STUDENTS in Free Enterprise (SIFE) from MMSU emerged victorious in their participation in the SIFE Luzon-Regional Cluster Exposition held May 20 at the Columban College Hotel in Barangay Barreto, Olongapo City.

This developed as they presented the highlights of accomplishments of the project “Improving Women’s Lives through Shellcraft Enterprise”. MMSU was the only state university in the region that won in the competition participated by 13 teams from Luzon. The group’s winning in the Luzon exposition now qualifies them to the National Exposition on June 16 at the  Bayview Park Hotel in Manila.

The MMSU SIFE Team was composed of four students coming from two colleges of the university. They were: Joyce Rallojay (BA Socio III, CAS); Janill Magano (BS Biology II, CAS); Nathaniel Alonzo (BS Computer Science III, CAS); and Patrick Sadornas (BS Accountancy III, CBEA).

The project presented by the students is a continuing initiative from last year’s HSBC Financial Literacy Program with an allocated budget of P16,753 for its first phase. It can be recalled that the students’ team from MMSU also competed last year for the national championship held at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila.

SIFE World this year released P35,000 for the operations of the MMSU SIFE Team.

SIFE is a global non-profit organization active in 48 countries and territories. It is funded by giant business corporations, entrepreneurs, and foundations including government agencies and individuals all over the world. The SIFE works in partnership with the business sector and higher education sectors. To date, 300 university campuses in the Philippines have already established their own teams. The teams are led by faculty advisors challenged to develop community outreach projects that focus on market economics, entrepreneurship, personal financial success skills, and business ethics.

Last year, the MMSU SIFE Team focused on enhancing income capabilities of shellcraft households by conducting enhancement trainings on production design, packaging and marketing, entrepreneurial capability, and simple bookkeeping.

Continued this year, the project aimed at augmenting the income of 50 women folks in fishing villages through entrepreneurship. This was done by enhancing their knowledge and skills in the production and marketing of their products. The SIFE Team focused on organizing and capability building to strengthen and empower them. Skills trainings were also conducted in coordination with the Technical Skills Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and the Local Government of Pagudpud through its Municipal Social Welfare Office (MSWO) supported the shellcraft makers by providing equipment such as grinder and cutter needed to improve their products. The MMSU-SIFE Team, on the other hand, is helping them in organizing and developing the group’s constitution and by-laws aside from providing enhancement training, labeling and packaging assistance, and monitoring and evaluation.

With the conduct of these activities in the area, the shellcraft makers have learned to appreciate the dynamics of a market-based economic system resulting to 50 economically productive households.

At present, MMSU, in cooperation with the DTI and the Pagudpud-MSWO, is working for the registration of the organization at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).