Acknowledging the significant contributions of micro, small and medium enterprises to the country's economic recovery, especially during these challenging times, Sen. Bong Go stressed the need for the government to further intensify its support to small business owners.

In his video message during the relief activity for 600 microentrepreneurs in Iloilo City on Monday, October 3, Go acknowledged how the pandemic severely hampered MSMEs, which account for more than 90% of the local economy.

"Marami po talaga ang nawalan ng trabaho simula nang dumating ang pandemya sa ating bansa. Kaya naman kami po sa gobyerno dapat po talaga natin palakasin pa lalo ang suportang ibinibigay natin sa maliliit na negosyo dahil kahit maliit man po ito, marami pong Pilipino ang natutulungan," expressed Go.

"Responsibilidad po ng gobyerno na protektahan ang kapakanan ng ating mga MSMEs. Our work will enable these enterprises to recoup their losses due to the pandemic as well as to create new jobs and opportunities for our kababayans," he added.

Go was instrumental in the enactment of the Small Business Wage Subsidy program which provided eligible workers who were unable to work or get paid during the enhanced community quarantine period with two tranches of financial assistance.

The lawmaker likewise filed a bill which seeks to institutionalize the Department of Trade and Industry's "One Town, One Product" (OTOP) program. OTOP is a government-run program providing assistance to MSMEs and promoting the commodities and products of Filipino towns, cities and regions.

"Rest assured that as a senator, I will continue to advocate for policies that will not only assist our MSMEs in recovering from the onslaught of the pandemic, but also strengthen the nation's resilience and adaptability given our vulnerability to natural disasters and the possibility of future health crises similar to this one," Go reaffirmed.

Held at Iloilo Freedom Grandstand, Go's staff handed out snacks and masks to each small business owner and provided cellular phones, shoes, bicycles, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select individuals.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development also extended livelihood grants to support the recipients' respective small businesses amid the ongoing pandemic.