UniTeam senatorial candidate Herbert “Bistek” Bautista on Wednesday expressed hopes that micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) would regain solid footing as the backbone of the Philippine economy with the help of local government units (LGUs).
“The local governments will have a major role here...The municipalities, cities and even provinces,” said Bautista, a former Quezon City mayor.
Bautista noted thousands of MSMEs either closed or ended up bankrupt at the height of the lockdowns and movement restrictions between 2020 and 2021, displacing hundreds of thousands of workers.
He noted MSMEs generate up to 96 percent of all jobs in the Philippines which make these businesses vital to economic recovery.
For one, Bautista said LGUs can provide incentives, considering the economic difficulties they faced in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“They can give incentives...For example, you’re an entrepreneur and want to start a business, you can be given incentives, such as a one-year break from paying real estate taxes or a 50 percent discount,” he said.
But LGUs, he said, should ask these businesses that are reopening to rehire workers they were forced to let go during the pandemic.
“Give them a chance to return to work, be able to create jobs,” Bautista appealed.