By Ken Lerona
THE conversation to help Ilonggo businesses recover is very well taking shape with different sectors working together to build a solid roadmap to counter the impact of COVID-19-driven recession. This roadmap will rest on a solid foundation from data and insights gathered from key stakeholders from the city and province of Iloilo.
Over the weekend, the Iloilo Local Economic Development Foundation (ILED Foundation) has convened and organized a multi-sectoral survey to take the pulse of the local enterprises and map out plans for economic recovery from the impacts of the global pandemic. Working with the Iloilo City and Iloilo Provincial Economic and Promotion Offices, various business organizations and chambers, as well as the Global Shapers Iloilo Hub, the working group aims to deliver a research report which will be the submitted to the mayor and the governor. The study aims to provide data-driven insights as the fundamental guide for the policies to be put together by the local government to assist the business sector.
According to ILED Foundation’s Executive Director Francis Gentoral, “the survey seeks to find out the actual impact of COVID-19 pandemic to the local businesses.” He added that “the study aims to dig deep into the stakeholders’ opinion on the expected state of their businesses post-crisis and their confidence on the overall economy of Iloilo.”
The Iloilo Economic Development Foundation is a public-private partnership among the business community and the city and the provincial governments. The foundation also works with various local professional groups and the civil society to strengthen their programs.
“Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas wants to get the business sector’s opinion on their readiness for the planned ‘back-to-business’ opening by the first of May,” Gentoral shared in an online interview. “On the part of the province, the Local Economic Development Investment Promotion (LEDIP) center is collaborating with us for this survey,” he added.
“The report to be delivered after this study will be shared with the Iloilo community and the business and the government sectors for their planning sessions. This will also be used as guide for the webinars to be organized. The result will be shared through publication and other forms of communication,” the ILED Foundation executive director said.
Taking the pulse
Our friend from the Global Shapers Iloilo Hub, Noreen Marian Bautista, a very passionate social entrepreneur, and the person behind Panublix, shared with us the structure of the survey and how it will be done.
“The purposive proportion of Iloilo businesses will be sampled using the Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS) data of the city and province of Iloilo. The survey will run for one week plus another week for processing and report preparation,” she shared with us in an online interview.
According to her, the survey will include questions on the perceived impact of COVID-19, expectations on Iloilo economy and the business operations, assistance programs for recovery, and the respondent’s business profile.
The group hopes to gather as much insights from different business owners and players within the city and province of Iloilo during the study period.
To answer the survey, business owners may go to https://bit.ly/iloilobusinessresponsetoCOVID19 or visit the ILED Fountaion’s Facebook page at facebook.com/iledfoundation/.
Life support
“I can really say that this pandemic greatly affects the lives of every Ilonggo, especially those that don’t have regular work, most especially those in the micro and startup businesses,” observes Rayjand Gellamucho, Global Shapers Iloilo Hub curator, head of Produkto Lokal, and general manager of the Green Technology Business Incubator at the West Visayas State University.
“Kon sa Hiligaynon pa, gapungha-pungha gid subong ang mga micro and startup businesses naton diri sa Iloilo. Ano bala kasubo pamatian nga ihambal sa imo sang isa ka owner nga manirado na lang siya sang iya negosyo kay indi na niya kaya i-sustain ang iya startup business,” Gellamucho shared in an online interview.
“This is the reason why we collaborated with the ILED Foundation to conduct the Iloilo Business Response to COVID-19 Survey. Primarily, we want to ensure that the voice of our micro and startup entrepreneurs, mostly owned by young Ilonggos, will be heard,” he added.
According to Gellamucho, when the survey is completed, the group will analyze the data and cross tabulate by industry type, location, and business ownership. The report will be presented by the Iloilo Local Economic Development Foundation to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Gov. Toto Defensor as their reference in making recovery plans and policies and programs for the local businesses.
“With the new normal, we can do initiatives to help our traditional businesses here in Iloilo to innovate so they become more resilient by taking advantage of the digital platforms and other technologies. We need to continuously practice the Ilonggo spirit of helping each other,” young leader Gellamucho stressed.
“We the youth, the business sector, the local government, and the whole community need to work together for us to survive and thrive after the COVID-19 pandemic,” he clearly expressed./PN
