BMBE & SSF: Key to employment growth

 Insurgencies and criminalities, more often than not, are closely associated with poverty.  Thus, we couldn't blame our leaders if they put premium on poverty alleviation programs instead of guns in solving these debilitating concerns.  In addressing these, this government has annually increased its budget for the Conditional Cash Transfer   Program. 

Dubbed as 4Ps or "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program", it is a five-year-long conditional cash transfer program that is envisioned to break the country's cycle of poverty.  Allegedly, "these programs provide money to poor families under the condition that those transfers are used as an investment on their children's human capital, such as regular school attendance and basic preventive health care". The ultimate objective of which "is to address the inter-generational transmission of poverty and to foster social inclusion by explicitly targeting the poor, focusing on children, delivering transfers to women, and changing social accountability relationships between beneficiaries, service providers and governments".

Reportedly, in other countries that first implemented a similar program, increases in school enrollment and attendance were noted and a significant improvement in health and nutrition were felt.  Notably, however, it was only felt in the short term as household income was increased by the dole-out. True enough, this fact is always confirmed by the regular surveys which revealed that the country's poverty incidences persist.   So that, whether this dole-out program shall elicit positive results in the long run, only the future can tell.  What we certainly know is, we already have multitudes of poverty alleviation measures and rural revitalization programs, yet, the same poverty and insurgency problems persist. 

These rural revitalization programs, include, among others, the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises, One Town One Product and the most abused and graft-ridden Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Unknown to us, this BMBE act's purpose is so noble.  This is supposedly a better version of the ineffective "Kalakalan 20".  It is passed to hasten the country's economic development by encouraging the establishment and growth of BMBEs.  As the barangays are considered the source of entrepreneurial talents, it envisioned an integration of those in the informal sector or in the underground economy with the mainstream.   By granting incentives and benefits to these BMBEs, they are supposed to sprout all over the country.  Consequently, they will be able to generate employment and alleviate poverty.  Unfortunately, however, this law has remained seemingly dormant because of some local government executives' indifference. 

On the other hand, just like the BMBE, the Department of Trade and Industry, through some cooperatives, is also spearheading the Shared Service Facilities Program.  With raw materials and labor abundant in the countryside, the SSF truly fills the gap.  In filling the gap, the SSF generates employment and creates products that can possibly penetrate the local and foreign markets. Thus, the ingredients to this program's success are just waiting to be tapped.               

Since both programs (BMBE & SSF) are under DTI's guardianship, then complementing efforts can be easily initiated.  Dangling the SSF program before a group of would-be BMBE registrants could be a good start.  Simply put, SSF will be for production or manufacturing activities and BMBE shall be for incentives and, possibly, financial assistance.  Potentially, this inseparable pair of honest to goodness rural revitalization programs (entrepreneurship and productive employment) can liberate the majority from this age-old oppression called poverty.  These could be the best duo for success, a perfect combination.

Cautiously, however, since LGUs have participation in these programs (BMBE & SSF), we can only surmise should local politicians will be reluctant in supporting these programs.  First, they don't want to implement programs where they cannot affix their oversized and enhanced photos on tarpaulins for advertising mileage. Secondly, they don't seriously consider programs that shall truly emancipate the poor from the bondage of poverty. They are leaning largely on programs (like dole-outs) that shall truly make the majority of our countrymen their perennial parasites.  These are unequivocal parasites who are willing and blindly ready to die for them as they continue to satisfy their unquenchable thirst for power and perpetual hold of their respective turfs.

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