Antique: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Antique is calling on owners of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) to enroll for the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) online program. DTI-Antique Director Mary Jade Gonzales announced that there will be 20 slots available for two batches of the KMME program this year.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gonzales mentioned that the DTI Antique will be hosting the online session for the second batch of KMME and is actively seeking 20 mentees for the program. Interested MSMEs are encouraged to coordinate with their Negosyo Center (NC) counsellors to facilitate their application process.

In order to qualify, applicants must have existing enterprises where they can apply their learnings from the modules on marketing, financial literacy, operations management, and product development. Gonzales highlighted the success story of the first program graduates in Antique, who established the first credit cooperative in Western Visayas, the Kami Antique Credit Cooperative, which assists members and other MSMEs with startup capital.

Furthermore, the DTI plans to open a new Negosyo Center in Barangay Semirara, Caluya within the year. Gonzales noted that Antique already has several centers that offer support to MSMEs in business name registration and mentoring, among other services.