Senator Win Gatchalian pressed the government to urgently roll out a coordinated inter-agency strategy to protect jobs and provide support to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) reeling from the impact of the Middle East conflict.
Gatchalian said that this is part of the short-term proposals crafted by the Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) ad hoc committee. “Higher fuel costs could trigger more layoffs and hiring freezes, especially in sectors that rely heavily on transport, power, and delivery,” he pointed out.
Gatchalian, chair of the PROTECT panel, added that the government should provide concessional credit for MSMEs and temporary operating support for sectors heavily exposed to fuel price spikes.
He said P1.965 billion in unobligated allotments under the Department of Trade and Industry’s MSME programs in the 2026 General Appropriations Act could be tapped to support MSMEs. He added that another P309.9 million in unobligated funds from the DTI’s 2025 continuing appropriations may also be used for MSME support programs.
Such programs for MSMEs should be complemented by emergency support programs from the Labor Department and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), particularly in reskilling and upskilling displaced workers.
Gatchalian Nanawagan ng Inter-Agency Strategy para Isalba ang mga Trabaho, MSMEs
Nanawagan si Senador Win Gatchalian sa pamahalaan na agarang magpatupad ng isang coordinated inter-agency strategy upang maprotektahan ang mga trabaho at makapagbigay ng suporta sa micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) na lubhang naapektuhan ng tensyon sa Gitnang Silangan.
Ayon kay Gatchalian, bahagi ito ng mga short-term proposal na binuo ng Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) ad hoc committee. “Ang pagtaas ng presyo ng langis ay maaaring magdulot ng mas maraming tanggalan sa trabaho at freeze hiring, lalo na sa mga sektor na nakadepende sa transportasyon, kuryente, at delivery,” aniya.
Bilang chairman ng PROTECT panel, iginiit ni Gatchalian na dapat maglaan ang pamahalaan ng concessional credit para sa MSMEs at pansamantalang tulong-operasyon para sa mga sektor na labis na naaapektuhan ng pagtaas ng presyo ng langis.
Tinukoy din ng senador na maaaring gamitin ang P1.965 bilyon na hindi pa nagagastos na pondo sa ilalim ng mga programa ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) para sa MSMEs sa 2026 General Appropriations Act upang suportahan ang sektor. Dagdag pa niya, maaari ring ilaan ang karagdagang P309.9 milyon mula sa hindi pa nagagamit na pondo ng DTI sa ilalim ng 2025 continuing appropriations para sa mga programang pang-suporta sa MSMEs.
Aniya, dapat ding samahan ang mga programang ito ng mga emergency support program mula sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at sa Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), partikular sa reskilling at upskilling ng mga manggagawang nawalan ng trabaho.
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