The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) hosted a Shared Service Facility (SSF) Summit on 12 December 2024 to strengthen business enterprises by improving their access to technology and resources.

The SSF program, a flagship initiative of the DTI, provides micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with essential machinery, equipment, tools, skills and knowledge through a shared system.

To implement the program, the DTI collaborates with “co-operators” such as associations, cooperatives, universities and colleges, non-government organizations and local government units.

These co-operators are responsible for housing, maintaining, and making the equipment accessible to enterprises.

Specifically, the summit provided an orientation on the updated implementation guidelines, led by the DTI Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development coordinator for Region 8 Numen Lansangan.

She highlighted the requirement of a 10 percent increase in sales or beneficiaries for co-operators to transfer the equipment ownership before the expiration of the usufruct agreement within two years.

With 156 SSF Projects established across the region, the DTI emphasized its commitment to ensuring the operational efficiency of each project. The summit facilitated provincial reports, identifying common operational challenges and outlining steps and commitments to address them.

The DTI provincial offices will help SSF co-operators in maintaining complete and accurate documentation, submitting timely reports to monitor sales increase and beneficiaries assisted, regularly monitoring equipment functionality and identifying those needing repair or disposal, and scheduling capacity-building interventions tailored to address the specific needs of the co-operators.

Expired usufruct deals

Moreover, the summit addressed concerns regarding expired usufruct agreements of some SSF Co-operators. These expired agreements may require the transfer of equipment to other capable and qualified co-operators, or the reapplication of the co-operators themselves.

The DTI regional and provincial offices committed to conducting a comprehensive inventory of the Usufruct Agreements and facilitating the reapplication process for co-operators or the transfer of equipment to qualified entities by January 2025.

Furthermore, the DTI will strengthen the services of the Shared Service Facilities by linking co-operator with market suppliers and buyers. This network will promote greater access to raw materials and semi-processed and final products, while also fostering connections with technology and technical experts and promoting sharing of good practices.

It was an opportune time during the event for SSF co-operators to gather and identify themselves under the coconut sector, other processed food sectors and other non-food sectors to discuss these ways forward.

Inspiring success stories were shared by thriving co-operators, including Tito Cabintoy of the Barangay Cabacungan multipurpose cooperative, Merlina Lumakin of the Sto. Niño de Plaridel MPC, and Rammel Sacobos of the Baybay Dairy Cooperative.

They emphasized of strong organizational structure, member commitment, meticulous record-keeping, regular equipment maintenance and investment in facilities.

The summit underscored the crucial role of co-operators in effectively managing and maximizing the benefits of SSFs.

It drew 182 participants, including cooperative and association members, DTI officials and project focal persons, and other representatives from the local government units and national government agencies.