The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) signed a memorandum of agreement with the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and a tripartite agreement with the SME Development Council-Pampanga (SMEDC), Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MACCI) and Holy Angel University (HAU). The MMSU has been granted PhP5 million for the Collaborative Program on Food Product Development and Packaging for Sustainable Development while PhP50,000 has been allocated for the three Pampanga-based institutions for Capacity Building and Competitiveness Enhancement for SMEs. The said amounts are released through the Industrial Guarantee and Loan Fund Grants (IGLF), a lending facility under the Development Bank of the Philippines’ wholesale lending funds and facilities for relending to SMEs. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Chief Romulo L. Neri said that a total of PhP32 billion has been allotted to the IGLF grant for research and promotion activities to support SMEs.

Signing the agreement for the MMSU is Dr. Miriam E. Pascua, MMSU president while Mr. Benigno N. Ricafort, SMEDC-Pampanga Chairman; Myra V. Rivera, MACCI President; and Dr. Arlyn S. Villanueva, HAU President signed for the tripartite agreement.

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