DTI, JHMC sign pact to boost MSMEs in Camp John Hay

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) have signed an agreement aimed at expanding opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through market access, skills development and sustainable livelihood initiatives in Camp John Hay.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed by DTI-Baguio Benguet Provincial Director Felicitas O. Bandonill and JHMC President and Chief Executive Officer Manjit T. Singh Reandi, seeks to strengthen local enterprise development while promoting investments and employment generation within the government-managed tourism estate.

Under the agreement, JHMC will provide venues inside Camp John Hay where DTI-assisted MSMEs can showcase and sell their products, helping entrepreneurs reach a broader customer base and increase market visibility.

The two agencies will also jointly conduct training programs on pine needle and pine cone crafts as part of the “Breathe Baguio” advocacy, an initiative that promotes environmental sustainability while creating livelihood opportunities from locally available materials.

“This partnership opens new opportunities for MSMEs to thrive and innovate, recognizing that MSMEs do not merely support the economy — they are the economy itself,” Bandonill said during the signing.

Reandi said the collaboration aligns with JHMC’s commitment to balancing economic development with environmental responsibility.

“By supporting sustainable enterprises, we strengthen our commitment to responsible economic growth while further advancing community development,” he said.

The agreement will remain in effect for one year, during which both parties are expected to implement joint programs and monitor outcomes aimed at strengthening the region’s MSME sector.

Witnessing the signing were Chief Trade and Industry Development Specialist Richard Avelino T. Limpin, JHMC Board Chairperson Atty. Kristoffer Lee Dance, and JHMC Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jane Theresa Tabalingcos.

MSMEs account for the vast majority of businesses in the Philippines and are widely regarded as a key driver of employment and local economic activity.

The partnership is expected to provide additional avenues for entrepreneurship while supporting sustainable development initiatives in Baguio City.

(Reporting based on information released by the John Hay Management Corporation)