PCCI seeks government support for MSMEs as costs surge

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March 17, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s largest business organization is pushing for support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are facing risks from rising costs that may be passed on to consumers.

“Our biggest concern now are the MSMEs, which will feel immediately the brunt and have limited financial resources,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Ferdinand Ferrer said in an interview with “Money Talks” on One News yesterday.

Ferrer said there is a need to assist MSMEs to help them cope with the increases in logistics and raw material costs as fuel prices continue to go up.

He said even large businesses are looking at how long they can withstand these cost increases.

“Eventually all these prices will trickle down to the consumers,” he said.

Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association Inc. president Steven Cua said that at present, prices remain stable and there is enough supply of basic goods in supermarkets as consumers did not engage in panic buying over the weekend.

“If people don’t go out and keep on buying unnecessarily, beyond what they need, probably there is going to be a longer period where prices don’t have to go up,” he said.

For consumers that want to purchase more, he said they should just buy 15 percent on top of what is needed.

“That way, you leave ample stocks for other people to be able to buy from supermarkets,” he said.

With the higher costs being driven by rising fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict, Ferrer said the PCCI is asking the government to subsidize or absorb some of the increases.

He said giving emergency powers to President Marcos to suspend the excise tax on fuel would be a good start.

The PCCI also supports other measures such as reducing the value-added tax and other funding sources to help mitigate the increase in fuel prices.

Ferrer said improving trade facilitation in the country would also help bring down logistics costs.

As the Philippines serves as this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations chair, he said that the country should push for energy, water and food security.

“Hopefully there is agreement when it comes to food security and sharing of these resources,” he said.