DOLE Fetes Best Msmes

Underscoring the importance of productivity in enterprises, the labor department recognized eight micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which have demonstrated business and resource management excellence and productivity improvement at the 2019 Productivity Olympics.

Spearheaded by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and its Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs), the event is a biennial national competition that fetes the best productivity improvement programs among MSMEs.

Speaking at the national awarding ceremony in Malate, Manila, DOLE Acting Secretary Claro Arellano lauded the MSMEs for championing productivity and for serving as inspiration for the Department to continuously help enterprises and workers alike in promoting their mutual interests that contribute to economic development.

The productivity programs of MSMEs were evaluated based on their impact on business performance, workers’ participation in the program, and the adoption of gainsharing practices.

Among this year’s awardees were Jida Aqua Resources (Caraga Region) and Vicky’s Pili and Food Products (Bicol Region) for the agribusiness sector; and Bahi Enterprises (Bicol Region), 3D Container and Packaging Philippines Corporation (CALABARZON), and Cagayan 1 Electric Cooperative Inc., (Cagayan Valley region) for the industry sector.

Also recognized were Coffee for Peace (Davao Region), Baguio-Benguet Community Credit Cooperative (Cordillera Administrative Region), and JMH Microfinance, Inc. (Bicol Region) for the service sector.

The national winners each received P100,000, a trophy, and priority endorsements to other DOLE training programs and services.

Special citations were also given to the following MSME finalists for their notable business performance: HHS Leather Goods Enterprises (CALABARZON), Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts, Inc. (CAR), and Cagayan Appliance Center (Cagayan Valley Region).

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-Bicol was also recognized as the 2019 Best Regional Board.

NWPC Executive Director Ma. Criselda Sy said that the labor department aims to inculcate a ‘culture of productivity’ among MSMEs through training programs and technical assistance being provided by the NWPC.

She emphasized the need to help MSMEs improve their performance and enhance competitiveness given that they play an important role in the value chain as they comprise the bulk of enterprises in the country.

Sy also hopes that more MSMEs will join the Productivity Olympics slated in 2021, which will focus on the application of digital technologies in productivity improvement programs. (DOLE PR)