REPRESENTATIVE Leody “Odie” Tarriela of Occidental Mindoro has been elected chair of the House Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development.
Tarriela emphasized the crucial role of MSMEs, comprising 99.63% of the country’s 1,246,373 business enterprises in 2023, and employing two out of every three Filipinos.
He vowed to prioritize legislation aimed at improving, increasing, and developing MSMEs, citing a goal of reaching two million business enterprises nationwide.
Tarriela, a successful businessman with experience in manufacturing, real estate, and agri-aquaculture, plans to focus on simplifying business operations, potentially through reduced permit fees and faster processing.
He also intends to expand market access for MSMEs through initiatives like providing spaces in malls and increasing government procurement from them.
His approach will involve a whole-of-government strategy, linking MSME development to sectors like tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing to achieve more equitable economic growth. He believes his private sector experience will be invaluable in this endeavor.
