DTI empowers indigenous people in Palawan thru entrepreneurship

Posted: August 19, 2025
A collage of three images showing the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducting an entrepreneurial capability building training for indigenous people in Palawan. The top image shows a large group of participants posing outdoors with banners. The bottom left image shows a speaker addressing a group of women seated indoors, with a banner in the background that reads 'Entrepreneurial Capability Building Training.' The bottom right image shows small groups engaged in discussions or activities inside a classroom.Over 150 beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in Sitio Marabon, Balabac, Palawan, took part in an entrepreneurial capability-building training organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)–MIMAROPA in partnership with DSWD on August 13–14, 2025.

The two-day training featured in-depth sessions on Business Continuity and Resilience Planning, Advanced Financial Management, and Consumer Education, equipping participants with essential skills to strengthen and sustain their small enterprises.

Most of the beneficiaries are engaged in seaweed farming and trading in Balabac. The program aims to enhance their business practices, generate more livelihood opportunities, and celebrate the rich culture and traditions of indigenous peoples and local community entrepreneurs.

Participants noted that the training provided insights on managing capital and preparing for potential disruptions to their businesses. Through its partnership with DSWD’s SLP, DTI-MIMAROPA continues to extend entrepreneurial support to communities in far-flung and underserved areas, ensuring that inclusive growth reaches even the most remote parts of the region. ♦

Date of Release: 19 August 2025