Impact of Covid-19 on Micro and Small Entrepreneur (MSE) Graduates of the Kapatid Mentor Me Program of the Department of Trade and Industry

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has severely affected the Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). Unfortunately, small businesses are being hit hardest by the fall-out of the pandemic [1] and are being addressed by the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) with several measures and initiatives to mitigate its impact on the Philippine economy. This study was conducted to describe the status and effects of the pandemic to the Micro and Small Entrepreneur graduates of the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) Program of DTI in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines, as the agency's guide in streamlining the future direction of the program. The descriptive method of research was used with a semi-structured one-page online survey to determine the KMME MSE graduates' profile and the overall impact of COVID-19 pandemic particularly during the declaration of the community quarantine. The data gathered showed that most of the KMME MSE graduates continued their business operations amidst the pandemic. They are responding to the economic fall-out in several ways with optimism, government response and interventions that are significant to ensure MSEs survival. Likewise, they develop resilience through business continuity trainings, productivity improvements, and subsidies.