THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO), recently conducted the 5-day Training on Entrepreneurship to 29 out-of-school youth (OSY), at the Pinnacle Suites and Functions in San Jose, Antique.

DOLE Region 6 Director Ponciano M. Ligutom reported that this is already the fourth batch of OSYs who have undergone training on entrepreneurship.

He said the training which is funded by the ILO, through the DOLE, under the Generate Your Business/Start Your Business Program of the Millennium Development Goal-Youth Employment & Migration, provided the participants knowledge and skills on how to generate business ideas and start up a business. They were taught to compute the cost and profit of their business during the workshop and each one was required to come up with a business plan for approval and funding.

“We want to inculcate in the mind of the young people the importance of having their own business. Aside from earning income, they can also generate jobs for members of the family or even to the unemployed young people in the community,” Ligutom said.

The beneficiaries of this training are Rosalie Alagos, Joveliza Mari Arcillas, Cherry Ann Buenviaje, Darlet Salde dela Cruz, Therez Ramonnelle Octavio, Ariel Serquino, Marianne Getana Mabansag, Jorge Noel Pajarito, Rizza Jane Ramos, Rizza Jane Ramos, Jaser Dave Rangas, Gabby Sarsuza and Audia Iona Zaragoza, who proposed to engage in Carinderia.

Others were Michael Pingoy, Julie Fe Combong, and Maricel Osman who opted to engage in rice retail trade, John Cle Cayao for pastry shop,  Zandro Rey Dais for refrigeration/aircon repair shop, Gilbert Escares-frozen foods retail, Eujem Espago-tailoring shop, Jovie Galono-cakes/pastries baking,  Franz Marvin Limen-motorcycle parts retail,  Jayson Maldecir-automotive shop, Gemar Marcalinas-barbecue stand, Mabreen Joy Morales-selling meat products, Joven Osuyos-cellphone repair shop, Princess Mae Panaligan-canteen, Ryan Gil Pechon-automotive parts retail, Steve Valenzuela-massage servicing, and Lorenzo Ruiz Sapino-tapsilogan.

They will be given the opportunity to start their own business by providing equipment and start-up goods based on the individual business plan they submitted.

To date, a total of 113 disadvantaged out-of-school youth have already been trained on entrepreneurship since the start of the program last year. The various trades of the first batch of trainees are now in full swing after the DOLE released in March the goods, tools and jigs that they requested, based on the project proposals submitted, with total cost amounting to P225,000.