1   
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session  
House Bill No. 10476 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO, 
JOCELYN P. TULFO, AND ERWIN T. TULFO 
AN ACT PROMOTING AND ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD 
AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY INTEGRATING, ENHANCING, AND 
INSTITUTIONALIZING FINANCING AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR 
LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT FOR MICRO, SMALL, AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES 
(MSMEs), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play important roles to 
economic and social development and are fundamental towards achieving long-run 
and sustainable economic growth.1 
According to the 2022 List of Establishments (LE) of the Philippine Statistics 
Authority (PSA), out of 1,109,684 business enterprises operating in the country, 
99.59% or a total of 1,105,143 were MSMEs. There were 1,004,195 micro enterprises, 
96,464 small enterprises, and 4,484 medium enterprises in the Philippines that year.2  
The top industry sectors in MSMEs include: (1) wholesale and retail trade, and 
repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; (2) accommodation and food service 
activities; (3) manufacturing; (4) personal services for wellness, and other service 
activities; and (5) financial and insurance activities. Collectively, these MSMEs have 
generated a total of 5,607,748 jobs or 65.10% of the country’s total employment.3 
Section 2 of Republic Act No. 6977, as amended by Republic Act No. 9501 
otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 
1 “Development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in ASEAN (MSME)”, Association of Southeast 
Asian 
Nations, 
Accessed 
6 
May 
2024, 
https://asean.org/our-communities/economic-
community/resilient-and-inclusive-asean/development-of-micro-small-and-medium-enterprises-in-
asean-msme/. 
2 “2022 Philippine MSME Statistics”, Department of Trade and Industry, Accessed 6 May 2024, 
https://www.dti.gov.ph/resources/msme-statistics/. 
3 Ibid. 
May 21, 2024
4:23 pm




3
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10476 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO, 
JOCELYN P. TULFO, AND ERWIN T. TULFO 
AN ACT PROMOTING AND ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD 
1 
AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY INTEGRATING, ENHANCING, AND 
2 
INSTITUTIONALIZING FINANCING AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR 
3 
LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT FOR MICRO, SMALL, AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES 
4 
(MSMEs), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
5 
PURPOSES 
6 
7 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
8 
assembled: 
9 
10 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Pangkabuhayan Act of 
11 
2024”. 
12 
13 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State that the 
14 
diffusion and more equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth shall be 
15 
the goals of the national economic development programs. Likewise, expanding 
16 
productivity, coupled with a sustained increase in the number of goods and services 
17 
produced for the direct benefit of the people is the key to empowerment, poverty 
18 
reduction, and enhancement of the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged. 
19 
20 
Consistent with the aforementioned policy, the State shall: 
21 
22 
(a) Promote, strengthen, and encourage sustainable livelihoods, entrepreneurship,
23 
and the growth and development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
24 


4
(MSMEs) in all productive sectors of the economy, particularly rural, agri-based 
1 
enterprises, research and development, invention, innovation, cultural and 
2 
creative industries, and other careers that contribute to environmental and 
3 
cultural preservation; 
4 
(b) Consolidate MSME laws, social laws, and livelihood and poverty alleviation
5 
programs to promote sustainable production, develop skills and capabilities,
6 
provide access to financial support and resource management, increase access to
7 
information, market access, and value chain development, and create
8 
opportunities for economic empowerment and increased incomes;
9 
(c) Adopt livelihood, entrepreneurial, and/or MSME development and support that
10 
is holistic, comprehensive, integrated, people-centered, responsive, and
11 
participatory, in lessening the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of
12 
disasters including epidemics and climate change, and promoting the
13 
involvement and participation of all sectors and all stakeholders concerned, at all
14 
levels, especially the local community;
15 
(d) Institutionalize the policies, structures, coordination mechanisms, and programs
16 
with continuing budget appropriation from national down to local levels towards
17 
building economic empowerment and improved incomes;
18 
(e) Simplify and minimize procedural rules and documentary requirements in the
19 
act of registration, availing of financing, or accessing government services;
20 
(f) Complement and supplement financing programs to remove stringent and
21 
burdensome collateral requirements;
22 
(g) Engage the participation of the beneficiaries, especially the poor and vulnerable,
23 
in the design, development, and implementation of sustainable livelihood
24 
policies or programs;
25 
(h) Engage the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private
26 
sector in the government’s livelihood development and support for MSMEs
27 
programs towards complementation of resources and effective delivery of
28 
services to the citizenry; and
29 


