MARAWI CITY, Sep. 25 (PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has noted a growing number of successful entrepreneurs among the internally displaced persons (IDP) who benefited from the Department's livelihood starter kits.

'We started our strict monitoring this month and we are amazed because, in just two weeks of our evaluation on the ground, we were able to gather and identify 300 successful entrepreneurs," said Dr. Rosalinda Pineda, DTI Bangon Marawi project manager.

DTI, on Wednesday, distributed livelihood interventions to cooperatives in Marawi and gave recognition to the IDP-entrepreneurs who were able to grow their businesses through the livelihood starter kits given by DTI.

DTI livelihood starter kits include sewing machines, bigasan kits, karenderya kits, baking kits, sari-sari store kits, popcorn kits, masonry and carpentry kits, tile setting kits, school supply kits, and e-loading kits to help Marawi IDPs start anew. To date, 95% of the 50,090 target beneficiaries of DTI already received their starter kits.

"We are very proud. And if we are going to continue with our close monitoring, we would be expecting a lot of successful entrepreneurs," she added.

Ahmad Gazalli Tomawis, owner of the online food business 'Food Gallery', feel elated and grateful for being recognized by DTI as a successful entrepreneur.

"Alhamdulillah! Masaya po kami dahil narecognize kami as one of the successful entrepreneurs. Sa dami ng nabigyan ng starter kits ay isa kami sa mga napili o nabigyan ng pagkakataong ipakita sa kanila at sa ibang IDPs na naging successful ang aming business dahil nagamit namin ang karenderya kit mula sa DTI," he said.

[Praise be to Allah! We are happy because we are recognized as one of the successful entrepreneurs. With the numerous recipients of starter kits, we are chosen and given the opportunity to show them and to other IDPs that our business has been successful because of the karenderya kit from DTI.]

"Actually nagsimula po ang Food Gallery Hunyo ng kasalukuyan taon at Alhamdulillah, sa tatlong buwan pa lang namin ay tinangkilik at sinupurtahan ang aming mga produkto," he added.

[Actually, the Food Gallery started in June of this year and 'Praise be to Allah' in just three months many have supported our products.]

Tomawis also encouraged other IDPs who received DTI starter kits to manage them wisely.

"Gamitin niyo upang magsimula ng maliit na negosyo upang mapalago ito. Hindi biro ang pagnenegosyo lalo na pag food business, pero ang sarap sa pakiramdam na kahit maliit lang yong tubo mo ay pinaghirapan mo. Ito talaga yong matawag natin halal earnings. May kasabihan tayo 'nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa' kaya sipag at tiyaga lang po," he further said.

[Use it to start a small business to grow. Doing business is not a joke, especially in the food business, but it feels nice when you are working hard even if the profit is small. This is really what you call halal earnings. We have a saying 'God helps those who help themselves' so just work hard and persevere.] (APB/PIA-ICIC)