Sustainability of BDA-PLEDGE supported enterprise groups eyed thru SIYB
Key staff of Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) under Programme for Local Economic Development through Enlighten Governance and Grassroots Empowerment (PLEDGE) underwent Refresher Training of Trainers (ToT) of Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) on August 24-26, 2016 at Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City.
Julhaina Cadon, PLEDGE program coordinator told in an interview that the activity was part of the continuation of their ToT on SIYB which was first conducted on March 21 to April 2, 2016 in the same venue.
“After our OJT and SIYB roll-out activities across BDA regions, participants were convened once again for the refresher training to process the lesson learned after community immersion and be able to identify areas for enhancement. Their experiences will be their tools to further hone their skills,” Cadon said.
She added that this refresher training included inputs on strengthening business plan where all the inputs in the SIYB are imparted.
Cadon also reported that the activity highlighted the discussions on “costing” since majority of the participants recommended to give emphasis or focus on it to enlighten them.
“It was a consensus that the topic on “costing” is the most challenging but alhamdulillah (thank Allah), we were enlightened through the help of our master trainer. We finally identified the easiest way to do it,” Cadon stressed.
Accordingly, costing is the way you calculate the total costs of making or selling goods/products or providing services.
The SIYB training was organized by International Labour Organization (ILO), the trust fund recipient (TFR) of the PLEDGE.
Resource person of the training was a master trainer from Sri Lanka.
PLEDGE is the economic and livelihood component of MTF. The program covers 11 project sites in different provinces in Mindanao targeting at least 42 community-based enterprises through Peoples Organization.
The goal of the program is to help reduce poverty, promote inclusive growth, support confidence building and lasting peace in Mindanao through practical approaches on local economic development through enlightened governance and grassroots empowerment.
PLEDGE is supported by the MTF with various donors such as such as the European Union, the Swedish International Development Agency, the Australian Embassy Philippines, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada, the United States Agency for International Development, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the World Bank.