CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry now aims to empower the micro-entrepreneurs in Metro Cebu.
“Our aim is to allow them to graduate into small entrepreneurs,” CCCI president Samuel Chioson said.
Chioson added that he sees the importance of helping out the small players in the metropolis and help them nurture a mindset of “growth” rather than remaining a micro-player for the rest of their lives.
He said the chamber will draft a program that will link the micro-entrepreneurs to lending institutions rather than encouraging them to rely solely on the loan sharks or 5/6 moneylenders that eat up most of their profits and deprive them of growth.
Chioson said CCCI will start reaching out to the micro-entrepreneurs and tap the existing micro-business organizations such as the Carbon Vendors Association as well as the sidewalk vendors group, among others.
The chamber will start to work on the database that will identify the existing micro-entrepreneurs from the grassroots, and expose them to different training modules that would encourage them to change business perspective, especially in aiming to grow and become successful business players.
While most of the micro players are still in the underground economy, the chamber will also provide a more effective and easier way to link them with the government to formalize their businesses.
CCCI started its organizational development projects, like the formation of Spa and Wellness Association of Cebu (SWAC), and the Cebu Software Development Industry Association Inc., (Cebu-Soft) few years back.
This time, under the administration of Chioson, he said that the chamber will look into providing assistance to the grassroots business players, as this group needs help from established organizations like the chamber.
On the other hand, Filipino Cebuano Business Club (FCBC) president Rey Calooy said that the group is advocating for “fixed taxation” for Micro and Small and Medium (MSME) companies to curb corruption and encourage underground economy players to come out and become legitimate businessmen.
Most of FCBC members are the grassroots entrepreneurs like the Sari-Sari stores, small and sidewalk vendors, among others.— Ehda M. Dagooc