A total of 133 small enterprises with 6,593 employees have received financial aid from the city government through the phase 2 of Kalingang QC para sa Negosyo (KQSN) Program, as the city continues to help QCitizens recover from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Joy Belmonte on Friday afternoon led the distribution of checks to the beneficiaries.

“The city has allotted 12 million pesos for this batch of financial assistance program for businesses. We are helping businesses to survive the pandemic, so that we can ensure that their employees are able to support their families,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Mayor Belmonte has recently signed the agreement with the beneficiaries, through City Resolution 8494-2021 authored by Councilors Franz Pumaren, Donato Matias, and Mikey Belmonte.

Before receiving their cheques, beneficiaries underwent a series of verification and evaluation processes led by City Administrator Michael Victor Alimurung.

“With the support of the City Council, we were able to give partial wage subsidy to small businesses to help them recover and ensure continuous employment of QCitizens that were greatly affected by the pandemic,” the lady mayor added.

The KQSN Phase 1, which was launched in July 2020, has already provided partial wage subsidy to local small businesses where 165,000 to 330,000 QC residents report for work.

The city government earmarked P500 million for the Kalingang QC para sa Negosyo (KQSN) Program.

According to LEIPO Policy and Programs Action Officer Pierangelo Dominguez, around 11,000 small enterprises do business in QC.

“The city recognizes these businesses’ crucial role in boosting the economy of QC. The program primarily aims to provide much needed funds for the businesses to remain operational and support their labor force,” Dominguez explained.

Aside from the Kalingang QC para sa Negosyo, the city has also provided aid to over 28,000 QC displaced workers who have lost their jobs and sources of livelihood during the 14-day Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20.

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