SBCorp expands support for MSMEs via STAPLES

CEBU, Philippines —  State-owned Small Business Corporation ( SBCorp) kicks off its intensified support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with the implementation of Sustaining Trade and Access to Primary Food and Link to Enterprises (STAPLES) program.

SBCorp recently inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) to assist MSMEs in its retail food chain.

Under STAPLES, MSMEs of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies such as AMC can have access to collateral and interest-free loans from SBCorp for their working capital.

“This partnership with SBCorp could not have come at a better time and we are very positive that it will impact the MSME players in the food supply chain affected by the  pandemic,” said SBCorp acting chair Blesila Lantayona.

STAPLES aims to prevent closure of business operations of MSME retail outlets, especially the small community retailers commonly known as “sari-sari” stores. 

Moreover, STAPLES also aims to enable these target MSME stores to retain or to rehire their employees as they continue their business operations.

SBCorp  seeks to work hand-in-hand with FMCG companies in the vetting of MSMEs  that are part of their supply chain network and in information dissemination on STAPLES -  with the end of easy access to the loan program.  

For her part, SBCorp CEO and President Ma. Luna Cacanando said the STAPLES Program is aimed at fostering the growth, revival and empowerment of MSME food retailers approaching post-pandemic times.

“We envision our MSMEs to become an even stronger force as the economy recovers from the slow-down in the past months, by way of increased access to retrofitted financing that is meant to give them the needed boost to buy more business inventories and to reabsorb their personnel.  The financing offered to them by Government thru STAPLES is more responsive and efficient as we adopt more fully digitalized lending processes,” Cacanando said.

Last October, another FMCG - Monde Nissin, also signed up as a partner of STAPLES. 

Cacanando  hopes more FMCGs will join the program for it to be able to reach more MSMEs in the retail food supply chain, especially sari-sari stores.

SBCorp is a government-owned and controlled corporation created through the Magna Carta for MSMEs (RA 6977, as amended by R.A. 8289 and R.A. 9501). It is under the policy program and administrative supervision of the MSME Development Council of the Department of Trade and Industry.