Former Vice President and senatorial aspirant Jejomar Binay (FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The national government should subsidize the COVID-19 testing of workers in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to help cushion the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, former Vice President Jejomar Binay said Monday.
Binay, who is running for senator in the 2022 elections, said there should also be a subsidy for COVID-19 testing of MSME workers as well as tax breaks for small businesses.
Such actions, Binay said, will prevent MSMEs from reaching their “breaking point.”
“Government should also subsidize the cost of testing for MSME workers so they won’t need to worry about paying out of pocket or burdening employers with the cost of testing. And tax breaks for MSMEs until the state of emergency as a result of the pandemic is over,” Binay said.
Government should also subsidize the cost of testing for MSME workers so they won’t need to worry about paying out of pocket or burdening employers with the cost of testing. And tax breaks for MSMEs until the state of emergency as a result of the pandemic is over. (2/3)
— Jejomar C. Binay (@JojoCBinay) January 10, 2022
“If we do not take these steps to help MSMEs and their workers, there will be a breaking point. You cannot expect the economy to recover when businesses are closed and workers are sick,” he added.
If we do not take these steps to help MSMEs and their workers, there will be a breaking point. You cannot expect the economy to recover when businesses are closed and workers are sick. (3/3)
— Jejomar C. Binay (@JojoCBinay) January 10, 2022
Binay is likewise pushing for the provision of a cash grant that can be given directly to MSME workers.
“I propose giving grants for MSMEs so they can continue paying their workers even when they are forced to downscale or shut down. The money can be given directly to the workers,” Binay said in a tweet.
“Since this is a grant, MSMEs will not be obligated to repay the government,” he added.
The national government previously provided wage subsidies for workers of MSMEs, particularly small businesses that had to temporarily shut down due to the imposition of lockdowns.
Aside from this, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in December 2021 it had provided livelihood kits to a total of 400 MSMEs that have been affected by the pandemic.