As Filipinos picked up the pieces from the havoc caused by successive typhoons to hit the country, Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. said Tuesday that small businesses could lead the way to recovery. “I have always believed that small and medium-sized businesses are the engine of our economic growth,” said Villar in a statement. “After the devastation brought about by the recent typhoons, these businesses should be supported to spearhead our recovery.”

Villar said that many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) were badly hit by the recent typhoons, many of which have lost supplies and equipment. They also need assistance and support to revive their businesses, he added.

“After bringing temporary relief to our countrymen, now is the time to help them rebuild their lives and their livelihood. We need to make available to them access to financing and other assistance to start a small business or to restart their existing business,” he said.

SMEs, according to Villar’s statement, have a multiplier effect on the economy since they employ a huge majority of Filipinos. “Entrepreneurs create jobs, which energize our economy. The SMEs and micro enterprises are keys to hastening the people’s recovery from the devastation of the recent typhoons.

Neighborhood eateries and stores are just as important as multinational corporations.”

Death toll reaches 19

Also on Tuesday, the authorities reported three more deaths from Typhoon Santi (international name Mirinae), which battered the storm-weary nation at the weekend, bringing the total number of those killed to 19.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council reported that the deaths were mostly caused by drowning and occurred in suburban areas just south of Manila and in two eastern provinces.

Three other people are missing primarily because of flash floods, the council said. Almost 16,000 people are still in evacuation centers three days after the typhoon hit.

Floodwaters remain waist-deep or higher in Laguna province south of Manila and in Pangasinan to the north, after Santi dumped more rain on areas already inundated by two previous deadly storms.

Waters reached as high as 3.1 meters in some places during the height of Santi, the council said.

The evacuation of more than 115,000 people in the days before the typhoon struck resulted in fewer casualties compared with the two other storms, the council said.

Santi slammed into the Philippines’ main island, Luzon, on Saturday, dumping heavy rain and bringing strong winds just weeks after tropical storm Ondoy (international name Ketsana) and Typhoon Pepeng (international name Parma) left about 1,100 dead and tens of thousands homeless.

Earlier relief and rehabilitation efforts were continuing for the more than 87,000 people left homeless by these storms, who were also staying in evacuation centers.
THE MANILA TIMES and AFP