Senate OKs bill institutionalizing DTI's Shared Service Facilities (SSF) bill on third and final reading

The Senate has approved on third and final reading the bill that seeks to institutionalize the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The bill seeks to ensure there is continued funding for the benefit of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said he is certain that passage of the bill into law will go a long way in supporting the growth and development of MSMEs, and funding for the program will now be ensured annually in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). Angara noted that the program has benefitted thousands of MSMEs around the country since its inception in 2013. “There were years when the SSF project was not funded and this is what will be addressed with this bill,” said Angara, principal sponsor and author of the bill. Malaki ang naitutulong ng mga SSFs sa mga maliliit na negosyo na hindi kayang gumastos para bumili ng mga kagamitan tulad ng mga makina upang mapalago ang kanilang operasyon kaya dapat lang na siguraduhin natin na tuloy-tuloy ang implementasyon nito (SSFs help a lot in small businesses that can't afford to buy equipment like machines to grow their operations, so we just have to make sure that its implementation is continuous),” he added. Once the SSF is in place, MSMEs will be able to utilize machinery, equipment and tools they need to improve their production, processes and overall competitiveness. “Through these SSFs, the MSMEs can scale up their production, improve on their packaging, and introduce innovations to their products,” he said. “These could be as simple as sewing machines to more complex machines like 3D printers that are housed in SSF fabrication laboratories (FabLabs) that MSMEs can utilize for a small fee,” he said. Under the bill, SSF Fab Labs will be established in at least one strategic location in every province. However, priority will be given to provinces without existing Fab Labs. The Fab Labs were showcased during the COVID-19 pandemic when they were used for the manufacturing of face shields, face masks, medical gowns, aerosol boxes and ethyl alcohol to cater to the huge demand while the importation of these supplies was still undergoing. “We want more of our small businesses to succeed and it is the responsibility of the government to help them in whatever way that it can. The SSF project is one such intervention that has been proven to work and benefit the MSMEs,” Angara said. “This is all part of our Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Pinoy) advocacy that seeks to improve the capabilities of our industries to help them produce more goods that are complex and sophisticated so that they would grow and become more competitive and consequently, produce quality, high-paying jobs for our people,” the senator stressed.