Molding & Weaving The 2010 RuMEPP South Cotabato Year-End Report

2010 Overall Assessment Programme Goals and Objectives The national goal to reduce poverty is aligned with the Country’s commitment to contribute to the MDG’s goal 1: Eradication of Extreme Poverty This is also consistent with the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan

# of MEs: 206 out of 202 Numerical Targets Sole Proprietors: 187 Cooperatives/ Associations: 18 (including sole ME Networks like UPPSCO, POPMA, Single Parents Association) Federation: 1 (Kenhulong of Lake Sebu) Jobs: averaged increased of 1 from Jan-October 2010 – 935 in January 2010 – 1,035 in October 2010 ME Registration: 48 (influenced by RuMEPP) P 30, 524, est. combined sales as of October 2010 Jobs, New MEs, Sales Trade Fair Sales (RuMEPP Contribution) P 517,

Contributory Factors to RuMEPP Success in 2010 Assurance of convergence with stakeholders like LGUs, ACT for Peace Programme, and other partners High-turn over of ME business compliance (registration etc.), although FDA registration is still a challenge High turn-over of MEs applying BDS Provisions Big-sister; Little Sister approach of ME relationship ME-ME sharing of market linkages Active involvement of MEs in RuMEPP activities Regular project review/ activity assessment before and after implementation that involves ME (result based rather than input based) Assured counterparts of MEs in activities

Other facilitating factors that contributed to the improvement of rural MEs: provision of various business development trainings of RuMEPP the community ME facilitators developed are direct means to which MEs themselves share knowledge on ME development convergence of resources (directly or indirectly) with partner programmes and agencies like ACT for Peace, LGU-DA Tupi, Tampakan, MPDC Polomolok and Surallah BDS providers passion to work for ME development by constant application of validation and re-verification of intervention before implementation of any activity Willingness of MEs to learn Firm level BDS provided by RuMEPP Constant coaching and advice given by DTI Team to MEs

The factors that hindered the development of RMEs Poor MEs could not provide equity in their set-up of even a small processing plant/ center that is DOH-FDA compliant LGUs do not recognize or do not implement BMBE Law that supports ME development MEs (Level 1) still assumed of dole-out projects given by government without equity/ stake from them LGU based projects are still seen as mere livelihood (dispersal mostly) rather than gearing towards micro-enterprising.

2011 Recommendations Intensified ME level trainings on financial management, queuing and inventory management Provision of Product and ME based approach projects in ME development Intensified BMBE law advocacy of the LGU level (LCEs and SBs)

2011 Project Ideas MARKET IMPROVEMENT Support to Tourism cluster through product consolidation of RuMEPP assisted products to resorts (and/ or hotels) in the province or in the region and provision of ME capacity building on Intensified financial management and operations management esp. queuing and inventory management Improve market of RuMEPP MEs through market matching of RuMEPP assisted products with large companies (t-shirts and industrial soaps). Making micro-financing directly available to RuMEPP assisted MEs through linking RuMEPP MEs with micro-finance assistance and tapping an MFI to deliver non-financial BDS to selected MEs engage in brasscasting Lake Sebu, South Cotabato Intensified support to native delicacy through provision of product development/ improvement trainings and market linkage (availability of moro-delicacies in halal restaurants and other resorts) Assuring that relevant number/ quantity of recycled sugar bags and eco-bags in Polomolok and bayong in Surallah or Tupi, and nito products in Tampakan are available in the market through intensified LGU policy-promotion and enhanced ME capability-building on mass production and inventory of the mentioned products. Link of new MEs to other markets through participation to regional trade fairs.

ME DEVELOPMENT/ KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT & IMPROVEMENT / CONVERGENCE Provide intensified training that supports graduation of MEs from livelihood perspective towards micro-enterprising in Norala, South Cotabato through provision of a Start and Improve Your Own Business training. Assure that MEs are business-compliant though provision of business compliance sessions on LTO registration with DOH-FDA, taxation with BIR, policies and regulation on nutritional facts with DOST and employee benefits with DOLE, PhilHealth and SSS.