BADGE OF HONOR: Kawayan Collective Agricultural Cooperative chair Marbert Tinguha (fifth from left) receives the Presidential Award for Outstanding MSME (small business category) from President Marcos. Also in the photo are (from left): MSME Development Council vice chair and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. —PHOTO FROM GO NEGOSYO
DUMAGUETE CITY: A social enterprise in the southern town of Dauin, Negros Oriental has been awarded a presidential recognition for promoting the use of bamboo as a construction material.
Kawayan Collective Agricultural Cooperative, headed by production manager Marbert Tinguha, was awarded by President Marcos, after besting several other micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the small business category during the celebration of the MSME Development Week led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at Malacañang on July 10.“The recognition of Negros Oriental’s Kawayan Collective by the DTI highlighted its significant contributions to sustainable construction and community development,” says Maribel Villaflores-Sumanoy, senior trade and industry development specialist, who spearheaded the search for the best MSME candidate in the province.

