THE government’s fund source for financial assistance to Filipino entrepreneurs is still available, a Cabinet member said yesterday.
Cerge Remonde, head of the Presidential Management Staff for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), highlighted the government’s “comprehensive” assistance program for entrepreneurs during the second Go Negosyo Caravan in Cebu held at the Cebu International Convention Center yesterday.
He said the government does not just give financial assistance in the form of loans but also provides trainings that will improve the skills of Filipino entrepreneurs.
“The government will not just lend money,” Remonde said, adding that there is training available for those who want to go into business, like product and market development.
Under President Arro-yo’s program for MSMEs, P80 billion is available through government financial institutions, like the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines.
“Many of the rural banks in Cebu also offer this loan program,” Re-monde said of the no-collateral loans.
Campaign
Ramon Lopez, executive director of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, said the P80 billion fund has already helped a number of businessmen start up their businesses.
However, Lopez believes that through awareness campaigns, more people can avail themselves of the assistance.
“Anybody who has a business plan can avail of the loan,” he added.
This also includes the students who can group up and start a business, since most of the attendees during yesterday’s conference were from the academe.
Jonathan Jay Aldeguer, chairman of the Go Negosyo in Cebu, said the team will also open its doors to students since there is a need to promote the entrepreneurship culture.
“We have to break the mentality that one has to go to school, get a diploma and land a job,” Aldeguer said.
Entrepreneurs
Instead, students should already be trained to become entrepreneurs, he added.
Remonde said that on the part of the government, it recognizes the importance of entrepreneurship in the country since it will help address the concerns on unemployment.
Aside from this, Re-monde said that instead of sending Filipinos to work outside of the country, it would be better if Filipino products are the ones being exported abroad.
Remonde also said that the present unemployment rate in the country is due to a job mismatch wherein jobs available for Filipinos do not match the skills needed by employers.
At present, the Department of Education and the Commission for Higher Education has already implemented entrepreneurship lessons in schools, said Remonde.
The Go Negosyo team, Lopez said, will continue to organize activities, like the Go Negosyo caravan to provide a venue for financing institutions and the entrepreneurs to meet and discuss concerns and needs. (DME)
