Former Senator Cynthia Villar, a staunch supporter of cooperatives and farmers, lauded the “Tindahan ni Tarsee” holiday bazaar organized by DAILY TRIBUNE annually to showcase products of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME).

Villar said she was honored to open this year’s edition of the MSME fair named after the mascot of the newspaper last 5 December at the Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, stressing the important role of entrepreneurs in fulfilling two of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) — low poverty and zero hunger.

“Our micro, small and medium enterprises are the backbone of our economy. They represent more than 99 percent of all businesses in the Philippines and provide millions of jobs to our people,” said Villar.

“But more than the numbers, micro, small, and medium enterprises embody the resilience, innovation, and hard work of Filipino entrepreneurs. Behind every small business is a family striving for a better life, a dream waiting to grow, and a community that benefits from the success. That is why platforms provided by DAILY TRIBUNE, where they can showcase their products, meet new partners, and expand their market are so important,” she added.

For her part, Villar said her family’s foundation grants financial assistance to 20 cooperatives every year. She also convinced the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the government’s socioeconomic planning and policy agency, to not tax cooperatives whose members are only small investors.

The former senator recalled that NEDA learned that some coops are millionaires so such organizations should be taxed. But Villar said she knows of only two coops that are millionaires but their membership is 200,000, each investing only P5,000.

Villar and DAILY TRIBUNE publisher Willie Fernandez led the ceremonial ribbon cutting for “Tindahan ni Tarsee.” They were joined by Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon, Tourism Undersecretary Shalimar Hofer Tamano and Maya’s head of public affairs and communications Nick Wilwayco.

Vice Mayor Stephanie Teves-Wong, Maya’s Joms Ramirez, SB Corp’s Wally Calderon and Kaunlad Pinoy’s Choi Napoles also graced the opening of the three-day bazaar exhibiting unique Filipino-made products and gastronomic offerings.