The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Negosyo Centers in Barotac Nuevo and Dumangas, conducted a seminar aimed at enhancing the entrepreneurial capabilities of local market vendors at the Barotac Nuevo Public Market on May 7, 2025.
Titled “Fostering the Entrepreneurial Mindset of Market Vendors,” the seminar was held in partnership with Barotac Nuevo Market Personnel and focused on key areas such as financial literacy, consumer advocacy, and government support for micro and small enterprises.
The activity forms part of the DTI’s ongoing initiatives to equip grassroots entrepreneurs with practical skills and access to programs that can help grow their small businesses.
“We believe in the potential of our local vendors to evolve into empowered entrepreneurs when given the right tools and knowledge,” said a representative from the DTI-Negosyo Center in Barotac Nuevo.
Ms. Ma. Dorita Chavez and Mr. Romil Maro led the session on consumer advocacy, stressing the importance of ethical selling practices and awareness of consumer rights.
Ms. Alyssa Margaux de la Rama delivered a talk on financial literacy, guiding participants through the basics of budgeting, saving, and personal financial management.
Ms. Wilfe B. Jimoga-on, representing the Small Business Corporation (SBCorp), presented the agency’s portfolio of support services, including microfinancing options and enterprise development programs tailored for small business owners.
Participants responded positively to the initiative, citing its practical value in helping them manage their stalls more effectively and access new opportunities through government support.
“I learned a lot about managing my earnings and planning for the future. This is very helpful for small vendors like me,” one participant shared during the open forum.
The DTI emphasized that such seminars are designed not only to educate but also to connect market vendors with available resources that can help them transition from informal trade to more sustainable enterprise operations.
Negosyo Centers, established under Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act, serve as one-stop shops for MSMEs, offering training, registration assistance, and access to financing and market linkages.
This local seminar reflects the agency’s broader commitment to inclusive economic growth by ensuring that micro-entrepreneurs in towns like Barotac Nuevo are not left behind in the country’s development agenda.
DTI officials said similar capacity-building sessions are being scheduled in nearby municipalities in the coming months to expand the reach of the program.