 
 
 
 
5
(i) Assure a balanced and sustainable development through the establishment of a 
1 
feedback and evaluation mechanism that will monitor socio-economic 
2 
contributions as well as bottlenecks and environmental effects. 
3 
 
4 
SEC. 3. Scope. – This Act provides for the development of policies and plans and the 
5 
implementation of actions and measures pertaining to all aspects of sustainable 
6 
livelihood development and support and the growth and development of MSMEs. 
7 
 
8 
SEC. 4. The Pangkabuhayan Council. – The Pangkabuhayan Council is hereby 
9 
established to develop the country’s sustainable livelihood and entrepreneurship goals, 
10 
priorities, and long-term national strategy. The Council shall seek mainstream 
11 
principles that are integrated, people-centered, participatory, responsive, and 
12 
sustainable in the development, implementation, and assessment of sustainable 
13 
livelihood and entrepreneurial programs and strategies. 
14 
 
15 
SEC. 5. Composition of the Pangkabuhayan Council. – The Council shall be 
16 
composed of the following members: 
17 
 
18 
(a) President of the Philippines as the Chairperson; 
19 
(b) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the Vice-
20 
Chairperson; 
21 
(c) Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority 
22 
(NEDA); 
23 
(d) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA); 
24 
(e) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); 
25 
(f) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); 
26 
(g) Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT); 
27 
(h) Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); 
28 
(i) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); 
29 
(j) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
30 
(k) Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM); 
31 


 
 
 
 
6
(l) Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd); 
1 
(m) Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
2 
(n) Director-General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines 
3 
(IPOPHIL); and 
4 
(o) Seven (7) Executive Members to be appointed by the President. 
5 
 
6 
The Executive Members shall be appointed from the ranks of business, 
7 
entrepreneurs, academe, and the scientific community, at least one (1) of whom shall be 
8 
a woman. There shall be at least one (1) representative from the MSME sector. Those to 
9 
be appointed from the academe and the scientific community shall have at least seven 
10 
(7) years of experience in the field of science and technology, research and development, 
11 
or innovation. 
12 
 
13 
The President may designate the Executive Secretary to attend on his behalf and 
14 
preside over the meetings of the Pangkabuhayan Council. The Department Secretaries 
15 
and other members may not designate alternate representatives other than their 
16 
respective undersecretaries to the meetings. 
17 
 
18 
The majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. 
19 
 
20 
SEC. 6. Powers and Functions. – The Pangkabuhayan Council shall have the 
21 
following powers and functions: 
22 
 
23 
1. The Council shall act as the coordinating and supervising body for all agencies 
24 
involved in the establishment and operation of the following programs: 
25 
(a) DTI’s Negosyo Center Program, which is responsible for promoting ease of 
26 
doing business and facilitating access to services for MSMEs; 
27 
(b) DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), which is a community-based 
28 
program that provides income-generating activities to low-income 
29 
households; 
30 


 
 
 
 
7
(c) DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced 
1 
Workers (TUPAD) or Cash-for-Work Program, a community-based package 
2 
assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, 
3 
underemployed, and seasonal workers; 
4 
(d) DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program-Kabuhayan, which provides 
5 
assistance through grants to individuals and groups that can be used to start 
6 
a livelihood project, expand or upgrade an existing project, restore or 
7 
reestablish existing livelihood projects destroyed due to natural and human-
8 
made 
disasters, 
or 
transform 
existing 
livelihood 
assistance 
to 
9 
community/group enterprises; 
10 
(e) DOST’s Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), a 
11 
nationwide strategy that aims to encourage and assist SMEs to adopt 
12 
technology innovations to improve their operations and thus boost their 
13 
productivity and competitiveness; 
14 
(f) DTI and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) 
15 
Barangay Kabuhayan, a national program that ensures that all livelihood and 
16 
skills training centers offered by the National Government are properly 
17 
implemented at the municipal level; 
18 
(g) NEDA, DOST, and DTI’s implementation of the Philippine Innovation Act, a 
19 
law that seeks to guide the country’s innovation goals and is expected to make 
20 
the policy environment in the country conducive to more science, technology, 
21 
and innovation efforts; and 
22 
(h) DTI’s Shared Service Facilities (SSF) Project, a flagship program of the DTI 
23 
aimed at improving the productivity and efficiency of small enterprises 
24 
through access to better technology. 
25 
 
