MANILA, Jan 7 (PNA) — The Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship has three priority bills to push this 2015.
Its committee chair Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said Wednesday that among the priority bills of his committee for this year include amending the Consumer Act, Microfinance Bill, and Youth Entrepreneurship Bill.
These bills aim to strengthen the protection for consumers and to encourage entrepreneurial activities in the country.
Earlier, Aquino said that both his committee and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) intend to have stricter Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act.
“Strengthening the Consumer Act will further empower our citizens in their purchase of goods and services,” he stressed.
On the other hand, the Microfinance Bill targets to develop the microfinance sector in the country through defining rights and responsibilities of the stakeholders, institute performance management and standards, and provide an accreditation process for microfinance institutions.
Meanwhile, the Youth Entrepreneurship Bill aims to provide support for young entrepreneurs.
The bill seeks to integrate entrepreneurship programs in secondary and tertiary education curricula, facilitate grants both for the teaching and the practice of entrepreneurship, and develop a national youth entrepreneurship program.
In 2014, Aquino was able to pass the Fair Competition Act that will provide a level playing field for Filipino businesses and the Go Negosyo Act that will assist the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). (PNA)