Villar Bats for More Government Support for Micro-Entrepreneurs

While commending the efforts of the private sector in partnering with enterprising Filipinos who aspire to be entrepreneurs, Nacionalista Party President Senator Manny Villar cites the need for more government support in entrepreneurial aspirations of Filipinos.

According to Villar, "Pioneering management, skills training and manpower development, several private corporations have been pursuing their thrust of providing sustainable livelihood to the unemployed yet hardworking individuals in the country."

"The government can consider providing support in terms of financial requisites comprising the starting capital, as well as sustainable support such as business counseling, monitoring services, financial management and even for the provision of supplies for marketing and advertisement," further cited Villar in Senate Resolution 1116 he recently filed.

In his own capacity as senator, through the Nacionalista Party, Villar also provides support to entrepreneurs by providing initial capital or 'seed money' for micro- and small enterprises. "Given the proper support, many Filipinos would readily choose to be an entrepreneur. Many just do not have adequate capital and lack training to pursue their dreams of starting their own business," said Villar, who is also known as Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga (Hard work and Perseverance).

SRN 1116 Resolution urges the committees on Finance and Economic Affairs to conduct a study, in aid of legislation, on the budgetary appropriation for entrepreneurship initiatives with the end in view of promoting parallel implementation of the private sector projects like "Business on Wheels" and the

"Micro-Distributorship Programs" and the larger appropriation for similar endeavors. Micro-Distributorship (MD) Program, Business on Wheels (BOW) partnership and the ice cream street- selling ventures were pioneered by Nestle Philippines under its Nestle-Sosyo Project to encourage and reward the entrepreneurial ability of Filipinos.

"The implementation of such projects stemmed from the fact that many individuals would want to improve their lives by means of a sustainable source of income but are unfortunately impeded by socio-economic factors and the lack of opportunities for economic growth," Villar's SRN 1116 also cited.

Hundreds of micro-entrepreneurs have signed up with the project by selling or distributing Neste products. The small- scale partners involve able-bodied, high school graduates who personally distribute Nestle products by means of a motorcycle with a closed cab, while the medium- scale business partners supply the same branded products but who, on the other hand, supplies the goods to small canteens and eateries by means of a company- provided rent-to-own tricycle.