26 
This shall include overseeing, in coordination with local government units and 
27 
the DILG as well as private sector groups/associations, the developments 
28 
among MSMEs as well as the individual beneficiaries. 
29 


 
 
 
 
8
2.  The Council shall promote and advance sustainable livelihood and 
1 
entrepreneurship by integrating the aforementioned programs through the 
2 
Council. 
3 
3. The Council shall monitor and assess the progress of the program beneficiaries, 
4 
which report shall be submitted to the Congress. 
5 
4. The Council shall review the programs’ existing policies and recommend changes 
6 
or improvements therein to the President and Congress. 
7 
 
8 
This shall include efforts to simplify rules and regulations, as well as a review of 
9 
the applicability and relevance of procedural and documentary requirements in 
10 
the registration, financing, and other activities relevant to MSMEs and individual 
11 
beneficiaries, the result of which shall also be included in the annual report to be 
12 
submitted to Congress. 
13 
5. The Council shall submit to the Congress an annual report of its assessment on 
14 
the efficacy of the program, the status of its implementation including, but not 
15 
limited to, progress reports, challenges, and recommendations, review of the 
16 
policies involved, research, and other reports integral to the implementation of 
17 
this Act. 
18 
6. The Council shall promulgate implementing guidelines, programs, and 
19 
operating principles as may be deemed proper and necessary in the light of 
20 
government policies and objectives of this Act. 
21 
7. The Council shall publish Compliance Guidelines, streamlining and simplifying 
22 
the rules and regulations on procedural and documentary requirements for 
23 
registration, financing, and other activities relevant to the implementation of the 
24 
specified programs. 
25 
 
26 
The Compliance Guidelines shall be written in plain language or the local 
27 
language. The publication of each Compliance Guidelines shall include the 
28 
posting of the guide in a conspicuous location on the website of the concerned 
29 


 
 
 
 
9
agencies, and distribution of the guide to known industry contacts, such as small 
1 
entities, associations, or industry leaders affected by the rule. 
2 
 
3 
The Council shall publish and disseminate the Compliance Guidelines within 
4 
ninety (90) days from the date of the issuance. 
5 
8. The Council shall conduct research to support women’s entrepreneurship, 
6 
including entrepreneurial behavior, barriers, participation and cessation rates, 
7 
discriminatory practices, and contribution to the national economy and growth; 
8 
9. The Council shall provide policy direction towards recognizing women’s 
9 
propensity and talent in entrepreneurship as well as establish linkages that will 
10 
enable more opportunities for women to engage in entrepreneurship; and 
11 
10. The Council shall develop, in coordination with the DepEd, TESDA, and CHED, 
12 
a course curriculum or training program in entrepreneurship that will promote 
13 
entrepreneurial culture and competence. 
14 
 
15 
Entrepreneurship shall be integrated into the curriculum of educational and 
16 
training institutions at all levels. 
17 
  
18 
SEC. 7. Establishment of Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development 
19 
Centers. – A Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development Center, 
20 
hereinafter referred to as the “SLED”, shall be established in every rural municipality 
21 
in the country in accordance with such program established and determined by the 
22 
DILG, taking into account the socio-economic profile, literacy, employment conditions, 
23 
health status of the residents, the opportunities therein available, the presence of 
24 
support mechanics/structures and skills craftsmanship training activities in the 
25 
community, and such other factors indicative of the need for the SLED: Provided, That 
26 
priority shall be given to the most economically depressed areas with the highest 
27 
percentage of disadvantaged and needy citizens. 
28 
 
29 


 
 
 
 
