Senator files bill to boost MSME digital access

Senator Loren Legarda has filed the proposed “Pangkabuhayan Act,” a measure designed to streamline access to government financing and livelihood support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), in observance of MSME Month this July.

The proposed bill aims to leverage digital tools and centralized support systems to simplify the entrepreneurial journey for Filipinos and enhance the growth of existing small businesses.

“The future of MSMEs is anchored on our ability to innovate,” Legarda said in a statement. “By simplifying and strengthening support systems, and taking advantage of technology, we provide more opportunities for Filipinos to start and sustain businesses, we nurture an efficient and competitive economic environment, and we promote sustainable and inclusive growth.”

Under the proposed legislation, Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development Centers (SLEDs) will be established in every rural municipality.

These centers will serve as one-stop hubs offering training, technical support, business registration assistance, and financial access—especially targeting economically depressed areas.

“Compared to larger enterprises, our MSMEs are more susceptible to changes in our economy, which would also affect their ability to employ and expand,” Legarda said.

She emphasized that the bill intends to dismantle red tape and regulatory bottlenecks that often hinder MSME creation and development.

“With its strong alignment with the objectives of the Philippine Innovation Act, the proposed legislation will also ensure that MSMEs will gain access to digital transformation,” she added.

According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), MSMEs make up 99.5 percent of businesses in the Philippines and account for more than 63 percent of the country’s workforce.

“With this proposed legislation, we aim that MSMEs will not just be recipients of aid, but will also be enablers of socio-economic empowerment, creative growth and global competitiveness,” Legarda said.

Legarda has consistently championed policies supporting entrepreneurship and innovation.

She is the principal sponsor of the Magna Carta for MSMEs and a key author of the Philippine Innovation Act, both aimed at boosting job creation and poverty alleviation through sustainable enterprise development.