TABUK CITY, Kalinga – In a bid to support indigent but deserving residents of Tabuk City and the municipality of Tanudan, the Office of the Vice President (OVP), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the city government, and the Tanudan municipal government, launched the “Mag Negosyo Ta ‘Day Sa Tabuk City” program at the Tabuk City Hall Conference Hall.
The initiative, held on May 29, 2025, targets small business owners in both Tabuk and Tanudan.
According to the OVP, the program aims to empower individuals, groups, and sectors affected by poverty, injustice, and calamities by integrating them into the mainstream economy, fostering self-reliance and active citizenship.
Under the program, each beneficiary receives a grant of PhP15,000 as seed capital, along with a one-day entrepreneurship training conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry to equip them with the skills needed to manage and sustain their businesses.
Representing City Mayor Darwin Estrañero, City Administrator Arnold Tenedero expressed gratitude to the OVP for including Tabuk as one of the program’s beneficiaries.
He said one common problem many of the people face is poverty and that the city government is thankful because the beneficiaries would not just receive a grant, but also gain important knowledge on how to manage their businesses properly.
Tenedero emphasized the importance of using the seed capital wisely so they can grow their businesses and help not only themselves but also their communities and the economy as a whole.
Wilhelmina Quilang of the OVP, challenged the beneficiaries to recognize the value of the grant and use it to boost their businesses.
She added that once they become successful, they should also give back by helping others in their community.
Quilang stressed that the program aims for people to become self-reliant, and that the people of Kalinga are known to be brave and industrious that is why they should not be merely relying on ‘ayuda’ but by themselves and their will to give themselves and their families a better future. By Edward Joseph Gacuya