10
Initially and within a period of one (1) year from the date of the effectivity of this Act, 
1 
at least one (1) Pilot Center shall be established in each of the fifteen (15) regions of the 
2 
country, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao 
3 
(BARMM) and Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR). 
4 
 
5 
In applicable areas, the existing Go Negosyo Centers shall continue to operate as 
6 
SLED, subject to the provisions of this Act. The SLED shall be responsible for promoting 
7 
ease of doing business and facilitating access to services for MSMEs and entrepreneurs 
8 
within its jurisdiction. 
9 
 
10 
The SLEDs may be set up under the auspices of the local government units (LGUS), 
11 
and/or non-government organizations tapped by DILG to assist in the implementation 
12 
of this Act. 
13 
 
14 
The SLED shall be assisted by the DOLE by rendering technical assistance and 
15 
training to the personnel of the SLED and shall be supported by officials in encouraging 
16 
the participation of residents in the programs and trainings offered by the SLED. The 
17 
DILG, DOH, DOLE, DA, and other government agencies shall gear their programs to 
18 
support the activities and actions envisioned and implemented by the SLED. 
19 
  
20 
SEC. 8. Capitalization and Funding of the Pangkabuhayan Council. – A 
21 
Pangkabuhayan Fund to strengthen livelihood, entrepreneurial, and/or MSME 
22 
development and support is hereby established. This Fund, from which grants will be 
23 
issued, shall be administered by the Pangkabuhayan Council which shall screen and 
24 
approve qualified proposals. Subject to availability of funds, a revolving fund in the 
25 
initial amount of One Billion Pesos (PhP1,000,000,000.00) is hereby allocated for the 
26 
initial year’s implementation of this Act, and such funds necessary for its continuous 
27 
and effective implementation shall thereafter be included in the annual General 
28 
Appropriations Act. 
29 
 
30 


 
 
 
 
11
Further, the Pangkabuhayan Council, in coordination with the agencies concerned, 
1 
shall explore the possibility of accessing a growing range of bilateral and multilateral 
2 
funds in order to be able to assist in the funding of livelihood, entrepreneurial, and/or 
3 
MSME programs and initiatives. Public-private partnerships shall also be encouraged 
4 
in the development and implementation of programs and initiatives. 
5 
 
6 
SEC. 9. Mandatory Allocation of Credit Resources for Livelihood Support Programs 
7 
and MSMEs. – For a period of ten (10) years from the date of the effectivity of this Act, 
8 
all lending institutions as defined under Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) rules, 
9 
whether public or private, shall set aside at least ten percent (10%) of their total loan 
10 
portfolio based on their balance sheet at the end of the previous quarter for MSMEs, 
11 
and make it available for MSME credit or livelihood support programs as herein 
12 
contemplated. Compliance with this provision shall include: 
13 
 
14 
(a) The actual extension of loans to eligible MSMEs or beneficiaries;  
15 
(b) Wholesale lending to Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) for on-lending to 
16 
MSMEs;  
17 
(c) Purchase/discount of MSMEs receivables; or 
18 
(d) Extension of loans to MSME value chain actors who allow MSMEs to participate 
19 
in organized or formal value chains. Chain actors include, among others, traders, 
20 
suppliers, processors, and aggregators who conduct linked sequences of value-
21 
adding activities involved in bringing a product to final consumers. 
22 
 
23 
The BSP and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in consultation with 
24 
the Pangkabuhayan Council, shall formulate rules for the effective implementation of 
25 
this provision: Provided, That the purchase of government notes, securities, and other 
26 
negotiable instruments shall not be deemed compliant with the foregoing provisions: 
27 
Provided, further, That the BSP and the SEC, in consultation with all stakeholders, shall 
28 
establish a meaningful incentive system to encourage compliance with this provision: 
29 


 
 
 
 
12
Provided, finally, That the BSP and the SEC shall align their regulations on penalties for 
1 
banks and other entities for non-compliance with the provision for mandatory lending. 
2 
 
