INIHAIN ni incoming House Speaker at Leyte 1st Dist. Rep. Martin G. Romualdez ang isang panukalang batas na nagbibigay mandato sa dalawang “government financial institutions” upang mapalawak ang kanilang “lending programs” para matulungan ang mga maliliit na negosyo na makabangon mula sa COVID-19 pandemic.

Isinulong ni Romualdez ang House Bill No. 1 na may pamagat na “An Act providing for government financial unified initiatives to distressed enterprises for economic recovery (GUIDE).

Layunin ng panukalang batas na maglaan ng P7.5 bilyon ang Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) at 2.5 bilyon ang Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) o ang kabuuang P10 bilyon para maisakattuparan ang iniaatas sa kanila ng HB No. 1.

Bukod kay Romualdez, kabilang din sa mga mambabatas na co-authors ng nasabing panukalang batas ay sina Tingog Party List Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez at Jude Acidre at presidential son – Ilocos Norte Rep. Alexander Marcos.

“The proposed legislative measure seeks to strengthen the capacity of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to provide the needed assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and other strategically important companies,” paliwanag ni Romualdez.

Sinabi pa ng mambabatas na “To this end, the government financial institutions are mandated to expand their credit programs in order to assists MSMEs to meet their liquidity needs. In particular, the LBP and the DBP are mandated to expand their credit and rediscounting facilities to affected MSMEs in the agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing and service industries,” dagdag pa ni Romualdez.