The city government of Quezon City has unveiled a P700-million assistance package to aid micro and small businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The P700-million budget allotted for our Quezon City Wage Relief Program will benefit around 6,000 micro-enterprises and 5,000 small businesses,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte told the BusinessMirror in a recent online interview.
“This program aims to help our micro and small entrepreneurs meet ongoing business costs by providing wage subsidies that can help keep their employees and business operations until they get back on their feet,” she added.
In a separate e-mail interview, Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (SBCDPO) head Mona Celine Yap told the BusinessMirror that eligible micro and small businesses stand to receive wage subsidies starting July to September.
Yap said Quezon City-registered micro-enterprises with less than nine employees and/or with an asset size, or capitalization of up to P3 million, such as, but not limited to, sari-sari stores, canteens, laundry shops, computer shops, printing shops, among others, can avail of the program.
“Micro enterprises that are forced to suspend or reduce business operations, experienced revenue decrease, or loss, those currently operating or plan to reopen by July 2020 can also apply,” Yap said.
She added that small businesses registered in Quezon City that have 10 to 99 employees and/or with an asset of more than P3 million up to P15 million can apply. Interested enterprises may apply through the QC E-Service Portal.
Yap said interested enterprises can start applying for the wage subsidy starting July 6 to 20, 2020. No application shall be accepted after the application period.
Moreover, Yap said active employees of qualified micro business enterprises, whether regular, probationary, regular seasonal, project-based, or fixed-term, are eligible under the program.
“After we validate all submitted information, we will notify all eligible micro and small business enterprises that will receive the wage subsidy,” LEIPO action officer Perry Dominguez said.
To develop the entrepreneurial skills of the Quezon City residents, Belmonte pointed out that SBCDPO has programs to train and improve the skills of people who wish to pursue an entrepreneurial career through livelihood programs, trainings and seminars.
Belmonte also revealed the city government is planning to develop a program targeting self-employed individuals and single parents along with 10,000 micro-entrepreneurs. For a start, the city government will provide them with livelihood starter kits.
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