3 
The Pangkabuhayan Council shall set up the appropriate systems to monitor all loan 
4 
applciations of MSMEs to account for the absorptive capacity of the MSME sector. 
5 
Each lending institution shall designate a Chief Compliance Officer who will prepare 
6 
and sign the report on compliance and non-compliance with the mandatory credit 
7 
allocation, for submission to the BSP, in the case of banks, and the SEC, in the case of 
8 
non-bank financial intermediates. The BSP and the SEC shall furnish to the 
9 
Pangkabuhayan Council every quarter comprehensive reports on the lending entity’s 
10 
compliance and non-compliance with the above provisions on the mandatory credit 
11 
allocation for MSMEs and beneficiaries, and shall submit an annual report, signed by 
12 
an officer with the rank of at least a managing director, on the amounts of the penalties 
13 
for non-compliance with the mandatory lending provision of this Act.   
14 
 
15 
All banks shall provide access to deposit accounts, such as savings, checking, and 
16 
debit accounts, to registered MSMEs. Financial technology shall be provided to 
17 
MSMEs to ensure their financial inclusion. 
18 
 
19 
All lending entities shall report credit information and transactions of MSMEs to a 
20 
national credit registry to monitor proper compliance and efficient implementation. 
21 
 
22 
For efficient implementation and operation, cooperatives, except cooperative banks 
23 
and insurance cooperatives, shall be under the sole supervision and examination of 
24 
the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA); all other financial entities, 
25 
corporations, and financial intermediaries, such as non-government organizations, 
26 
financing companies, non-stock savings and loan associations, microfinance non-
27 
government organizations, and lending investors shall be under the SEC; banks shall 
28 
be under the BSP; and insurance companies shall be under the Insurance Commission 
29 


 
 
 
 
13
(IC). For clarity, cooperative banks shall be under the supervision and examination of 
1 
the CDA and BSP, while insurance cooperatives shall be under the CDA and IC. 
2 
 
3 
Lending institutions that are not qualified to acquire or hold lands of the public 
4 
domain in the Philippines shall be permitted to bid and take part in sales of mortgaged 
5 
real property in case of judicial or extra-judicial foreclosure, as well as avail of 
6 
receivership, enforcement, and other proceedings, solely upon default of a borrower, 
7 
and for a period not exceeding five (5) years from actual possession: Provided, That in 
8 
no event shall title to the property be transferred to such lending institution. If the 
9 
lending institution is the winning bidder, it may, during said 5-year period, transfer 
10 
its rights to a qualified Philippine national, without prejudice to a borrower’s rights 
11 
under applicable laws. 
12 
 
13 
SEC. 10. Recovery Fund. – Aside from the existing benefits for MSMEs and eligible 
14 
entrepreneurs, the Pangkabuhayan Council shall establish a Recovery Fund for 
15 
MSMEs and beneficiaries, to be sourced from the Pangkabuhayan Fund, to provide 
16 
MSMEs with aid, relief, and recovery interventions for disasters, calamities, 
17 
epidemics, or complex emergencies, such as, but not limited to, the COVID-19 
18 
pandemic. 
19 
 
20 
SEC. 11. Congressional Oversight Committee. – To monitor and oversee the 
21 
implementation of this Act, there shall be a Congressional Oversight Committee on 
22 
Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Development (COC-SLED) composed 
23 
of the chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs and the House 
24 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development as chairperson and 
25 
co-chairperson, respectively. The Committee shall be composed of five (5) members 
26 
from the Senate and another five (5) members from the House of Representatives, 
27 
which shall include the chairpersons of the Senate Committees on Trade and 
28 
Commerce, and Banks, Financial Institutions, and Currencies, and the chairpersons of 
29 
the House committees on Trade and Industry, Banks and Financial Intermediaries, 
30 


 
 
 
 
14
and Appropriations: Provided, That two (2) of the five (5) Senators and two (2) of the 
1 
five (5) House members shall be nominated by the respective minority leaders of the 
2 
Senate and the House of Representatives. 
3 
 
4 
SEC. 12. Information Dissemination. – The Philippine Information Agency, in 
5 
coordination with the DTI and the DILG, shall ensure the proper and adequate 
6 
information dissemination of the contents and benefits of this Act to pertinent media 
7 
entities and all cities, municipalities, and barangays. 
8 
 
9 
SEC. 13. Considerations in Setting Priority Areas for Sustainable Livelihood and 
10 
Entrepreneurship. – In identifying the priority areas for livelihood and entrepreneurship 
11 
development, the Pangkabuhayan Council shall, in consultation with the sectors 
12 
concerned, consider the following areas: 
13 
 
