Tarlac State University’s College of Business and Accountancy and Department of Trade and Industry entered a memorandum of agreement to further their commitments to the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province on Tuesday (March 14) held at the TSU Main AVR.
According to Officer-in-Charge Provincial Director Zaida Garibay, they will ensure their utmost commitment to help more MSMEs, in partnership with TSU, in securing their Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration before joining trade fairs.
She said Tarlac is very lucky to have a supportive governor who sends entrepreneurs abroad like the Ambiente 2023, a trade fair held in Frankfurt, Germany, where ten Tarlaqueño MSME owners displayed their products.
Furthermore, the partnership will also help students who are trying to establish their products. The said students could also undergo mentoring with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
At least ten trainings are planned to be conducted in DTI's 18 Negosyo Centers this year, according to Dir. Garibay, through their Young Entrepreneurs Project (YEP) with the tagline “Harnessing Our Own Resources for the Advancement of the Youth (HOORAY)."
The three-year partnership will be supervised by the Extension Services Management Office (ESMO). Through the ESMO, the university will provide informal education or knowledge transfer to MSMEs through seminars and training services.
The university’s pool of experts will extend services to the partner community towards human resource development. Selected faculty members based on expertise will serve as resource speakers for every training or seminar in April for agrarian reform beneficiaries.
According to Prof. Christine Janelle Santiago, CBA Extension Chairperson, DTI tapped their college to help them conduct 14 seminars with the business sectors, including those who are agrarian reform beneficiaries.
In a message during the signing ceremony, TSU President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco expressed his full support for this endeavor with DTI that would benefit the immediate community.
"TSU anticipates that more significant, purposeful, and impactful programs and activities will prosper through this partnership. With the various projects and initiatives we intend to undertake jointly, we can keep making a difference in our respective communities," Pres. Velasco said.
Vice President for Research and Extension Services Dr. Murphy P. Mohammed echoed the same sentiments in his closing remarks, emphasizing the essence of creating a "ripple effect."
“We want to give [an] impact [on] the lives of the people that we are training. We need to be innovative, create a ripple effect, and make a change in the community,” VP Mohammed said.
Photos by Franc Lewis R. Juanatas
