The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
In support of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Plan 2023–2028, CVM Pawnshop and Money Changer Corporation (CVM Pawnshop) empowered 850 Filipino micro-entrepreneurs through the “Ka-CEO” Program, equipping them with fresh insights, new opportunities, and practical strategies to strengthen and scale their businesses.
The “Ka-CEO” Program provides a wide range of tools, strategies and business methodologies designed to uplift entrepreneurs by fostering innovation, resilience and global competitiveness across the country.
CVM Pawnshop President Paul Cancio said “We were inspired by the vision of the Department of Trade and Industry to strengthen MSMEs by enhancing their resilience, aligning with national development goals, and driving transformation through digital and regional collaboration”.
Guided by the company’s purpose of Bridging Hope and Prosperity for the Filipino, Cancio emphasized, “We are committed to infusing the same level of dedication and excellence that defines our financial services into the “Ka-CEO” Program, to empower entrepreneurs to thrive and ultimately help build our nation”.
Partners in Advancing the Economy
Aside from serving as a capacity-building initiative, the program also functions as a valuable networking platform for entrepreneurs. To date, CVM Pawnshop’s “Ka-CEO” Program has reached micro-entrepreneurs in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, Lucena City, Lucban, Quezon, Plaridel, Bulacan, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Davao City, and Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City.
Partners include those from the national government, local government units, private sector, non-profit organizations, faith-based groups, and even professionals. They collaborate for the “Ka-CEO” Program to drive inclusive growth and community empowerment.
Together for Change
At the “Ka-CEO” Program in Lucban, Quezon, Hand and Heart (HH), a social enterprise with a vision to uplift the lives of people who are left behind including Persons with Disability (PWDs), shared their powerful vision of a more inclusive future. HH General Manager Genevieve Diokno, and Business Development Manager Elyse Go emphasized the importance of creating opportunities and spaces where every Filipino is empowered to grow, contribute, and thrive.
Hand and Heart offers a diverse range of services aimed at fostering inclusion and empowering PWDs, such as sign language classes, disability sensitivity awareness workshops, job coaching, interpreting services and inclusion workshops.
The program featured merchandise by the Heart and Hand Shoppe, a social enterprise that showcases products crafted by PWDs. Proceeds fund the creation of a new Hand and Heart School, dedicated to providing education and skills training.
CVM Pawnshop employs four regular deaf team members and is set to welcome 11 more Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) into its workforce. This milestone was made possible through the invaluable partnership and guidance of Hand and Heart.
Nurturing the Ka-CEO Mindset
Topics included in the nationwide capacity building series span a wide range of themes, including entrepreneurship and business development, digital marketing and social media, financial literacy and wellness, operations and productivity, skills training and livelihood, values-driven and people-centered leadership, as well as market access and MSME support.
Solo parents from Muzon, Pavia, Lapaz, Bacolod, and Davao; members of the San Jose Del Monte Business Development Department; small business owners and market vendors; barangay workers; senior citizen officers; Municipal Social Welfare and Development members; and health volunteers were delegates of the “Ka-CEO” program.