Creation of micro, small, medium enterprises dev’t council eyed
The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance institutionalizing the creation of the Baguio City Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (MSMEDC).
Under the proposed ordinance, it is a declared policy of the local government to foster national development, promote inclusive growth, and reduce poverty by encouraging the establishment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that facilitate local job creation, production and trade in the city.
Further, the local government shall develop plans and initiate means to ease the constraints on the establishment of MSMEs to rationalize the existing bureaucratic regulations, providing greater incentives and benefits to MSMEs and strengthen the micro, small and medium enterprise development council.
The ordinance aims to advance the coordination and systematize services to realize the full growth and potential of the MSMEs.
The council shall be chaired by the City Mayor and the regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry as vice chairperson. The members of the council include the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Baguio-Benguet chapter, Department of the Interior and Local Government – Baguio field office, Department of Science and Technology Baguio-Benguet provincial office, Food and Drugs Administration, Department of Information and Communication Technology, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Chairman of the City Council Committee on market, Trade and Agriculture, City Social Welfare and Development Officer, City Planning and Development Office, City Treasury Office, Permits and Licensing Office, City Veterinary and Agriculture Office, City Budget Office, Public Employment Services Office, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Baguio City, Liga ng mga Barangay, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative, Baguio City Cooperative Development Council, and representatives from MSMEs.
Among the functions of the said council include help establish the needed environment and opportunities conducive to the growth and development of enterprise in the city; recommend to the city council all policy matters affecting business in the city; formulate a local entrepreneurship development plan to be integrated into the local development plan and facilitate the implementation of the same; coordinate and integrate various government and private sector activities in the locality relating to enterprise development; plan for capacity building of MSMEs in the city; systematize the database of the MSMEs in the city; formulate, disseminate and advocate policies, principles and implementing guidelines in the development and promotion of local enterprises and perform other functions necessary or incidental to the realizations of the proposed measure.
The ordinance provided that funds for the MSMEDC shall be included under the annual budget of the City Mayor’s Office.
The MSMEDC, through the DTI, previously served as the coordinating and supervisory body for all agencies involved in the establishment and operation of Negosyo Centers and performed oversight functions and assigned appropriate personnel to supervise its operation.
The ordinance recognized that MSMEs play a vital role in developing the Philippine economy as they contribute in lessening the poverty rate by creating and offering jobs for the country’s growing labor force and stimulate economic development in rural and far flung areas.
Republic Act (RA) 10644 otherwise known as the Go Negosyo Act of 2014 seeks to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises to create more job opportunities in the country. DTI Administrative Order No. 14-5, series of 2014 enjoins local government units to strengthen their respective micro, small and medium enterprise development councils to ensure development of strong partnership between the government and the private sector. Dexter A. See
