The vendors’ dilemma

IN our view, if there’s one local government program that hits the nail on the head it’s the “Angat Pangkabuhayan Project 2017” of the Villasis government.

For decades, the bane and boon of small vendors and entrepreneurs is access to credit. Without credit, they cannot hope to sell more, yet their easy access to 5-6 lending by underground sources eats up whatever profits they are able to generate.

But what choice did, and do they have? Banks take at least two weeks to process a loan and only after tedious application forms are accomplished and corresponding collaterals are submitted. Needless to say, since the need for cash to do business by vendors is immediate, the situation provides a gold mine for the underground lenders who are willing to take the risks with the hand-to-mouth existence of their clients.

Mayor Nonato Abrenica who fully understands the dilemma of the small vendors even outdid the Department of Trade’s novel micro-lending program that aims to give the small entrepreneurs a better option for their daily cash requirements.

Villasis charges zero interest, the national government charges minimal interest.

We hope the beneficiaries among the Villasinians will show their appreciation by religiously repaying their loans on time and show to the rest that they are, indeed, responsible members of the community.

Kudos to Mayor Abrenica and the Villasinians.

Biggest joke

YOU talk of jokes and the biggest joke thus far this year is a lawyer surnamed Sabio.

That’s because he just filed a complaint against President Duterte and 11 of Mr. Duterte’s allies in the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.  Among the co-accused were Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, police chief Bato dela Rosa and Senators. Richard Gordon and Alan Peter Cayetano.

Sabio makes the world laugh, if not puke, because crimes against humanity require universal jurisdiction only when a state fails to assume jurisdiction over such cases. Not only is the Philippine government doing its part but also both Houses of Congress as well; they consistently hold probes on extra-judicial killings linked allegedly to Mr. Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.

Oh, wait a minute!  The complainant’s full name by the way is Jude Josue Sabio.

When his 77-page complaint gets finally tossed out the window, he might as well be called “Joke Joke Sabio.”  Aptly.

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