企業、資金借り入れ躊躇

ラモン・ロペス貿易長官は、感染拡大の影響でいくつかの企業が資金の借り入れを躊躇しているため、中小企業を支援するために割り当てられた100億ペソの資金のうち、少なくとも70％がそのまま残っていると述べました。

この資金は日本の給付金とは違い、返済義務のあるものです。そのため借り手は、事業停止の恐れもあるため返済の約束ができず、借り入れに対し消極的になってしまっています。そのため同長官は、返済義務のない給付金の必要性を主張します。

また、100億ペソの基金のうち、60億ペソが観光関連事業に割り当てられることになっています。

 これは、先月の厳しい封鎖措置によって観光施設が閉鎖を余儀なくされ厳しい状況にあり、感染防止を考慮した上で徐々に観光業を開業させていく必要があるからだといいます。

日本では給付金が配布されていますが、それでもなお多くの事業者が給付金の追加を求めています。借り入れに踏み出せない企業は、かなり苦しんでいることが想像できます。給付金という形に切り替わるのか、今後の動向に注目です。

以下、ABS-CBN NEWSより

‘Hesitant to borrow’: 70 pct of P10-B fund for small businesses still intact – DTI

MANILA – At least 70 percent of the P10-billion fund allocated to help small businesses remains intact as several establishments are hesitant to borrow money during the pandemic, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Friday.

The government has released P3.3 billion of the P10 billion assistance fund for the microfinancing of micro, small and medium enterprises under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2), Lopez told ANC’s Headstart.

“Walang backlog ‘yan. Kami pa nag-iimbita, kami pa nag pro-promote ngayon,” he said.
(There is no backlog there. We’re even inviting, we’re even promoting now.)

“Our potential borrowers are probably a bit reluctant. They are worried about repaying kasi (because) if their business is closed, how can they commit to pay?” he said.

“That’s the reason why microfinancing is not needed, but straightforward subsidy,” he said.
The government is offering up to P200,000 for micro and small enterprises, while medium-sized businesses can borrow up to P500,000 with 0.5 percent monthly interest and payable in 2 to 5 years.

There will be a grace period of 5 to 6 months for payments, Lopez said.

Micro businesses have P3 million in assets, small firms have P3 million to P15 million while medium enterprises have P15 million to P100 million, according to the government’s definition.

Of the P10 billion fund, P6 billion is allotted for tourism-related businesses, Lopez said.

“‘Yung sa tourism ang problema kaya kailangan mabuksan ‘yung tourism at the proper time with health considerations,” he said.

(The tourism sector is the problem that’s why we need to open them at the proper time with health considerations.)
Several tourism establishments were forced to shut down anew after the Philippines reimposed its strictest lockdown in the capital region and nearby provinces last month due to a spike in new COVID-19 cases.

The government is expected to announce new quarantine restrictions by the end of the month.