Expand SMEs to create jobs, says lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines - The government was urged yesterday to expand and invest in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to increase job opportunities for the people.

Rep. Teodorico Haresco of the party-list group Kasangga (Kasangga sa Kaunlaran, Inc.) said the Aquino administration could improve its employment numbers “by creating an army of small entrepreneurs.”

Haresco, vice-chair of the House committee on small enterprises development, said he was alarmed by reports that the number of unemployment individuals reached 4.1 million individuals in the last three months despite the 6.4-percent growth in gross domestic product (total value of goods and services produced in the country).

“This report only shows that there is a disparity between economic growth and its actual benefit for our people. We can only spread the benefits of economic progress if we provide our people the opportunity to improve their way of life by giving them decent livelihood,” he said.

He said this is the reason why Kasangga recently launched “Rolling Kusina,” its latest SME program, which offers a credit facility for those who want to run mobile eateries.

The “Rolling Kusina” kiosks are not only mobile, which allows owners to reach their own desired market, but would also be equipped with the basic amenities of a restaurant, he added.

“This project was launched by Ang Kasangga to provide rolling food kiosks for small entrepreneurs at very flexible loan arrangements.

These projects are the things that we need to do to address unemployment,” Haresco stressed.

The latest Social Weather Stations survey showed that the number of unemployed Filipinos went up from 9.7 million in December 2011 to 13.8 million in March this year.

Haresco said the government should embark on projects similar to “Rolling Kusina” as these types of small businesses have a good success rate.

He said a “Kusina” business would suit women entrepreneurs, especially those familiar with the traditional household roles of budgeting, marketing, and cooking.

He said a “Kusina” store could be operated by up to three persons, “but the staff required to run the business will mean employment for at least two more persons.”

He pointed out that while President Aquino has been managing the economy well, his administration “has to work really hard to make sure that growth would trickle down to the people.”