Ladies and gentlemen, magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat!
Unang-una, salamat po sa Association of Filipino Franchise Inc. (AFFI), ang ating pong partner pagdating sa Micro SME development. Especially Mr. Eric Caeg and Mr. Jorge Wieneke, for inviting us to address everyone during the anniversary of your emergency podcast episode. We would also like to give our warm greetings to Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, Dean Pax Lapid, our angelpreneur friends, and the many entrepreneurs here in the podcast. We hope that everyone is keeping safe, especially with the recent resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic sa ating bansa.
Ang nakaraang taon po ay tunay na naging challenging para sa ating Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Ang business activity po ay labis na naapektuhan ng krisis. Maraming nagsara or humina ang benta, lumiit ang negosyo, nagkaroon ng malawakang unemployment, at pagtaas ng ating utang. Kahit na labis ang naging epekto sa ating ekonomiya ng pandemiya, tayo po ay nakakakita na muli ng mga sensyales ng ating muling pagbangon
Nandiyan na po ‘yung malaking pagbagsak last year ng ating economy, pero over the next quarters, ito po ay unti-unting bumabangon at hindi malaki ‘yung pagbagsak. Pero wala pa rin tayong sa pre-pandemic levels, at least umaakyat na ulit ang ating ekonomiya.
When you look at GDP, unemployment, export and manufacturing figures, in the sense, ito po ay nagpapakita ng dahan-dahan pag-akyat, kasabay ng dahan-dahan pagbukas ng ating ekonomiya. Kaya kailangan po ituloy-tuloy lang natin ang reopening natin, para po talagang magtuloy-tuloy ang pagbangon ng ating ekonomiya.
Of course, ngayong medyo tumataas ang cases ay mas magiging maingat tayo. In fact, naka-pause po tayo sa reopening, para talagang makatulong tayo sa pag-sustain ng improvement at hindi lumala itong nangyayaring surge na ito.
According to the latest Impact Assessment Survey na ginagawa ng DTI, last year nagsimula tayo sa peak ng 34.2% ang nag fully stopped. Ito po ay bumaba na to around 10% ng October, November, at bumaba sa 5%. ‘Yung latest po natin ngayong March, bahagya pang bumaba to about 4.6%. So, unti-unti bumababa, ibig sabihin mas kaunti na ‘yung nagsara, nagbubukas na ulit ‘yung iba. I’m sure ‘yung iba diyan na nagsara ay maaring lumipat na ng ibang negosyo. During the time of pandemic, may ibang negosyo na nahirapan, mayroon din nagbukas at opportunities sa mga panibagong negosyo.
To ensure that our country’s economic recovery, we have been implementing since last year the “Revitalizing Businesses, Investments, Livelihoods, and Domestic Demand” or REBUILD Strategy. This is our economic recovery plan anchored on a vision of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to create a modern, dynamic, and responsible Philippines. Additionally, the government has launched various recovery initiatives, like the Mid-Term update of the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, ReCharge PH, and the Task Group on Economic Recovery. This also includes the recent signing of the Joint Memorandum Circular constituting the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) 2021-2023. So, nagtulong-tulong po ang mga iba-ibang agencies ng government. Para talagang sumigla ang economy at maibalik natin ‘yung mga trabahong nawala. With more jobs, we will create more sources of income at ito po ang mag-re-restimulate ng demand.
Ngayon nag-uumpisa na ang vaccination rollout and we hope na dahil dito lalakas pa ang consumer and business confidence. I think ‘yung recovery natin ay nagsisimula na ngayong second quarter. At least makakakita na tayo ng from a negative growth last year to a positive GDP growth this second, and even in the third quarter. Of course, malayo pa rin tayo sa pre-pandemic GDP levels, pero at least po makikita na natin ‘yung positive growth.
Kung kaya’t nais po naming pasalamatan ang AFFI sa inyo pong pagsulong hindi lang sa pag-empower ng ating MSMEs, tuloy-tuloy po ang programa ninyo, alam ko po marami din ang naapektuhan sa inyo ng pandemic. Pero ang maganda po sa attitude ng AFFI as an organization ‘yung leadership. Talagang tinutulungan ninyo ang kasama ninyo.. Ayon po sa report nasa 68% po ng MSMEs ang nasa franchising. Bukod pa rito, nakasaad din po sa report na ang franchising ay ang nasa likod ng pagkakaroon ng 200,000 franchise outlets at 2M na mga trabaho para sa ating mga mamamayan.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has always recognized the role of franchising as a crucial driver of inclusive economic growth. That is why franchising is part of our 7Ms Framework for Successful Entrepreneurship—under Models of Negosyo—to support the development of our MSMEs. And during this time of the pandemic, we believe that entrepreneurs both current and aspiring need to look for new business opportunities, whether developing a new business or taking advantage of franchising. The important thing to consider with franchising is that you will benefit from brand support, being provided with training, and having a “tried and tested” system in place. Pero ito po ay magdedepende pa rin sa inyo po na magpapatakbo ng franchising. Kaya napaka-importante na ang mga papasok sa franchising business, ay totally committed.
Given the important role of MSMEs helping to rebuild our economy, DTI’s efforts are directed towards their swift recovery by enhancing their resilience to recover and rebuild. DTI has several initiatives that can help them in these challenging times. Mayroon po tayong programa on micro-financing from Small Business Corporation (SBCorp.), the COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises or CARES program, zero interest, no collateral, at may grace period pa. Sana you will avail of this, punta lang kayo sa website ng SBCorp. Through online application lang po. As of March 16, a total of Php2.5B in loans has been released to MSMEs from funds allocated from BAYANIHAN 1 and 2.
Digital upskilling of existing and would-be entrepreneurs is also a priority. Through our Reboot Package for MSMEs, we’ve been conducting webinars and training on e-commerce, e-payment, and digital marketing. Likewise, we have our regular capacity building interventions like the BEST Bootcamp 3A Training Program designed for our distressed MSMEs and returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who lost their jobs and are currently looking for new sources of income. Of the 52 that recently completed the 3A program, 31 passed with flying colors.
Bukod pa rito, inilunsad din po natin ang Batch 2 ng 3A Program “Handog Kabuhayan Alay Kay Juana” na idinesenyo para sa ating women entrepreneurs na kumakaharap din ng mga pagsubok sa pagbubukas o pagpapalawak ng kanilang mga negosyo. Ang 75 women entrepreneurs po na magtatapos sa programang ito ay makakakuha ng livelihood kits na may halagang Php10,000 mula sa National Council of Women of the Philippines (NCWP). Pati ang DTI sa 3A program, ay nagbigay rin ng livelihood kits.
Sa harap ng pandemiya, ang DTI po ay patuloy na nagsusumikap sa mandato nitong i-promote ang growth at development ng MSMEs. Kabilang din po rito ay ang paghikayat sa entrepreneurs na gumamit ng iba’t iba at makabuluhang business models kagaya ng franchising. Ngunit inaanyayahin din po namin ang lahat ng entrepreneurs na tumulong sa muling pagbangon ng ating bansa sa pagsasamantala ng available business opportunities para tayo ay makapag-build back better. Tulad po ng sinabi ng management guru na si Peter Drucker, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Kaya po, sama-sama po tayong bumuo ng isang kinabukasan kung saan ang lahat po ay mayroong isang mas maayos at mas komportableng buhay tulad ng ipinangako ng ating Presidente.
Maraming salamat po at mabuhay tayong lahat. ♦
Date of Release: 17 March 2021