A TOTAL of 40 micro-enterprises in Iloilo City, including 20 sari-sari (variety) stores, 10 bakeries, and 10 tailors received their Negosyo Kits from the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) as part of their community upskilling and enterprise development project at Iloilo City Hall on September 12. The City Government, through the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office, partnered with NGCP and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Iloilo and facilitated entrepreneurship training for the beneficiaries. Included in the livelihood kits are groceries for sari-sari store owners, sewing machines and kits for tailors, and baking equipment and ingredient packages for bakers. Mayor Jerry Treñas expressed his gratitude to NGCP and DTI for choosing the city for the project to alleviate the economic impact brought by the Covid pandemic, especially on convenience stores, bakeries and dressmakers. “We hope to continue to conduct programs to improve our entrepreneurs, our small businesses in villages. We want to level up the small businesses in our markets now being developed,” said Treñas. DTI-Iloilo Negosyo Center (NC) Trade-Industry Development analyst Charlene Joy Adeja facilitated the discussion on managing finances while DTI NC Iloilo City business counselor John Robin Juatas discussed business resiliency for MSMEs.