Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) — More former residents of Tapliptip in Bulakan are set to become business owners under San Miguel Corporation’s community reseller program.
“For most of the past year, we have been continuously providing them skills and livelihood training and job opportunities,” SMC president and COO Ramon Ang said in a statement. “This reseller program represents our next-level effort to help ensure they will have better and more sustainable income.”
The program, which is part of the conglomerate’s assistance to communities affected by the construction of its ₱740-billion Bulacan airport, will provide participants training and capital to help them become resellers of the food and beverage giant’s products.
SMC will provide the initial inventory of Purefoods and Magnolia frozen products and equipment to beneficiaries, who will be formed into cooperatives with the help of the Cooperative Development Authority.
At least 180 relocatees have signified their interest in joining the program, while 48 have already undergone a two-day entrepreneurship training. Succeeding batches are also set to take the same seminar.
This follows the success of the initial community store managed by former Sitio Kinse residents at their new housing community in Barangay Bambang, also in Bulakan.
Ang added that the company is continuously providing livelihood training for residents in partnership with the government, which will allow beneficiaries to work at the airport or put up small businesses to support the project, or a community training program that will enhance their skills to earn from industries like seafood processing.
The company recently hired 12 graduates of a Heavy Equipment Operation course that is part of its SMC-TESDA training partnership program for the relocatees. They now work at SMC’s ₱1 billion Tullahan-Tinajeros river system dredging project.
SMC has also helped several residents secure their land titles, and construct their new homes at safer locations.
“By investing in a world-class international airport and its infrastructure network, we are equally focused on making sure our communities will not be left behind, and in fact, can be empowered to be part of growth and at the same time sustainably provide for their families,” Ang said.
