Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez yesterday challenged micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to prepare for the recovery of the economy.
Lopez also bared the government’s “way forward” strategies as the country begins shifting to the new normal.
“MSMEs should be able to ride on this rebound,” said Lopez, in noting the improved business environment and the return of consumer confidence.
Lopez reminded MSMEs to continue innovating their products and improve their services even more by adopting to digital and electronic commerce “so when the rebound happens, “you will not be left behind.”
“(MSMEs) should have learned from the pandemic … “he added.
To move forward, Lopez is pushing for the inclusion of the economic frontliners to the sectors that should get booster shots after the A1-A3 priority population, using the vaccines imported by the private sector.
Lopez said this way, private sector will help government in vaccinating the dominant portion of the population.
Lopez said the government will allow companies to continue observing the hybrid model of work a combination of on-site and work-from-home arrangement as long as efficiencies are still achieved.
When it comes to protocols, Lopez said setting these measures will eventually be devolved or decentralized to local government units as the COVID becomes more of an endemic.
Under the new normal, Lopez had proposed the conduct of regular antigen tests, say twice a week or a week before going to a reunion or to a public place. – Irma Isip
