The government and many private organizations like Go Negosyo are working together to empower and support MSMEs in the country. Most of them are from the provinces who just need that extra inspiration and knowhow, information and network with relevant mentors and institutions in order to level up. It is found that not all microentrepreneurs are eager, nor committed to grow. Some are contented where they are, while some are really aggressive and hardworking.

Our friend Dr. Jaime Aris Alip of CARD-MRI, the biggest micro finance institution in the country today, cited that about six percent of all microentrepreneurs they lend to are really enterprising and would grow on their own, while about 80 percent are happy where they are. The balance of 14 percent are those eager to grow, but would need extra assistance on competency building and information to grow, their business. This is where the needed training and mentoring from the Go Negosyo community will make a difference in improving their business models and strategies. For the majority 80 percent, I still believe that if we are able to inspire many of them to dream bigger, to have a vision moving forward, and to show them how to take it to the next level, they too can be empowered to grow and succeed more.

Here is one micro-entrepreneur who has received support from the government and private organization.

Nanay Fe Buangin-Carranza was introduced to us by Rep. Leni Robredo after our Vice Presidentiables Forum. Nanay Fe, together with other mom-entrepreneurs from Naga, traveled all the way to Manila to support Rep. Leni because she has been instrumental in helping them level up. As we all know, Rep. Leni is an advocate of entrepreneurship and livelihood for women in Naga and has led several organizations that support this cause.

Nanay Fe has an orthopedic disability caused by polio, but it did not stop her from being successful.

Nanay Fe has always identified herself as an entrepreneur. She admits that among her nine siblings, she’s the one inclined to selling things. “Mahilig akong magtinda-tinda,” she said. From fresh fish in Navotas, to cellphone and accessories in Palawan, and now a variety of soya-products, Nanay Fe continues to be entrepreneurial despite her disability.

Her soya business started when she was taught how to prepare soya beans and turn them to tofu by one of the friends of her children. From then on, she has been producing tofu and soya milk in Naga. She would sell her products to the employees of Naga City Hall. And that is where she met Rep. Leni Robredo, who was then the president of Naga City Council for Women. Rep. Leni took notice of how Nanay Fe starts the engine of her motorbike, her transport service to and from her house to the markets. Because Nanay Fe’s right foot is the one with a disability, she has to turn around and kick the starter with her left foot. Actually, she even showed me how she does it when we met her.

She was endorsed by Rep. Leni to DOST which then granted Nanay Fe with technical assistance for her soya production. Through the years, Fe’s Fabcarr Food Products has received support from the local government and private organizations such as Grow Negosyo Project of Naga City, GREAT Women Project, DTI Camsur, among others.

Today, Fabcarr Food Products offers soya milk, tofu, nutrimeat made from soya pulp, soy coffee, taho jelly and soya bread. Through partnership with the local government, Fabcarr has provided nutritional food including soya bread and chilled taho to the students and malnourished kids of the city. In 2011, Nanay Fe was recognized as the Outstanding Micro Entrepreneur of Naga City.

This proves that with determination, enterprising mindset and developed skills, one can achieve success. And with the help of the government and other private institutions, microentrepreneurs like Nanay Fe will receive the needed financial access, technical support, and mentoring and guidance.

The Lakas ng Kababaihan group has tapped Go Negosyo to conduct the Negosyo Mentor Me Seminar on Saturday, April 23 in Naga City. We are inviting all the mom-preneurs like Nanay Fe and all the aspiring entrepreneurs to register and learn more about entrepreneurship and growing the business.

PLDT SMART SME NATION and Go Negosyo continue to support MSMEs. (In photo) Gabby Cui, SME Community Engagement and Marketing Communication head; Ramon Lopez, Go Negosyo executive director; Eric Alberto, PLDT EVP, head of EICB and CEO, ePLDT; Joey Concepcion, Go Negosyo founder; Mitch Locsin, PLDT SMART SME Nation head, and Francis Oliva, SME Community Partnerships head.

One solid partner that continues to support and enable many micro, small and medium entrepreneurs to level-up is PLDT Smart SME Nation. Part of the MVP group, PLDT Smart continues to join our summits and seminars and we will launch jointly this year the Negosyo Seminar Mentor Me – Make It Big seminars to ensure we bring the entrepreneurial knowhow, coupled with learnings on how to maximize digital technology to enhance efficiencies and profitability. Connectivity to the world helps many entrepreneurs from business ideation process, to product and market development. Entrepreneurs do a lot of research and having access to the Internet is key. ICT in operations and, of course, in selling and, getting consumer feedback though e-commerce and social media are now a must-have in any operation. Thanks to the PLDT Smart team led by MVP, Eric Alberto, Kat Luna-Abelarde, Mitch Locsin and Gabby Cui for continuing to serve as enabling partners in entrepreneurship development.