RISING UP. A snackhouse in San Roque village Tanauan, Leyte now back in operation after its closure due to community quarantine. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Leyte welcomed the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend financial relief to help them cope with the pandemic. (PNA photo by Gerico Sabalza)
TACLOBAN CITY – Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Leyte have welcomed the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend financial relief to help their sector cope with the pandemic.
Gerry Ruiz, the owner of Calle Z Café in this city, said any form of financial assistance is a big help to small businesses suffering the brunt of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) health crisis.
“Any assistance to MSMEs in the form of financial assistance, specifically low-interest loans to help everybody tide over its fragile financial position in these dire times would be a much welcome respite for us,” he said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The restaurant recently opened its outdoor dining through its open-air pavilion section to ensure physical distancing.
“Sales down to only about 20 percent of pre-corona times. We could only afford to hire back only four out of 15 employees before,” he added.
Lower sales are expected as more people stay at home than dine out, the city’s population is down to residents only as people went back to their respective towns due to suspension of classes, new working arrangements, and limited public transportation.
Craig Bañez, owner of Buns and Brews snack house in Tanauan, Leyte wishes that banks will follow the directive of the President since they need funds to reopen their businesses after losing potential income.
“Loans with very low interest and the simplified process will also give us options to expand or think of other opportunities to create more jobs and help the economy bounce back,” Bañez said in an interview.
In Alangalang, Leyte, coconut grating business owner Julette Antoni said the President’s directive is timely since banks have to be more considerate in the collection of payments.
“For small businesses, it’s really a headache for owners how to earn more during this crisis to be able to pay loans,” said Antoni in a phone interview.
Their family has been operating the business at the town’s public market for seven years.
In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte urged both the central bank and financial institutions to extend loan accommodation for MSMEs without imposing additional fees or changes.
“We need your help to prevent the collapse of companies saddled with accumulated amortization and payables caused by the closure of their businesses at the height of the strict quarantine period,” he said.
He explained that “as we embark on this effort towards inclusive recovery, we should acknowledge that all forms of government support will go to naught if the new MSMEs do not thrive because of lack of consumer support.
“Ito ang panahon para suportahan natin ang ating mga kababayan na nagnenegosyo at gumawa ng mga produktong sariling atin (This is the time to support businessmen who produce local goods),” he said.
The government has been aiding MSMEs hardly hit by the pandemic since MSMEs account for about 99 percent of businesses in the country and employs about 60 percent of workers. (PNA)
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