Sara Duterte assures support for MSMEs
LAKAS-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte vowed to support those engaged in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) if she succeeds in the May elections.
“I am one with you in finding and establishing measures so that the provision of our law are effectively implemented and that our goals are achieved,” Duterte said during an online caravan for MSMEs held on Friday.
MSMEs comprise about 99 percent of the enterprises that generate more than 62 percent of the country’s employment, making it the key to the economic recovery from COVID-19 pandemic.
Saying that the passage of the Magna Carta for MSMEs, which is a landmark legislation defining the country’s policy towards MSMEs, is not enough, Duterte said government must also make sure it is fully implemented.
“We must ensure that the laws are fully and properly implemented in a timely manner,” she said.
Duterte also said MSMEs are the commonly underprivileged sector because the government does not have many financing organizations that can help small business owners in their start-up capital.
“In my experience, MSMEs din po ang pinaka-naiiwanan kapag merong problema. Unang-una, wala talaga silang access sa capitalization at financing dahil hindi man nila magawa ‘yung mga requirements ng bangko at ng financing organizations,” she said.
Duterte also said government should create resilient programs and take advantage of technology in crafting innovations for the sector so it will thrive despite the challenges.
“We must try to build resiliency in the face of an unpredictable global economy due to climate change and the possibility of the emergence of future pandemics, as well as the rapid transformation of our society brought about by the advances in technology,” the mayor said.
She added that in Davao City, one of the local government’s answers to the unemployed women was the creation of the Magnegosyo Ta ‘Day (MTD), where members of the sector were given trainings and start-up capital for small businesses.
“Ito po ay sagot ng aking administration doon sa mga lumalapit sa akin lagi na mga kababaihan,” she shared.
