Senator Bam Aquino unveiled his 5-point business agenda, calling micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) the primary engine for national economic survival as he assumed leadership of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.
In his privilege speech, he highlighted that MSMEs comprise 99% of all local businesses. While they generate the vital jobs keeping families afloat, they are unfairly trapped by severe economic headwinds and regulatory bottlenecks.
The senator’s comprehensive legislative blueprint systematically addresses modernization, economic inclusion and structural state protections.
Recognizing that the post-pandemic digital economy has permanently evolved, Aquino called for urgent updates to the Magna Carta for MSMEs and the groundbreaking Go Negosyo Act of 2014, a law he authored during his first Senate term.
“Nung pinasa ang Go Negosyo Act of 2014, nasaisip po namin ay Sari Sari Store at Carinderia. Pero ngayon po, kasama na sa listahan ng MSME ang mga online seller, ang mga freelancer, ang mga content creator, ang ating virtual assistant at maging mga magsasaka at maliliit na food processor,” he said.
To protect this new generation of independent workers, Aquino is pushing the Senate to formalize these modern sectors under law, ensuring they finally secure structural support.
“Panahon na po i-update ang mga batas para i-define ang MSME para mabigyan sila ng tulong at para matugunan ang mga panibagong pangangailangan at panibagong anyo ng ating micro, small, and medium enterprises… Palalawakin po natin ang access to capital, access to micro insurance at iba pang support ang kailangan ng ating maliliit na negosyo,” he said.
He also underscored the economic potential of the creative economy, urging the government to emulate global benchmarks like South Korea’s KOCCAto champion Filipino artists, writers and digital developers.
“Isa sa mga bagong makina ng paglago ng ating ekonomiya. Matagal na po tayong nanonood, nakikinig at natutuwa kapag kinikilala ang mga Pilipino sa pandaidigang entablado. Mula Bini, SB19, Pilipino filmmakers, animators, game developers, Pilipino fashion designers, graphic artists, writers, meron pong renewed interest in Filipino culture, food, and creativity. Kaya kailangan po natin supportahan at tulungan ang industriya na ito,” he stressed.
In one of the most innovative pillars of the agenda, Aquino detailed a massive Local Farmer and MSME Support and Voucher Program, an evolution of Senator Kiko Pangilinan’s Sagip Saka framework that shifts government procurement directly to local producers.
“Isang inclusive supply chain na kung saan ang parehas na binibigyan at pinagkukuhanan ay nakikinabang. Kung magamit lang po ng tama ang napakalaking budget ng gobyerno, napakarami pong pwedeng matulungan at mapapanatili pang abot kaya ang mga bilihin… Naisip po nating kung saan pwedeng kunin ng pera, naisip po namin na pwede pong ma-access ang 300 billion pesos naka-program na ayuda sa ating bansa. Di po ba napakaganda, tumutulong na nga po tayo sa mga kababayan po natin, yung pinagkukuhanan pa po nating ay natutulungan din,” he said.
To drive steady economic growth and foster long-term financial security, the fourth pillar centers on fiercely protecting and scaling high-quality, job-rich industrial sectors.
“Magsusulong po tayo ng mga reporma para suportahan ang mga industriyang nagpapayaman sa ating bansa. Ito rin po ang mga industriya na kailangan protektahan at palaguin, dahil sila po nag lilikha ng mas marami at dekalidad na trabaho para po sa ating mga kababayan. Kabilang po dito ang IT BPM industry, ang semiconductor and electronics industry, kasama rin po ang shipbuilding na kasama sa blue economy,” Aquino said.
And to answer directly the frustrations of everyday business owners, Aquino launched a scathing critique against systemic red tape and state harassment, pledging strict legislative overwatch to eliminate predatory practices.
“Naghearing na po ang blue ribbon po noon tungkol po sa mga LOA ng BIR na minsan ginagamit bilang pagkakataon para sa panggigipit at pang-aabuso. Ito po isa sa mga pahirap sa ating maliliit na negosyo. Nandiyan po yung FDA kung saan napakabagal ang pagproseso at nagiging hadlang sa pagpasok ng mga produkto sa merkado. Nandiyan po yung Bureau of Fire kung saan napakaraming reklamo pagdating po sa di makatwirang inspection fee at yung pagbebenta ng mga fire extinguisher at iba pa. Ilan lang po ito sa mga nagpapahirap sa mga maliliit na negosyo na kailangan na pong itigil at hanapan ng solusyon,” he explained.
With analytical trends forecasting severe consumer commodity and rice price spikes on the horizon, Aquino closed his speech by reminding the Senate that economic policy must directly translate into immediate household stability and dignified livelihoods.
“Alam po natin na hindi madali mag-negosyo sa Pilipinas at ayon rin po sa mga eksperto inaasahan pong tataas ang presyo ng bigas at presyo ng bilihin sa mga susunod na buwan. Now is the time to come together to help and protect our countrymen from price shocks to support their businesses para lagi pong may trabaho ang bawatpamilyang Pilipino,” he concluded.
