Article 137Labor and Agrarian Laws and Social Legislation, p. 137

LABOR LAWS AND SOCIAL LEGISLATION SPECIAL LAWS AND IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS

3) Provision of guidance and assistance regarding

product quality/product development and product

diversification;

4) Provision of guidance and assistance for the

adoption

of

improved production technique and

commercialization of appropriate technologies for

the

product

development

and

for

increased

utilization of indigenous raw materials;

5)

Provision

of

assistance

in

marketing

and

distribution of products of MSMEs through local

supply-demand information, industry and provincial

profiles,

overseas marketing promotion, domestic

market linkaging and the establishment of common

service facilities such as common and/or cooperative

bonded warehouse, grains storage, agro-processing

and drying facilities, ice plants, refrigerated storage,

cooperative trucking facilities, etc;

6) Intensification of assistance and guidance to

enable greater access to credit through a simplified

multi-agency

financing

program;

to

encourage

development of other modes of financing such as

leasing

and

venture

capital activities; to provide

effective credit guarantee systems, and encourage

the

formation

of

credit

guarantee

associations,

including setting up credit records and information

systems

and

to

decentralize

loan

approval

mechanism;

7) Provision of concessional interest rates, lower

financing fees, which may include incentives for

prompt

credit

payments,

arrangements

tying

amortizations

to

business

cash

flows,

effective

substitution of government guarantee cover on loans

for the borrower's lack of collateral;

8) Provision of bankruptcy preventive measures

through the setting up of a mutual relief system for

distressed

enterprises,

and

the

establishment

of

measures such as insurance against extraordinary

disasters;

9) Intensification of information dissemination

campaigns

and

entrepreneurship

education

activities;

10) Availment of and easier access to tax credits

and other tax and duty incentives as provided by the

Omnibus Investment Code and other laws;

11)

Provision

of

support

for

product

experimentation

and

research

and

development

activities

as

well

as

access

to

information

on

commercialized technologies; and

12) Through appropriate government agencies:

a) Provide more infrastructure facilities and

public

utilities to support operations of

MSMEs;

b) Establish, operate, and administer a small

business

incubation

program

in

coordination

with

academic

institutions,

Department

of Science and Technology

and other appropriate government entities

that will provide space for start-up and

expanding firms, shared use of equipment

and work areas, daily management support

services

essential

to

high-quality

commercial

operations,

technical

assistance and other services to develop

innovative and deserving MSMEs;

d) Provide local and international network and

linkages for MSME development;

e) Compile and integrate statistical databank

on Philippine MSMEs;

f) Set-up new MSME centers and revitalize

already

established

MSME

centers

to

provide MSMEs in the regions easier access

to services such as, but not limited to, the

following:

i.

Accept

and

act

on

all

registration

application of MSMEs;

ii.

Streamline

registration

process

and

facilitate

speedy

registration

for

the

establishment of business enterprises in

the country;

iii. Provide all information and referral services

it shall deem necessary or essential to the

development and promotion of MSMEs;

iv. Conduct other programs and development

programs, training, advice, consultation

on

business

conceptualization

and

feasibility,

financing,

management,

capacity

building,

human

resources,

marketing, and such other services to

support the needs of MSMEs;

v.

Provide

courses

and

development

programs, training, advice, consultation

on

business

conceptualization

and

feasibility, financing, management, and

such other services to support the needs

of MSMEs;

g) To submit to the President and the Congress

through

the

OVERSIGHT

Committee

as

defined under this Act, a yearly report on

the

status

of

MSMEs

in

the

country,

including the progress and impact of all

relevant

government

policies,

programs

and legislation as well as private sector

activities;

h)

To

coordinate,

monitor

and

assess

the

implementation of the MSMEDP, and when

necessary,

institute

appropriate

adjustments

thereon

in

the

light

of

changing conditions in both domestic and

international environment; and

i) Generally, to exercise all powers and functions

necessary for the objectives and purposes

of this Act.

(8a) (as amended by RA No 9501)

Section 8. Designation of the Bureau of Micro,

Small and Medium Enterprise Development as Council

Secretariat .

—

The

Bureau

of

Small

and

Medium

Business Development (BSMBD) hereinafter referred to

as the Bureau of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise

Development (BMSMED) is hereby designated to act as

the Council Secretariat and shall have the following

duties and functions: (as amended by RA No 9501)

(1) to prepare, in coordination with local government

units and/or associations of local government officials,

and recommend annual as well as medium-term small

and medium enterprises development plans for approval

of the Council;

(2) to coordinate the preparation of position papers

and background materials for discussion or approval

during Council meetings;

(3)

to

assist

the

Council

in

coordinating

and

monitoring small and medium enterprise policies and

programs and activities of all government agencies with

respect to small and medium enterprises;

(4) to prepare, collate and integrate all inputs to the

Council's yearly report on the status of small and medium

enterprises in the country;

(5) to submit periodic reports to the Council on the

progress and accomplishment of its work programs; and

(6) to perform ad hoc functions as authorized by the

Council. (9a) (as amended by RA No 8289)

Section 9. Appropriations . - To finance its activities

and

operational

expenses,

the

Council shall have a

separate

annual

appropriation

approved

by

the

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which shall be

provided in the General Appropriation Act starting in the

fiscal year immediately following the approval of this Act.

© Compiled By RGL

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