ERWIN P. NICAVERA
May 3, 2020
THERE IS a need to stir some more in the economy to create wider ripples especially amid this coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, a business leader said.
Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said there should be pockets of economic activity in almost all localities in the province.
Carbon said one is pushing forward the support for local entrepreneurs and their products.
"In the bid to promote patronage of local goods, the government as well as private establishments have to work on making the market available," he said, adding that each sector has the role in stirring the economy.
The business leader pointed out that Go Negosyo Centers, for instance, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), should be converted to retail outlets.
There are new entrepreneurs now, but their products need to have outlets.
The agency, he said, should also continue their rolling stores and caravans promoting the produce of local farmers, producers and entrepreneurs so there can be pocket of activities.
Carbon said local government units (LGUs) should provide more market spaces for micro and small entrepreneurs on top of also creating their caravans and rolling stores.
For malls, they should create areas for all homegrown and local products just like that of Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City, Carbon said.
"If we want to buy local, the products should be made available so there should be activities," he added.
MBCCI has been pushing for supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bacolod City and other localities in the province.
Through the annual hosting of Negros Business Week, for instance, the chamber aims to enable local entrepreneurs to grow from micro to small, small to medium or even medium to large.
It can be recalled that due to the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine, most businesses have temporarily stopped operations resulting in opportunity losses.
In fact, MBCCI earlier called on the government to have a crisis response package to allay possible adverse effects of the pandemic to the industry.
Carbon reiterated that the longer the hiatus, the harder and more expensive for businesses to start as their capital continues to deplete while the costumers' purchasing power weakens.
But now that there are government subsidies like the Social Amelioration Program (Sap) and Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (Camp), Carbon said "we need to create economic activities."
"We should start, even small, to create pockets of economic activities which will slowly become bigger," he said, stressing that "what we need to develop is the feeling of hope instead of fear from being infected of the virus."
In stirring the economy, the business group wants the locals, who are looking for ways to earn, to participate.
"Though they are resilient, we have to provide them the market," it said, urging LGUs, national government agencies, private sector and the community to support local products.
Its official said this is an opportune time for the local goods, especially agricultural products, to be highlighted.
"We have to create hope not fear," Carbon stressed.
