President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has called on big businesses and other stakeholders to back his administration's efforts to boost the country's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as the emerging nano enterprises.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (File photo)

Marcos said this during the launch of the Cebuana Lhuillier group's "Kanegosyo Center" (KNC) in Parañaque City.

In his speech, the President particularly asked the stakeholders to support the nano enterprises as they do not fall under any category of economic activity as they are "way below the radar."

"These are the people that we are trying to help," he said.

"We were trying the basic concept behind this is that we are trying to create an ecosystem for startups, and that is really what we are trying to do. We are trying to help small businesses who have a good idea," he added.

According to the Chief Executive, the government must start doing things differently since the global economy has changed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

President Marcos cited the Kanegosyo Center as a simple business but required a good deal of organization and knowledge about the market and how it will help improve the MSMEs and the nano enterprises.

According to Malacañang, the KNC is designed as an online one-stop shop for Filipino MSMEs seeking to open or expand their businesses.

"By offering a wide range of services, it aims to promote ease of doing business in the Philippines through comprehensive, curated resources and assistive interventions," it said.

Meanwhile, President Marcos believes Filipinos prefer jobs even if they already receive financial assistance or will be employed in government livelihood assistance programs.

"And that's what we build on. And this is what 'Kanegosyo' and all the other programs that are hoping to assist our small businesses – that is what we are trying to achieve," President Marcos said.

"That is why it is not something that is done just purely out of business instinct. It's not something that is done para kumita lang (just to earn money). It is something that is done para tumulong (to help)," he added.

Marcos said the government must help MSMEs and nano enterprises given their massive impact on the Philippine economy. MSMEs and nano enterprises comprise 99 percent of the country's businesses, with around 63 percent of the labor force employed by it.

"There is no way that if we are trying to help the economy— if we are trying to transform the economy— that we do not attend to that enormous slice of our economy," he said.

"Hindi lang ‘yung malalaking korporasyon. Marami silang maitutulong. Ngunit ang gobyerno ay kailangang pumasok at tumulong (It's not just the big corporations. They can help a lot but the government must intervene and help) to encourage such programs as ‘Kanegosyo,'” he said.