Proposed 2013 budget crumbs MSMEs

CEBU – Representative Teddy Casiño (Bayan Muna party-list) appealed Friday to increase the “scandalously miniscule allocations for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of the Aquino administration in the 2013 budget.”

Casiño was in town for the biggest Obra Negosyo Enhancement Countryside Enterprise Business Upliftment (ONE CEBU) Expo upon invitation of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

“In President Benigno Aquino III’s 2013 budget message, the National Government will only provide P1.469 billion for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with P969 million, and P500 million for the Department
of Science and Technology (DOST) for its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP),” Casiño, also the Makabayan Coalition spokesman, added.

The DTI allocation of P969 million is meant for the Shared Service Facilities project to set up common service facilities and render assistance to 750 MSMEs, as well as to create 50 MSMEs from 2013 onwards (P700 million); for the DTI to develop a one-stop business registration, licensing, and export documentation facility (P136 million); and for MSME sustainable market development and promotion activities (P133 million), respectively.

“In contrast, P45 billion is being allotted to the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in the form of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program. This money will be better spent if used for job and livelihood generation via our MSMEs that will support the development in providing longer-term livelihood to our people, spur more domestic economy activities and make our citizens productive,” Casiño said.

The third-term congressman also expressed his support to the ONE CEBU initiative of the local governments that bring “the best of Cebu’s products and produce to the national and even international stage.”

“The Cebu local governments have recognized that MSMEs are major drivers of our economy and provide employment to thousands in the province. This is why we commend the ONE CEBU program as a pioneering local government effort that can be improved on a nationwide scale via our “Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy” grassroots campaign that promotes the consumption of Filipino-made products and the development of integrated, world-class Filipino industries,” Casiño said. (PR)