Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City
25 March 2015

As part of the celebration of the International Women’s Month, President Benigno S. Aquino III attended the recognition of over 5,000 beneficiaries of the Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) program – a partnership between Coca-Cola Philippines and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) – at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

TESDA, together with Coca-Cola Philippines, has been implementing the STAR Program since 2012 to provide access to skills training, resources, and peer mentoring to 200,000 women sari-sari store and carinderia owners and operators all over the country by 2020. Currently, there are over 34,000 beneficiaries of the STAR Program.
President Aquino hailed the women micro-entrepreneurs for their contribution to the country’s economic growth. “Sa ganitong sari-sari store, nakikita ang sigla ng kalakalan; dito rin sumisibol ang mga ugnayan na nagsisilbing tulay para sa lalong pagyabong ng negosyo,” the President said in his speech.

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