PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher "Bong" Go renewed his call to the government for greater support to micro-entrepreneurs as he underscored the important role small businesses play in the economic recovery of the country.
Go's team provided assistance to indigent residents in Palompon and Merida, Leyte on Monday, June 13. In his video message, Go thanked the Department of Social Welfare and Development for extending livelihood grants to the residents so they may start their own small businesses.
The senator reiterated that micro-entrepreneurs significantly help in keeping the country's economy afloat. He then appealed to concerned agencies to provide more programs and other government interventions to boost local and informal industries so they can continue to serve their respective communities.
"Malaking bahagi ng ekonomiya ang mga micro-enterprises. Habang tayo ay nasa pandemya pa, trabaho natin sa gobyerno ang bigyan sila ng kinakailangan nilang suporta upang sila ay makabalik na sa normal na pamumuhay," expressed Go.
"Isa pa rito, kung gusto niyo sumigla ulit ang ating ekonomiya, kailangan talaga nating tulungan ang mga maliliit na negosyo. Ang kanilang pagbangon ay ang pagbangon ng bansa. Kaya tulungan natin sila,” he continued.
The senator’s team distributed snacks to a total of 195 residents at the respective civic centers of Palompon and Merida. In addition, select individuals were given shoes and phablets.
Meanwhile, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry assessed potential beneficiaries for their respective programs.
In line with his commitment to boost the struggling economic sector, Go successfully pushed for the implementation of the Small Business Wage Subsidy program in 2020 to help micro, small and medium enterprises cope with the adverse impacts of COVID-19. Under the program, the government provided a wage subsidy of PhP5,000 to PhP8,000 per month for up to two months to every eligible employee who could not work or get paid during the enhanced community quarantine period.
President Rodrigo Duterte likewise signed Executive Order No. 169 which directs the DTI to create a Franchise Registry for the protection of MSMEs.
Go then offered additional aid to those in need of medical care. He advised them to avail of the services of any of the 151 Malasakit Centers nationwide, five of which are located in the province of Leyte.
The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which was primarily authored and sponsored by Go, seeks to make all government medical assistance programs more convenient and accessible to particularly poor and indigent patients.
The Malasakit Centers in Leyte are located at Leyte Provincial Hospital and Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center (GBTRGHSC), both in Palo, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban City, New Western Leyte Provincial Hospital in Baybay City, and Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc City.
