THERE is still a need to strategize on how to mainstream and upscale small and microbusinesses in Davao Region.

DTI-Davao director Maria Belenda Ambi said Friday, May 31, that while the region posted an increase in the number of establishment in the region that belong to the formal sector, there are still quite a number of enterprises operating without proper registration.

“Quite a number are operating though without proper registration, who are unregistered like food carts na nasa labas ng mga malls. We can see a lot of these types of businesses,” Ambi said.

“On the part of the supporting agencies, we still a need to provide more services to mainstream informal businesses in the Philippine economy. So dapat ma-upscale natin sila so they will be registered and be accounted for properly,” she added.

Ambi said one of the ongoing strategies proven to be effective in mainstreaming micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is the Negosyo Center Program. In Davao Region, there are around 51 negosyo centers located in the local government units (LGUs) as partners in the operation.

“[This] serves as the platform of convergence of assistance and services. Making it accessible to all existing and potential micro and small businesses even in the countryside,” she said.

The establishment of Negosyo Centers is provided under the Republic Act 10644, or the Go Negosyo Act which provides MSMEs the ease of doing business and facilitates access to grants and other forms of financial assistance, and shared service facilities (SSF), and ensure management guidance, assistance, and improvement of the working conditions of enterprises, and facilitate market access and linkage services for entrepreneurs.

“These are not just DTI assistance being provided but also those from other agencies like Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and a lot of government agencies that have services for the MSMEs,” she said. LHC