Bam Wants One Consolidated MSME Assistance Program

In an effort to help their development further, Senator Bam Aquino wants to consolidate all government's programs and projects for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

"Marami tayong programa, pero nakita naman natin na sa baba, hiwa-hiwalay ang mga programa ng gobyerno," said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship after the Senate hearing.

"So we're trying to consolidate, put it all together, and we're asking the help of the agencies na leading up to next year for our next congress," he added.

Sen. Bam said MSMEs stand to benefit if all the government plans, programs and projects are consolidated into one big effort for the development of the sector.

The senator conducted a hearing on the two resolutions (SR No. 1729 and SR No. 1731) that he filed to determine whether MSMEs are truly benefiting from different government programs, projects and services as mandated by law.

Sen. Bam believes that the probe will produce positive results that may lead to a better environment for MSMEs where they can get all the support they need to grow.

"Para in the 17th Congress, ang mga batas na i-pa-file natin, di hamak na mas responsive at mas makakatulong pa sa mga kababayan natin," Sen. Bam said.

In Senate Resolution No. 1729, Sen. Bam wants to determine if the livelihood and enterprise development programs of government agencies are closely coordinating towards more efficient service and support to MSMEs, as provided for by the Republic Act 9501 or the Magna Carta for MSMEs.

In Senate Resolution No. 1731, Sen. Bam seeks to find out the government's efficiency in promoting access to responsive financing for MSMEs as stated in Republic Act 9501.

"There is a need for government to access the effectiveness of its institutions in addressing the needs of MSMEs, particularly the missing middle, to strengthen and sharpen policies and programs to make financing more inclusive," said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the Magna Carta for MSMEs calls for cooperation among crucial government agencies, led by the Department of Trade and Industry, and coordination of government efforts in support of the MSME sector.

For a long time, Sen. Bam was a former social entrepreneur, who worked on livelihood and business development projects in poor communities before running for a senate seat in 2012.