The Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) has forged a partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Camarines Sur to empower aspiring entrepreneurs through the “Yeilding Entrepreneurial Success for Young Enterprising Pinoys” (YES 4 YEP) program.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed on October 16, 2024, at the Atrium of Robinson’s Place Naga. CBSUA President Alberto N. Naperi expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing its potential to foster creativity, innovation, and business success among students.
The YES 4 YEP program will offer a range of interventions to support students’ entrepreneurial endeavors, including providing market access through trade fairs, OTOP hubs, and market matching activities; conducting capability-building sessions to equip students with essential knowledge and skills through entrepreneurial training, skills training, and product development; and facilitating access to opportunities such as shared service facilities, financing, investment matching, and guidance on compliance with government regulations.
Joining CBSUA in the MOA signing were four other state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the region: Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST), Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC), Partido State University (ParSu), and Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Ragay Campus (PUPR).
The SUCs will play a crucial role in identifying and qualifying entrepreneurship students who will participate in the program’s various activities, including training sessions, trade fairs, and other interventions. They will also provide support during conduct of trainings in terms of food, tokens, venue, and other necessary resources.
Meanwhile, DTI Camarines Sur will focus on providing market access for the participating students, helping them promote and sell their products. They will also allocate slots for product development and training and facilitate the overall management and monitoring of the project.
The Camarines Sur and Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (CSCCI and MNCCI) will also contribute to the program by facilitating business or investment matching and assisting students in growing, expanding, and sustaining their business operations.
To enhance the entrepreneurial skills of qualified students, the Academy for Creating Enterprise (ACE) will conduct capability building activities and trainings. Additionally, Banco San Jose will provide loan facilities with streamlined requirements, criteria, and low interest rates, as well as financial literacy trainings to ensure responsible borrowing.
Through this collaborative effort, CBSUA and its partner institutions aim to nurture a new generation of successful entrepreneurs and contribute to the economic development of the region.
