Thirty micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Lamitan City, Basilan are gaining new skills in branding, packaging, and labeling as efforts intensify to make local products more competitive and ready for wider markets.
The Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT)-Basilan conducted a two-day training on September 16 and 17, focusing on logo design, product packaging, labeling, and presentation. The program was designed to help entrepreneurs improve how their products are presented while meeting relevant regulatory requirements.
Twenty producers of native coffee, banana chips, local delicacies, and sardines participated on the first day, followed by 10 additional MSMEs on the second day.
MTIT-Basilan Provincial Director Argie Sarco said packaging and labeling are more than visual elements because they can influence consumer confidence and determine whether products are ready to enter larger markets.
The training also provided entrepreneurs with practical and cost-conscious approaches they could immediately apply to their businesses. One participant, Geraldine Gabayno Salam, who produces hot pepper, ginger, and turmeric products, said the workshop helped her improve her packaging, redesign her product logo, and identify affordable sources of quality packaging materials.
For small businesses competing beyond their local communities, stronger branding and compliant labeling can help products communicate their identity, provide important information to consumers, and present a more market-ready image.
MTIT-Basilan said it will continue working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) and development partners, including the EU-funded Bangsamoro Agri-Enterprise Programme-Leveraging and Expanding Agri-Aqua Production (BAEP-LEAP), to strengthen the local enterprise sector.
The initiative places product development alongside market access and business sustainability, giving Basilan entrepreneurs additional tools as they seek to bring locally made goods to a broader consumer base.
