LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – At least 3,000 owners of micro, small and medium enterprises from different municipalities in Benguet were selected to benefit from the Sibol or Start-up, Incentives, Business Opportunity and Livelihood program, an initiative of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Romualdez, along with Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and Gov. Melchor Diclas, witnessed the awarding of the financial assistance during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair at the CCDC Gymnasium in La Trinidad on April 21.
The beneficiaries received P5,000 each through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and five kilos of rice each.
The Sibol program aims to empower individuals through small business opportunities, particularly targeting start-up businesses in the country.
Romualdez expressed his unwavering support to the MSMEs.
“As the leader of the House, asahan n’yo na kami ay gagawa ng mahahalagang batas para makatulong sa inyo para tugunan ang pangagailangan ng taong bayan,” Romualdez said.
The Sibol program is in collaboration with the different government agencies to provide support not only to entrepreneurs, but also to existing small and micro businesses, and to individuals who are seeking more employment opportunities.
It has teamed up with GCash, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Department of Trade and Industry to provide comprehensive support for business owners.
The program was launched on Feb. 18 in Siquijor with over 3,000 beneficiaries and has since become a part of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair. – Redjie Melvic Cawis
