The 10th Cavite MSMEs Business Conference, a collaborative partnership between the Provincial Government of Cavite through the Provincial Cooperative, Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development Office (PCLEDO) and its partners, the Cavite Small Medium Enterprise Development (CaSMED), Department of Trade and Industry-Cavite and the Local Government Unit of the City of Bacoor, was successfully held on 28 September 2023 at the Fynn Boutique Hotel, Bacoor City, Cavite.
With the theme “#FoodSecure.Ph: Government, Private Partners and Cavite MSMEs on the Road to Food Security,” the conference focused on Food Security as an increasingly serious concern at the present time and the role of all stakeholders in propelling self-sufficient industries to achieve Food Security in the Philippines.
The event was graced by Hon. Abeng Remulla, Board Member of the 7th District of Cavite, Councilor Reynaldo Fabian, and 2nd District Representative Lani Mercado Revilla.
Before the program started, an overview of the Cavite MSMEs Business Conference was given by Cavite SMED Council Chairperson, Ms. Teresita M. Leabres.
The Economic Roadmap of the Philippines was discussed by Prof. Ronilo Balbieran – President of Research, Education & Institutional Development (REID) Foundation Inc. He pointed out that the Philippine Economy was steadily improving until COVID-19, but then 2020-2022 eventually accelerated the digital transformation of government and businesses, and come 2023 and beyond, with the right mix of actions from the government and businesses, and the right strategic choices, the Philippine economy will eventually catch up and bounce back.
In the 2nd part of the program, the Technical and Advisory Visit (TAV) was discussed by the Department of Labor and Employment and shortly after, the Food Security and Economic Development discussion started and was moderated by the OIC of the Office of the Provincial Cooperatives Development Officer (OPCDO), Atty. Khervy V. Reyes. Panelists were from NEDA 4A ARD Carmel P. Matabang, DTI 4A ARD and concurrent DTI Cavite Provincial Director Revelyn A. Cortez, Agricultural Program Coordinator of Department of Agriculture Mr. Ruben Perlas, and Cooperative Development Authority Regional Director Salvador Valeroso.
Meanwhile, Agri and Food Security were discussed by Mr. Jeremy Gohkongwei, Founder and Group CEO of World Food Chain and Food Starter/Co-Founder of Metafarms. Mr. Gohkongwei highlighted in his discussion their company objective which is to improve logistics to lessen post-harvest losses. Here, he showed an actual simulation of processing an order that only took around 24-26 hours from Nueva Ecija to a Supermarket in Las Piñas, Metro Manila.
Before the program ended, a success story was narrated by the General Manager of Palangue Agrarian Reform Cooperative, highlighting the success of their organization and the breakthrough that farming has brought them.
The 2023 Cavite MSMEs Business Conference was concluded by Atty. Khervy B. Reyes who shared his Words of Challenge: M = Maging bahagi ng solusyon. Wag hayaang maiwan lng sa papel ang mga natutunan. S = Sikaping magkaroon ng pagkakaisa. M = Maging resilient and adaptive. E = Envision a better version of ourselves.