MANILA — The Duterte administration reassured sari-sari store owners and other micro entrepreneurs of its continued commitment to their welfare.
During the Puregold’s Sari-Sari Store Convention dubbed “TindahaNation” on Wednesday, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go said the incumbent leadership steadfastly supports inclusive growth.
Go added that micro businesses like sari-sari stores encourage Filipinos to participate in economic activities, as this is the “easiest business that Filipinos can engage into”.
He cited government programs through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that supports sari-sari stores and other small-scale entrepreneurial endeavors.
They include the “Suking Tindahan Program” which gives a seal of good housekeeping to sari-sari stores that implements suggested retail prices (SRPs) in their establishments so that more Filipinos have better access to cheaper basic and prime goods.
As these stores are selling products in lower prices, these establishments are expected to get more customers compared to normal sari-sari stores, which implements a markup on prices of their goods.
The DTI also launched the “Kapatid Mentor Me Program,” a mentorship program for micro and small entrepreneurs for them to grow their businesses.
The “Negosyo Centers” nationwide likewise bring government services closer to entrepreneurs for them to register their businesses.
“President Duterte, even before when he is still a Davao mayor, wants business permit application to be fast. He wants it done by 48 or 72 hours,” Go said in Filipino.
“That is also his directive to the DTI: make doing business in the country easier for Filipinos. Those who want to go into business, help them,” he added.
Go also recognized efforts of large firms like Puregold that help sari-sari store owners grow their businesses.
Puregold Price Club Vice Chairman Susan Co, for her part, revealed there are now more than 300,000 sari-sari stores under its Tindahan ni Aling Puring (TNAP) Program.
Its TNAP members also reached 1.8 million to date, Co said.
TNAP is a membership program of Puregold for sari-sari store owners that provides the latter competitive pricing, exclusive promotions, and other services that would provide store owners better profit. (Kris Crismundo/PNA)
