Governors in Central Visayas (CV) are calling on the national government authorities to provide help to the heavily impacted micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME).
This was learned in a report obtained by The Bohol Tribune on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.
CV governors met during a meeting hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) online forum entitled “Ready to Recover”, which tackled the different plans the governors have to help their respective MSMEs, whose businesses are heavily impacted by the coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic, to gradually recover.
For her part, Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia said that the MSMEs should submit their proposals so that the governors have an idea on what kind of help and intervention can be extended to the MSMEs.
Cebu’s tourism industry in the countryside is struggling and there is a need to resuscitate the tourism-related businesses back to their former status.
Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap said the province is leaning towards the plan of the Department of Tourism (DOT) about putting up travel bubbles.
Travel bubbles are travel agreements between areas that have demonstrated the ability to control the Covid infection in their respective jurisdictions.
Yap said that the national government should allow the MSMEs to stabilize and fully recover.
This can be done, Yap said, with strategic support from government banks through loan restructuring by giving the impacted businesses at least a year to recover.
The Bohol government has prepared a P250 million program to help the MSMEs to get back on their feet.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo said his province is focusing on food production and the revival of its tourism industry.
On the other hand, Siquijor Gov. Zaldy Villa wants to promote his province as a safe destination. Siquijor remains to be a Covid-free province.