DTI blames lack of skills, network as reasons for business failure

EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS. Geo Israel Alviola, DTI-Negros Oriental Trade and Industry Specialist talks about the weaknesses and problems of Filipino entrepreneurs during a lecture series on Tuesday (June 25, 2024) in a local hotel in Dumaguete City. Around 40 members of the informal sector attended the activity.(Photo courtesy of PNA)

DUMAGUETE CITY –  The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental on Tuesday cited unhealthy competition, lack of skills and network as common problems why businesses struggle to succeed.

“When someone establishes a sari-sari store, you can be sure that another person in the neighborhood will also do the same immediately,” Geo Israel Alviola, DTI-Negros Oriental’s Trade and Industry Specialist, said.

Alviola spoke to some 40 participants, including sari-sari store owners, during a series of lectures at a local hotel here, initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the province, to help them level up their businesses and expand their markets.

The DTI official noted that the Filipino mentality of not wanting to be outdone by another usually leads to struggle and eventual closure.

This is on top of other problems that Filipino entrepreneurs usually face that lead them to not succeed in their businesses. Others include financing, no extensive marketing networks, lack of technical knowledge and skill to operate the business; and lack of capability to link with big entrepreneurs.

“Other contributors include poor location, inaccessible and not visible to the target market; limited and valuable resources that are mismanaged; and poor credit practices that lead to inefficient operations,” he added.

Others would not even know there are government programs that could help them.

To correct these problems, government agencies like the DTI, DOLE, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), continue to provide services, training, and information and education to their clients.

Rubie Cempron, DOLE-Negros Oriental livelihood focal person, said they continuously connect with different agencies to ensure their clients are constantly updated on recent developments relevant to their businesses.

DOST’s Thara Anne Banogon highlighted the importance of packaging, saying that it is the “silent salesman” as that well-packaged products contain almost if not all of the information that a customer needs. (PNA)