Villar bats for the creation of more MSMEs

Since the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) comprise more than 99 percent of the businesses in our country and provide more than 65 percent of employment, Senator Cynthia A. Villar encourages the creation of more MSMEs.

She also noted that the MSMEs account for about one-third of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

At present, Villar, chair of the Senate agriculture and food committee, said 50 percent of the MSMEs are involved in the food and beverage businesses.

"Thus, we want to teach and guide farmers and farm owners to engage in business to tap the business opportunities. We should also extend support through capacity-building strategies and to make them more competent and competitive in it," said Villar.

The strategy, Villar said, is to first educate and train the farmers by providing them with affordable or free access to agri-related training seminars and courses and by removing the barriers to their success and development.

Due to this, the senator cited the need to enhance their technical expertise, financial literacy, access to credit and to hasten the mechanization drive in the agricultural sector.

Speaking during the 65th anniversary of the Agri-Trade Fair in Zamboanga del Sur, Villar told her audience that she has always been an advocate of entrepreneurship, believing that it is the key to economic freedom of Filipinos.

Being an entrepreneur, Villar said she has been pushing for legislative measures to help small businessmen like the Magna Carta Micro-Enterprises and Republic Act 9178 or the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) Act when she was a congresswoman.

Villar was also co-author of the "Youth Entrepreneurship Law" or RA 10679, which was enacted into law in 2015.

"As we promote entrepreneurship and develop a new generation of entrepreneurs, we create MSMEs-- a strong engine of growth in our country, related Villar.

"So I am happy to face the MSMEs here in Zamboanga del Sur which are participants of this agri-trade fair. I am encouraging you to continue joining trade fair, exhibits and expos. I believe this is a good preparation that will provide you with good opportunities to enhance your strategies in terms of sales promotion and marketing," said the senator.

She emphasized that the agri-business is one of the long-term solutions in growing the agricultural sector and helping the Filipino farmers and fisherfolks.