NAGA CITY (PIA) -- Despite the rising COVID-19 cases in the province, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Camarines Sur Provincial Office aims to continue extending its services and skills training to their clienteles coming from various parts of the province, for free.

DTI's Business Development Division Trade Industry Devt. Specialist and Public Information Officer (PIO) Madel Alacar said that they have a total of (33) trainings/seminars for the month of May both for Business Development and Consumer Protection Divisions.

"Most of the activities will be conducted through our Negosyo Centers across the province. We are well-aware of the health-threat of COVID-19 that is why some of the activities especially managerial seminars will be conducted thru webinars via online applications," Alacar stressed.

On the first week of May, DTI conducted various activities: seminars on the Basics of Food Safety in Lagonoy, seminar and design of product packaging and labelling for food processors at the Minalabac Negosyo Center, seminar on simple bookkeeping for Small Business and seminar on Product- Pricing and Costing.

Skills training on fish cracker production in Ragay and basket-making made from coco midribs were likewise conducted in Iriga City, held May 12 and 14 respectively.

On May 14, beneficiaries from Talidtid, Canaman were awarded with livelihood kits with skills training on fish embutido while recipients from Sto. Domingo, Milaor also received livelihood kits with skills training on rice-based products.

Upcoming DTI activities for the week include Seminar on Food Safety in Minalabac, Seminar in Business Continuity Planning for Typhoon Affected MSMEs in Milaor, Seminar on Current Good Manufacturing practices in Pili and Business Improvement Plan (BIP) presentation Batch 1, all on May 18. The latter will be done via Zoom.

BIP presentation is an activity prior to Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprise- Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) Virtual Graduation of the pilot batch of mentees (women sector) of DTI Region scheduled on May 21.

On May 19, Wed., DTI Camarines Sur has slated 4 activities: Seminar on Food Safety in San Fernando, Awarding of Livelihood Kits with Skills training on Fan-making, Awarding of livelihood kits with skills training on bamboo plant holder in Cabungan, Balatan, Camarines Sur and Seminar on Abaca/ Coco Fiber preparation for handicrafts in Hamoraon, Minalabac, Camarines Sur.

On the 20th, DTI prepared various seminars and other activities, which will also be held simultaneously in various municipalities in the province: Seminar on Business Continuity Planning in Magarao, Seminar on Online Marketing with Financial Forum to be held at LGU Nabua covered court, Financing Forum for Ragay MSMEs, Financial Literacy to be conducted at the Calabanga People's Center and Skills Training on Rice and rootcrop-based native delicacies making in Taban, Minalabac.

On the same day, DTI CamSur will also spearhead Skills training on Karagumoy plant holder making in Bagacay, Libmanan; Business Expense Savings Training (BEST) Game in Baao and Product development for wearables and Homestyles (Phase 1) which will be conducted via Zoom.

Happening side by side with the KMME-MME Virtual Graduation on the 21st are Skills Training on rattan homestyle crafts making (Bagong Silang, Del Gallego), Awarding of Livelihood kit with skills training on Fish embutido processing (Sua, Canaman), Skills training on cookies making with product development (CBSUA, Pili) and Skills training on minasbad-making (Sta Cruz -Sur, Iriga City).

On May 24, DTI CamSur scheduled the awarding of Skills training on fan-making in San Nicolas, Canaman; May 26- Seminar on Business Continuity Planning for typhoon-affected MSMEs in Sagnay, May 27- Seminar on BIR and BMBE Registration and Awarding of livelihood kits with skills training on bamboo plant holder making in Cagbibi, Pamplona.

"Trainings which require face to face arrangement will be conducted following the strict mandatory health protocols. We have also included additional protective gears both for the participants and facilitators aside from the training supplies," Alacad added.

Following the protocol on social distancing, Alacar said that they have selected open spaces as their venues and locations which can accommodate more than the capacity of the target participants. The number of participants is also limited. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)