Incentives And Benefits

Section 7. Exemption from Taxes and Fees

All BMBEs shall be exempt from tax for income arising from the operations of the enterprise.

The LGUs are encouraged either to reduce the amount of local taxes, fees and charges imposed or to exempt BMBEs from local taxes, fees and charges.

Section 8. Exemption from the Coverage of the Minimum Wage Law

The BMBEs shall be exempt from the coverage of the Minimum Wage Law: Provided, That all employees covered under this Act shall be entitled to the same benefits given to any regular employee such as social security and healthcare benefits.

Section 9. Credit Delivery

The land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation (SBGFC), and the People’s Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC) shall set up a special credit window that will service the financing needs of BMBEs registered under this Act consistent with the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) policies; rules and regulations.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Social Security System (SSS) shall likewise set up a special credit window that will serve the financing needs of their respective members who wish to establish a BMBE. The concerned financial institutions (FIs) encouraged to wholesale the funds to accredited private financial institutions including community-based organizations such as credit, cooperatives, non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations, which will in turn, directly provide credit support to BMBEs.

All loans from whatever sources granted to BMBEs under this Act shall be considered as part of alternative compliance to Presidential Decree no, 717,, otherwise known as the Agri-Agra Law, or to Republic Act. No. 6977, known as the Magna Carta for Small and Medium Enterprises, as amended. For purposes of compliance with presidential Decree no. 717 and Republic Act No. 6977, as amended, loans granted to BMBEs under this Act shall be computed at twice the amount of the face value of the loans.

To minimize the risks in lending to the BMBEs, the SBGFC and the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation (QUEDANCOR) under the Department of Agriculture, in case of agribusiness activities, shall set up a special guarantee window to provide the necessary credit guarantee to BMBEs unde rtheir respective guarantee programs.

The LBP, DBP. PCFC, SBGFC, SSS, GSIS, and QUEDANCOR shall annually report to the appropriate Committee of Both Houses of Congress on the status of the implementation of this provision.

The BSP shall formulate the rules for the implementation of this provision and shall likewise establish incentive programs to encourage and improve credit delivery to the BMBEs.

Section 10. Technology Transfer, Production and Management Training, and marketing Assistance

A BMBE Development Fund shall be set up with an endowment of Three Hundred Million pesos (P300,000,000.00) from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and shall be administered by the SMED Council.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the university of the Philippines Institute for Small Scale Industries (UP ISSI), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) may avail of the said Fund for technology transfer, production and management training and marketing assistance to BMBEs.

The DTI, in coordination with the private sector and non-government organization (NGOs), shall explore the possibilities of linking or matching-up BMBEs with small, medium and large enterprises and likewise establish incentives therefor.

The DTI, in behalf of the DOST, UP ISSI, CDA. TESDA and TLRC shall be required to furnish the appropriate Committees of both Houses of Congress a yearly report on the development and accomplishments of their projects and programs in relation to technology transfer, production and management training and marketing assistance extended to BMBEs.

Section 11. Trade and Investment Promotions

The data gathered from business registration shall be made accessible to and shall be utilized by private sector organizations and non-government organizations for purposes of business matching, trade and investment promotion.

PENALTY

Section 13. Penalty - Any person who shall willfully violates any provision of this Act or who shall in any manner commit any act to defeat any provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five Thousand Pesos (P25,000.00) but not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) and suffer imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than two (2) years.

In case of non-compliance with the provisions of Section 9 of this Act, the BSP shall impose administrative sanctions and other penalties on the concerned government financial institutions, including a fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00)

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 14. Annual Report

The DILG, DTI, and BSP shall submit an annual report to the Congress on the status of the implementation of this Act.

Section 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations

The Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, in consultation with the Secretaries of the DILG, DOF, and the BSP Governor shall formulate the necessary ruled and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days after its approval. The rules and regulations issued pursuant to this section shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Section 16. Separably Clause

If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

Section 17. Repealing Clause – Existing laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, proclamations or administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified, superseded or repealed accordingly.

Section 18. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Office Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation.