The PI Training is aimed to support and nurture Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs), which constitute 99.59% of business enterprises in the Philippines, including 0.91% in the BARMM region. The program involved 10 participants, including faculty members and staff, who were equipped with skills and knowledge to conduct future training sessions, aligning with the university’s mission to train and enhance human capital through responsive community engagement. This is to further support community business startups that focus on self-starting and future-oriented actions for MSMEs.

The training consisted of five sessions where participants conducted actual presentations on introducing Personal Initiative, identifying, evaluating, and pursuing business opportunities, goal setting and planning, financial management, and business pitching. They also engaged in open forums and simulations.

Present during the training were Ms. Mariko Kaneko, Deputy Team Leader from JICA; Mr. Danilo Buenbrazo, Senior Project Officer from JICA, who provided an overview of the training; Ms. Carida Akis and Ms. Bai Sahareah, Project Officers; Ms. Snooky S. Gani, Division Chief of the Enterprise Trade Development Division from MTIT-BARMM; Ms. Ayessa Belle Mamokan and Mr. Navil Laguiawan, Trade-Industry Development Specialists from MTIT-BARMM; as well as Mr. Junki Akahori and Jakob Weers from Doorways, who joined the training via Zoom. The event was also attended by MSU-Maguindanao representatives, including Prof. Peter Jan D. De Vera, Research Services Director; Dr. Saima Maulana, Institute of Management; and other staff members.