Winners of the 2021 Productivity Olympics were announced during the first virtual awarding ceremony conducted by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) on Oct. 21.
The Northern Roots SG Group, popularly known as Session Groceries, representing the Cordillera, was declared a national winner in the service category for small enterprises.
Atty. Marvie Fulgencio, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-CAR board secretary, said Session Groceries operates as a wholesaler and distributor of fresh farm produce located at the Farmer’s Center, La Trinidad, Benguet. It is an online platform that provides sustainable and economic opportunity for the farmers through agri-preneur and innovation. The business buys directly from member-farmers.
As a national winner, Session Groceries will receive P150,000, a plaque of recognition, the right to use the Productivity Olympics logo for three years and priority endorsement to training programs and services of NWPC/RTWPB and DOLE.
Session Groceries’ win is considered as one that heralds the revitalization of productivity champions in the Cordillera.
RTWPB-CAR bested 15 other Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board nationwide sharing the honor with RTWPB National Capital Region (NCR). RTWPB-CAR was awarded as Best RTWPB for the most number of finalists and quality documentation.
This year, five were chosen as finalists to represent the Cordillera from the 10 candidates pre-selected by the RTWPB-CAR. They are Cosmic Farm, Gabay Wines and Fruit Preserves, Northern Roots SG Group (Session Groceries), Baguio Benguet Community Credit Cooperative, and the Treasure Link Cooperative Society.
The four other national finalists will receive P20,000, a plaque of recognition, the right to use the Productivity Olympics logo for three years, and priority endorsement to training programs and services of NWPC/RTWPBs and DOLE.
Cordillera regional finalists were Cosmic Farm of Beckel, La Trinidad, Benguet and the Palayen Farm of Bauko, Mountain Province for agri-business micro; Gabay Wines and Fruit Preserves of Sagada, Mountain Province and Atok Coffee Growers and Marketing Cooperative of Caliking, Atok, Benguet for industry micro; Easter Weaving Room, Inc. of Baguio City for industry small; FreshBuysPh of Baguio City for service micro; Northern Roots SG Group (Session Groceries) of La Trinidad, Benguet for service small; Baguio Benguet Community Credit Cooperative of Baguio City for service small; Health 101 Restoreants of Baguio City for service medium, and Treasure Link Cooperative Society of Sagada, Mountain Province for service medium.
The Productivity Olympics is a nationwide competition organized by the NWPC held every two years where the best productivity practices of micro, small, and medium enterprises are showcased.
This year’s Olympics is a special edition aimed at recognizing the establishments’ resilience and steadfastly overcome difficulties to reach their targets, sustain growth, and contribute to economic recovery; and preserved employment and kept their employees engaged and committed to organizational goals, with the theme, “Bounce back better.”
The criteria for the 2021 Productivity Olympics are 50 percent for business continuity for its readiness to continue business amid disruption and effectiveness of business continuity plan/strategy; 30 percent for employment engagement, which translates to workers’ health and safety, workplace collaboration, and employee performance; and 20 percent for employment preservation and expansion. – Patrick Rillorta
