Government microfinancing program guidelines out soon
In a bid to create a nation of entrepreneurs, the government will release this week guidelines for the new micro-financing programs recently launched by President Arroyo for Filipino women.
Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral told The Star that the guidelines for the Harnessing Appropriate Technology to Assist Women (Hataw) and Projects for Women Entrepreneurs (Power) would be available this week.
Mrs. Arroyo launched the programs during the celebration of the International Women’s Month last March.
The President has instructed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) to spearhead the projects.
In a separate interview, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro said Hataw would be a special program under the DOST’s SETUP (Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program).
SETUP aims to promote countrywide development by upgrading productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through technology application or upgrading. The strategy is to focus the interventions on five industry sectors: food processing; furniture; fashion accessories, gifts-toys-house wares; and marine, aquatic resources and horticulture.
Last week, Alabastro said her department has drafted the concept for Hataw and submitted it to DSWD and PMS for comments and inputs.
Mrs. Arroyo and Cabral earlier urged Filipino women to become entrepreneurs, saying “real empowerment means financial independence.”
Women now constitute around 40 percent of the 35.9 million persons in the national labor force, according to the Trade Union Congress of the
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