MANILA, Philippines — With the high unemployment rate in the country, a Quezon City councilor urged city residents to engage in home-based business to relieve them from financial crisis.

Third District Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes said home-based businesses can help alleviate the city’s unemployment woes. New college graduates, housewives and unemployed can easily start up micro enterprises, he said.

“Establishing a small home-based business is a good source of income. Small scale businesses can boost up our economy woes even temporarily. It is better than earning through fraudulent ways,’’ Reyes said.

Reyes said that there are home-based businesses that do not require a large amount of capital citing that things may turnout better financially if every member of the household has a source of income.

Diplomas, college degrees or sterling educational credentials are not prime essentials in starting out businesses in the comfort of homes, he said.

Reyes noted that engaging in the food product and food preservation venture is one of the most feasible businesses the household can enter in citing the famous Pampanga’s best company that started as a small scale business eventually turning into one of the most successful meat processing firm in the country.

He noted that treating the activity as a income-generating hobby is one secret formula that the budding entrepreneurs may adapt to fend off any negative thoughts in starting a small business.

Aside from selling food products like pastries and processed meats, Reyes said that another viable option is to turn to backyard gardening where empty cans, garbage bags, rubber pots maybe used to grow tomatoes, eggplants, beans and other vegetables.

If selling them in the neighborhood is not a feasible alternative, growing vegetables in backyard garden can spare the household from purchasing them in the market or supermarket.

Other home-based business options include jewelry and accessory making, handicraft and home décor creation, networking, internet marketing and putting up a “carenderia.”

“Instead of doing nothing at home or wasting the entire day roaming the streets, I suggest that we better exercise our entrepreneurial skills. If you can’t find employment then employ your self in your own home-business,’’ Reyes said.