Marcos to MSMEs: You are the backbone of PH economy
Published Aug 19, 2025 02:37 pm
Citing that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprise 99.6 percent of all business establishments in the Philippines, President Marcos has recognized MSMEs as the backbone of the country's economy.
In the Philippines, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of the economy, creating millions of jobs. But these vital businesses face hurdles from technological gaps to limited access to training.
In a speech read by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin during the 2025 Presidential Awards for Outstanding MSMEs and Presidential Recognition for Outstanding Development Partners on Monday, Aug. 18, Marcos also said that they are the sparks of innovation, keeping industries alive.
"The truth is undeniable. MSMEs comprise over 99.6 percent of all business establishments in our country," Marcos said.
"Indeed, you are the backbone of our economy, the beating heart of our barangays and the sparks of innovation that keep our industries alive," he added.
Marcos assured MSMEs that the administration is committed to building a future they deserve.
He cited the implementation of the MSME Development Plan 2023-2028 that aims to foster a business climate that encourages innovation, expands market reach, and promotes competitiveness.
"We are investing in skills, fortifying our digital backbone, and equipping MSMEs to succeed in the global digital economy whether through e-commerce, AI-powered systems, digital finance, or smart logistics," Marcos said.
The President also acknowledged that "some of our greatest economic treasures are found far from city centers," stressing that it is found in the crops of the indigenous peoples, in the produce of farmers, and in the creativity of rural entrepreneurs. Thus, he vowed to continuously bring capacity building, financing, and market linkages closer to women entrepreneurs, youth, and community-based enterprises.
Marcos further said that beyond policies and programs, "the future of our MSMEs rests in our hands," stressing the need to support local enterprises and products.
"If we choose to patronize our own, we keep the value we create within our shores. Empowering our people and multiplying opportunities for generations to come. And as our products find their way to foreign shores, they carry with them the pride, the skill, and the excellence of the Filipino," he said.
"Above all, supporting local enterprises is an act of solidarity, an affirmation of our shared identity, and a declaration of faith in the Filipinos' ability to rise to any challenge," he added.
Bersamin, on the other hand, committed to ensuring seamless coordination among government agencies to ensure the effective implementation of programs that support MSMEs and the accelerated expansion of digital infrastructure across the nation.
"Together, let us deliver services that open doors of opportunity wide enough for every Filipino to walk through," Bersamin said. "And let us do so with the conviction that no dream is too small, no ambition too far and no Filipino is ever left behind."