Aklan honors two pioneer MSMEs

Aklan honors two pioneer MSMEs

By Venus G. Villanueva, Thursday 19th of July 2012

KALIBO, Aklan, July 19 (PIA6) -- Two pioneer women entrepreneurs in Aklan now in their twilight years were honored here July 18 for spurring and sustaining the Piña loomweaving industry in the province. They were also cited for using Aklan fibers like abaca and raffia, which eventually became one of the province’ first export products.

The two awardees, Susima M. Dela Cruz of the De la Cruz House of Pina and Josefina I. Dela Cruz of JIC Enterprises received their awards during the opening program of the the 3-day Aklan Enhanced SME Caravan held at the Ati-atihan Festival Hostel and Conference Center in Kalibo.

Susima De la Cruz, 87, of New Buswang, Kalibo was awarded by the Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (PSMEDC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the first Aklan Entrepreneur to develop and promote the Pure Pina Loom-woven Fabric and for her continuous contribution to the development and promotion of the loomweaving industy in the province of Aklan.

Josefina I. Dela Cruz, 95, was honored for being the first Aklan Exporter of Abaca and Raffia Placemats, which started in 1957 and only stopped in 1985 when she stayed for sometime in Canada.

The PMSMED Council also awarded Leila Sualog, now a retired provincial government employee a Certificate of Recognition for being the first PSMEDC Coordinator.

Aklan’s PMSMED Council is composed of both national government agencies and private sector groups organized yet in 1996.

As such, it was the first PMSMED Council to be organized in Western Visayas through the efforts of DTI-Aklan Provincial Office and the Provincial Government of Aklan.

The Aklan PSMEDC is chaired by the Provincial Government of Aklan through Governor Carlito S. Marquez and co-chaired by DTI-Aklan now through Provincial Director Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr.

In the opening program, Governor Marquez and Director Cadena, who were both present, called for the further strengthening of MSMEs and for the enhancement of Aklan’s products and crafts in order to improve the province’ economy and business sector.

Besides the Entrepreneurs’ Forum on the first day, other activities to be taken up in the 3-day SME Caravan include Seminar on Effective Trade Center/SME Showroom Management and Visual Merchandising on July 19, and Consultancy on Food Packaging and Labeling, Skills Demonstration on Advanced Beadworks and Seminar on Wealth Management on July 20. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)


Diosdado Cadena Jr.