MANILA – Senator Bam Aquino is pushing for more focused and immediate government assistance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and vulnerable members of the middle class affected by rising prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In a television interview, Aquino said many minimum wage earners and small business owners fall outside traditional aid programs despite facing economic risks.

“Iyong mga middle class na sabihin na nating minimum wage earners or may small businesses. They’re above the poverty line and therefore hindi nila nakukuha iyong mga ayuda pero nasa delikadong sitwasyon sila,” Aquino said.

He warned that the impact of rising global oil prices will eventually be felt across basic goods and services, underscoring the need for swift and targeted government action.

“We will see the shocks eventually sa palengke, sa grocery, sa gasoline station, sa sari-sari store. Ito yung masakit talaga. Kailangan iyong gobyerno, mabilis gumalaw. Kung may mga ayuda na pwedeng targeted, mabigay kaagad. Kung may support for industries, mabigay kaagad. Huwag general, dapat specific,” he added.

Aquino emphasized that the government should maximize available data and information systems to ensure assistance reaches the most affected sectors.

“We need to be very targeted sa tulong na ito. And we need to act fast,” he pointed out.

He also called for extending targeted support to MSMEs and transport workers to help sustain economic activity amid the oil price surge.

“We need to support our MSMEs. We need to support our transport workers. Napakalaking pondo ang nakalaan sa ayuda. Maybe this is the time na gamitin natin siya. Targeted na paggamit ng ayuda para masigurado natin, yung ekonomiya natin hindi magre-recession,” he stressed.

“We have to keep our businesses open. We have to support our transport driver kasi kung masyado nang mahal para lumabas, ba’t ako lalabas?” he added.

Among the measures he cited were fuel subsidies, direct financial assistance, and stronger supply chain linkages, including increased government procurement from MSMEs.