14 
(a) Food security and sustainable agriculture; 
15 
(b) Regenerative systems; 
16 
(c) Health 
17 
(d) Secure, clean, and reliable energy; 
18 
(e) Climate change and disaster resilience; 
19 
(f) Innovation of traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, and genetic 
20 
resources; 
21 
(g) Digital economy; 
22 
(h) Sustainable transportation services; and 
23 
(i) Sustainable tourism, among others. 
24 
 
25 
SEC. 14. Whole-of-Government Approach. – In order to effectively promote and 
26 
advance sustainable livelihood and entrepreneurship across all areas of government 
27 
policy, a “whole-of-government approach” shall be adopted. This approach shall 
28 
facilitate engagement with business, the research, development, and engineering 
29 


 
 
 
 
15
(RD&E) sector, MSMEs, and the broader community towards ensuring the full and 
1 
effective implementation of this Act. 
2 
 
3 
All government agencies concerned, including the following, shall be responsible for 
4 
implementing sustainable livelihood and entrepreneurship and, as such, shall observe 
5 
the “whole-of-government approach” provided herein: 
6 
 
7 
(a) National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); 
8 
(b) Department of Science and Technology (DOST); 
9 
(c) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); 
10 
(d) Department of Agriculture (DA); 
11 
(e) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); 
12 
(f) Department of Health (DOH); 
13 
(g) Department of Energy (DOE); 
14 
(h) Department of Transportation (DOTr); 
15 
(i) Department of National Defense (DND); 
16 
(j) Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); 
17 
(k) Department of Budget and Management (DBM); 
18 
(l) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
19 
(m) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); 
20 
(n) Department of Education (DepEd); 
21 
(o) Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
22 
(p) Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); and 
23 
(q) Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). 
24 
 
25 
Government agencies shall make available for public access, a joint web portal, that 
26 
will bear information pertinent to livelihood and MSMEs policies, strategies, and 
27 
programs, including services, grants, and financial assistance. The agencies shall 
28 
likewise ensure that beneficiaries are guided on available services. The web portal shall 
29 
also include a database of all ongoing and completed programs implemented. 
30 


 
 
 
 
16
 
1 
It shall have interactive features that will allow the public to access services or file 
2 
applications online. Inquiries shall be addressed within three (3) days from receipt 
3 
hereof. The processing of applications shall be streamlined in accordance with the 
4 
guidelines to be established by the Pangkabuhayan Council. Reforms to this effect shall 
5 
be reported to the Council within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
6 
 
7 
The online facility shall provide an acknowledgment receipt and reference number 
8 
for each transaction for monitoring purposes. 
9 
 
10 
Government agencies concerned shall submit periodic progress reports to the 
11 
Pangkabuhayan Council on the status of livelihood or entrepreneurial programs. 
12 
Reporting guidelines shall be prepared by the Council for this purpose. 
13 
 
14 
The enumeration of agencies provided herein is without prejudice to other agencies 
15 
that the Council may mandate. 
16 
 
17 
SEC. 15. Removing Barriers to Livelihood and MSME Support. – The 
18 
Pangkabuhayan Council and its member government agencies shall eliminate 
19 
regulatory barriers and cut red tape to enable access to livelihood and MSME support 
20 
programs. Towards this end, the Council shall facilitate consultations with stakeholders 
21 
to identify and cause the removal of barriers, such as procedural rules and documentary 
22 
requirements in registration, availing of financing, or accessing government services. 
23 
 
24 
SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of DTI, in 
25 
consultation with the appropriate agencies as may be deemed necessary, shall 
26 
formulate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act 
27 
within ninety (90) days after its approval. The rules and regulations issued pursuant to 
28 
this Section shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of 
29 
general circulation. 
30 


 
 
 
 
17
 
1 
SEC. 17. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is held 
2 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or parts thereof not affected thereby 
3 
shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
4 
 
5 
SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules, 
6 
and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby 
7 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
8 
 
9 
SEC. 19. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
10 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
11 
 
12 
Approved,  
13