Small, micro businesses may opt to close for good due to COVID-19 protocol demands —ECOP

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) on Wednesday said small and micro businesses may just close their operations altogether than comply with the strict health protocols against the COVID-19.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, ECOP chair Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said these businesses, which makes the 90% of enterprises in the country, do not have enough resources to continue their operations unlike large businesses.

“Yung mga medium saka large company, walang problema ‘yan, pero 'yung small at micro natin, malaking problema 'yan. Sa dami ng ihahanda mo, baka ayaw na lang magbukas ng mga yan,” he said.

According to ECOP, 90% of businesses in the country are micro and small enterprises, 8% are medium, and the remaining 2% are large.

Areas considered by the government to have moderate to low risk for COVID-19 spread will be placed under the relaxed measures of general community quarantine.

Businesses in agriculture, fisheries, food manufacturing, food retail, logistics, and media may resume operations with strict implementation of health protocols.

The Department of Trade and Industry wants business to prepare minimum health standard as they go back to operations, which includes wearing face masks, checking body temperature and providing vitamins to observe the health of their workers.

“Yung maliliit, marami diyan medyo nahihirapan. Kailangan ng kaunting ayuda sa gobyerno,” Luis said.

In March, DTI  allotted P1 billion for its Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-Asenso (P3) microfinancing special loan package for micro, small and medium enterprises affected by COVID-19. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News