life and
business to young people as she teaches Home Economics in a local school. This intrepid entrepreneur is a firm
believer in the value of perseverance and hard work, saying lawas lang akong agdon hangtod kanus-a kaloy-an sa
Ginoo.

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Kalampusan October 2016

Activities in Photos

(Photo above)
Press conference during the closing event of the Promotion of Green Economic Development
(ProGED) project on October 25, 2016 at the Cebu City Marco Polo Hotel.
(Photo below) DTI Bohol Provincial Office joined in the celebration of the National Standards Week (October 10 - 14,
2016) and the World Standard Day on October 14, 2016 with the theme "Standards Build Trust" In this connection,
DTI BPO conducted a Seminar on Updates on Product Standards Regulation on the same day at Kew Hotel, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Forty (40) participants coming from hardware, construction and appliance business establishments
attended the activity. In the morning, TIDS Miguel C. Abuyabor gave an overview of BPS Mandate, salient features
of DAO No.2, Series of 2007 or the Guiding Policies on Standard Enforcement, BPS Product Certification Scheme,
List of Product Under BPS Mandatory Certification Scheme, and the measures in facilitating the issuance of ICCs as
contained in DAO No. 15-01, Series of 2015. In the afternoon, STIDS Mary Lou P. Torreon discussed on the Implementing policies on labeling and marking requirements of products specified in DAO 15-3, Series of 2015 and the
PBS MC No. 16-4, Series of 2016 or the clarificatory policy on the use and monitoring of the products certification
marks as prescribed by DAO 04:2008 and DAO 05:2008.

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Kalampusan October 2016

Negosyo Center

were 7,878 single proprietorship businesses that have

registered this year, with a majority of these being in the
food business. Food businesses accounted for 31 percent, followed by real estate and construction.

Mrs. Ma. Violeta Pusa was one of the beneficiaries of

DTI Livelihood Seeding Program. She has an existing
sari-sari store in her house in Brgy. Odlot, Bogo City.
In early December of 2014 she was visited by a staff of
DTI for the Livelihood Seeding Assistance. Before assistance she earned a net income of around 1,000 per
month. After the assistance it doubled.
Violetas business gradually grew. In July 2016, the DTI
staff of DTI Negosyo Center-City of Bogo encourage her
to register her business. Her current asset now is
around 80,000 pesos.
The presence of several Negosyo Centers scattered in
key areas in Cebu province have made it easier for entrepreneurs like Bienvinida Navoa to pursue and open
up a business, This has redounded to an increase in
businesses registered at the DTI as compared to last
year.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reported a four (4) percent increase of registered businesses
in Cebu Province in the first half of 2016 versus the
same period last year.
Official data of the trade agency revealed that there

Of the total number of business names that DTI registered in the first semester, 90 percent are new while the
rest are renewed registrations. Capitalization for these
businesses reached P2.3 billion and generated 12,221
jobs in total.
In terms of capitalization, real estate businesses got the
highest with 26 percent, followed by the construction
business with 21 percent of total capitalization. For employment, DTI Cebu said construction business generated the highest with 41 percent, followed by food business
with 21 percent of the total employment. Since 2013, DTI
Cebu has recorded increasing business name registrations. The highest recorded was in 2011 with 14,000 business names registered.
In the past few years, DTI focused its efforts to improve
efficiency in business regulatory procedures and improve
ease of doing business which a business must undertake
with several government agencies over its typical life cycle.
Significant reforms made included streamlining processes, reducing the time to complete a procedure, and eliminating constraints in processes from start to end of a
business life cycle.
At the local level, DTI and the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) jointly issued a directive to all
local government units to reduce the time to process new
business registrations. #

http://youtu.be/N5vj8Osfrqk

OTOP STORETINDAHANG PINOY CEBU.

OTOP Store, Cotcot, Lilo-an, Cebu, Philippines.

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Kalampusan October 2016

KALAMPUSAN
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EDITORIAL BOARD

Executive Editor
Asteria Caberte
DTI 7 Regional Director

Writer / Editor
Lay-out Artist
Jojisilia Villamor

I.T. Support
Jerome Elarcosa &
Bernard Cabasisi

Contributors
Shirelyn Villamor
Romel Amihan
Miguel Abuyabor
Jhomae B. Isoto
Anton Gabila
Mary Grace Cutin

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Philippines
REGIONAL OFFICE
Regional Director ASTERIA C. CABERTE
Assistant Regional Director NELIA F. NAVARRO
3rd Flr, WDC Bldg.,Osmena Boulevard, cor. P.Burgos, Cebu City
Tel. # (63)(032) 255-0036 / 255-0037
Fax # (63)(032) 253-7465
email: dti_7@yahoo.com / dticentralvisayas@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/dtiregion7
http://dti7updates.tumblr.com/
BOHOL PROVINCIAL OFFICE
OIC - PD MARIA SOLEDAD LAXA BALISTOY
2F FCB Bldg., CPG Ave., Tagbilaran City
Tel. # (63) 038-501-8260
Fax # (63) 038-412-3533
email: dtibohol@yahoo.com
CEBU PROVINCIAL OFFICE
Provincial Director: MA ELENA C. ARBON
DTI Building, Osmena Boulevard, corner Lapulapu Street, Cebu City
Tel. # (63)(032) 255-6971 / 255-3926
(63)(032) 412-1944 / 412-1945
email: dticebuphil@yahoo.com / dticebuphil@gmail.com
SIQUIJOR PROVINCIAL OFFICE
Provincial Director NIMFA M. VIRTUCIO
CF Bldg., Legaspi St., Siquijor, Siquijor
Tel. # (63)035-480-9065
Fax # (63) 035-344-2238
Email: dtisiquijor@yahoo.com
NEGROS ORIENTAL PROVINCIAL OFFICE
Provincial Director JAVIER FORTUNATO, JR
2F Uymatiao Bldg., San Jose Street. Dumaguete City
Tel. # (63)(035) 422-2764
Fax # (63)(035) 225-7211
Email: dtinegor@gmail.com

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL PROVINCIAL OFFICE

Provincial Director LEA T. GONZALES
3F Prudential Life Building,
San Juan & Luzurriaga Streets, Bacolod City
Tel # (63) (034) 396-9084
Telefax # (63) (034) 433-0250 / 704-2203
Email : RO6.NegrosOccidental@dti.gov.ph

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