MANILA – Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Tuesday vowed to help the government expand its lending program for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“Isusulong ko ang pagpapalawig ng kasalukuyang Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso o P3 ng DTI para magkaroon ng isang mas malaking MSME Fund na magbibigay ng puhunan sa mababang interes,” Go said during the "Mentor Me on Wheels" event held at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong.
Implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry, P3 is a lending program worth PHP1 billion that aims to help MSMEs.
The interest rate for amounts lent to MSMEs via P3 is at 2.5 percent per month only.
“Importante po na mabigyan ng puhunan ang maliliit na mga negosyante para hindi sila kumapit sa mga 5-6 na loansharks. Hangarin po natin na mabigyan ng mas maraming oportunidad ang mga Pilipino na mapalago ang sarili nilang kabuhayan,” he added.
“Mentor Me on Wheels” is a free one-on-one mentoring activity on business franchising.
It is under Go Negosyo, the advocacy arm of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, a non-stock, non-profit organization.
More than 100 franchise owners and more than 500 mentees participated in the event.
“Sa Davao, noong nakaraang taon, nagkaroon na din ng Mentor Me on Wheels. Sa totoo lang, maganda ang programang ito para mapaunlad ang maliliit na negosyo sa tulong ng mga payo at diskarte mula sa mga successful businessmen,” Go told event attendees.
The former presidential aide also shared his other plans for entrepreneurs.
“Sisikapin kong magtatag ng shared manufacturing machineries at processing facilities para mapababa ang operation expenses ng mga maliliit na nagnenegosyo,” Go told event attendees.
“Palalawigin ko rin ang pagkakaroon ng mga libreng training at seminar kagaya ng Mentor Me on Wheels na magtuturo ng mas epektibong pamamaraan sa branding, packaging, marketing, at iba pa. Marami tayong mga produktong sariling-atin na "world class" kaya pag-aaralan ko kung papaano matutulungan ang mga gumagawa nito para lalong tangkilikin ang mga produkto nila, hindi lang sa ating bansa kung di pati na rin sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo,” Go added.
Go, who is running for senator in the 2019 elections, noted that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has paved the way for an improved business climate in the country.
Among others, he cited the passage of the Ease of Doing Business Act, the launch of the 8888-hotline for complaints against fixers, scalawags, corruption or poor government service, as well as Malacanang’s order requiring government offices to respond to all public requests and concerns with 15 days from receipt.
Go noted that Duterte’s moves against red tape are meant to make it easy for ordinary people to start their own businesses.
Go also noted that Duterte is unrelenting in his campaign against corruption that the Chief Executive had fired several officials who are close to him or helped him in his presidential campaign because of alleged corruption.
“Ayaw na ayaw niya po ng corruption. Galit si Pangulo sa mga corrupt sa gobyerno at ayaw na ayaw niya yung ng may kinikikilan lalong lalo na yung pagproseso ng mga business permits,” said Go, who vowed to support the administration’s programs against drugs, crime, and corruption.
Go also revealed that he came from a family of small entrepreneurs.
He reiterated the importance of having a clean government in order to pave an economic environment conducive in doing business and in providing jobs to other Filipinos.
“Kapag walang korapsyon, mas madali magnegosyo at mas lalago ang kabuhayan ng bawat Pilipino. Ganyan po kami sa Davao City, at iyan rin ang pinaglalaban namin ni Pangulong Duterte para sa buong bansa,” he said.
An aspiring senator in the 2019 elections, Go has a legislative agenda that covers agriculture, housing, improved delivery of healthcare services, education, long-term sports development, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, anti-drugs and criminality drive, anti-corruption drive, barangay welfare, the creation of a Department of OFWs, and improved benefits for senior citizens. (PR)
