Publisher’s Note
Encouraging entrepreneurial mettle
among seafarers
W
ith the hosting of several economic summits globally left and right—
the latest being the ASEAN and APEC meets being held in Manila and
Da Nang, Vietnam respectively—one of the major topics is the role of
harnessing Micro- Small- and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). In the
Philippines alone, MSMEs, which make up 99.6% of the Philippine
enterprises, have the potential to create productive employment and
promote economic growth as they become part of the global supply
chain.
And there is also the advantage of starting MSMEs, especially among our hardworking
seafarers. In their months of being idle as they take their leave, they can take the opportunity
of utilizing their lost time by starting enterprises among themselves, with their families, close
friends and even fellow seafarers.
As they make their own upstarts, this can instill among our seafarers-in-waiting the strong
sense for them to veer away from being consumption-driven to being entrepreneur-oriented,
where they learn the value of managing resources, dealing with clients and running things
themselves. It is also some sort of empowerment, where they learn to make life better for
themselves while serving others on one side and their community on the other. They can also
take advantage of government and private groups that offer support and provide invaluable
advice for their ventures, such as financial institutions and esteemed organizations like the
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
The opportunities truly remain great, and with a lot of sacrifice, optimism and creative
mettle, our seafarers indeed can become equally good in business!
PHILIP O. ORTALEZA
OWWA and ATIKHA Overseas Workers and Communities Initiative, Inc. forged a MOA for the promotion of
savings, investments, and entrepreneurship among OFWs and/or their families – pp 36
OWWA Transforms "Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Livelihood Program" – pp 37
BSP support for MSMEs assured – pp 52
DOLE awards outstanding MSMEs –pp 60
Trade Chief tout ASEAN MSMEs’ importance in economic growth of regional bloc – pp 62
PH BOI, PCCI holds business conference and matching activity, aims to strengthen linkage of ASEAN MSMEs
with ASEAN and global MNEs – pp 65
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