Lakas-Kami-CMD vice presidential candidate Edu Manzano Weday proposed that government financial institutions as well as social security entities jointly put up a special lending program for housewives to enable them to engage in productive economic activities in order to boost their family’s earnings.

Manzano particularly addressed his challenge to major financial entities like the Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, Small Business Corp., Social Security System, and Government Service Insurance System.

After noting that a big number of housewives are college graduates who are capable of managing their financial resources, Manzano expressed optimism that the “queen of the household” can be economically productive as well if given ample capital.

Manzano also prodded housewives to band themselves into cooperatives, which may then draw funds from the special loan program for re-lending to individual members at a manageable interest rate.

The lending program and the creation of housewives’ credit and livelihood cooperatives would empower more women and harness their entrepreneurial skills for economic and employment growth, Manzano said, adding the program would also boost the national cooperative movement.

Manzano said government should encourage housewives to engage in home-based enterprises individually or in groups. He lamented that women have remained a largely untapped source of highly productive labor.