By Kristine Mae Casampol

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday, Dec. 31, provided livelihood assistance to the first batch of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Negros Oriental whose sources of income were destroyed by Typhoon Odette.

The "Bangon Negosyo (Business Recovery)" kits, worth more than P1.1 million, were simultaneously turned over in La Libertad and Bais City, according to DTI provincial director Nimfa Virtucio in an interview.

Each livelihood kit is worth PHP8,000 and includes a Land Bank of the Philippines cash card that the beneficiary can use to purchase goods from DTI-accredited retailers in order to assist them to resuscitate or rebuild their lost businesses, such as sari-sari (retail) stores.

“The recipients whose businesses were destroyed by the typhoon were identified by the barangay and local government unit (LGU) officials and validated by DTI prior to receiving the assistance from us,” Virtucio said in mixed English and Cebuano.

They were a part of the group that benefited. There were 24 for La Libertad, 30 for Guihulngan City, six for Vallehermoso, twelve for Bindoy, fifty-three for Bais City, and fifteen for Mabinay.

The Bangon Negosyo kits are part of the DTI's livelihood seeding program, Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay, which is carried out in partnership with local government agencies.

More Bangon Negosyo kits will be given next year, according to Virtucio, once people affected by "Odette" have been certified by the DTI and their villages.

Those interested in participating in the program must visit a DTI Negosyo Center and present valid identification, proof of business registration (mayor's permit, business name certificate, and/or LGU certification), and proof that their business was damaged by the typhoon (photos/certification from the LGU/local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRM).

They can submit the requirements to the local DRRM if their area does not have a DTI Negosyo Center.

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