Refueled (Second of 2 parts)
 08 Feb. 2008

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The road ahead for our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) program, from what we earlier described as the 9th pit stop of MSME, holds the promise of more roaring successes.

The One Town One Product or OTOP project, for instance, is a marketing engine revved up to give our MSMEs an extended global reach.

Much like the pit crew that keeps the race car in top shape, the Technical Working Groups (TWG) constituted by our Inter-agency Coordinating Committee (ICC) keep our MSME program in excellent form. And they rendered their reports last week.

For starters, our TWG on training, led by the University of the Philippines’ – Institute of Small Scale Industries (UP-ISSI), under Ms. Celia Pascual, will equip and condition our entrepreneurs for the drive ahead through a consolidated MSME training programs compendium to be published by the Department of Trade and Industry — Philippine Trade Training Center (DTI-PTTC). It is tentatively titled: "2008 Compendium of HRD & Entrepreneurship Training Programs for MSME." This TWG will also compile a directory of experts for different training needs or areas of specialization required by MSME.

The Department of Science and Technology — Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (DoST-PCIERD), through Engr. Raul R. Sabularse, represented the TWG on product development. They will come up with a database and databank of all technologies available for MSMEs in 2008. The development of our MSME products through advanced technology and a more consolidated program structure will allow MSMEs to go the full distance to our 2010 targets.

The TWG on market development is led by the Department of Trade and Industry — Business Development Teams (DTI-BDT), under Dir. Meynard Orbeta. They will market Philippine MSMEs by holding trade fairs and exhibitions, both locally and internationally, showcasing Philippine raw materials and products. They will also produce catalogues of food and raw materials and directories of their suppliers. Products and services of People with Disabilities (PWDs) and trade associations are also included, and an SME marketing guidebook will be prepared. The Local Government Units (LGUs) and regional trade associations in export initiatives will be tapped through the Regional Interactive Platform for Philippine Exporters (RIPPLES) project, in cooperation with the Export Development Council (EDC). This program aims to encourage and inspire entrepreneurs to venture into export.

Like gasoline to run the engine, Small Business Corporation (SBCORP) President Benel Lagua, and Land Bank of the Philippines Vice President Liduvino Geron, discussed the financing components of MSME as principal program drivers. To prepare the MSME’s for the 2008 drive, this TWG will establish a Development Advocacy (DevAd) program to reach out to as many borrowers whose projects are viable and sustainable, but who cannot meet the usual requirements of formal lending institutions (e.g. collateral, debt-equity ratio, track record, etc.). Its priorities include the revision of the Magna Carta for SMEs, improve monitoring of bank SME loans; and make the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Rediscounting window in the SME reports. BSP helps banks liquefy their position by refinancing the loans they extend to their clients.

Director Leo Alcantara of the Bureau of Communications Services (BCS), on the other hand, for the TWG on advocacy, paves the way for an intensive nationwide information, communication and education (ICE) campaign on MSME through advocacy vehicles such as Go Negosyo events, agency projects like NAPC’s "Lakbay Aral" — type of project, and radio/TV interviews of agency heads talking about their respective MSME projects.

It could be a long drive ahead. But with a pit crew such as we have at the MSMEICC, we will manage the bumps and finish the race.

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