Negosyo Center in Sipalay poised to boost MSME, tourism sectors

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Sipalay City Government, on Thursday, August 10, opened the Negosyo Center in the southern Negros locality.

The facility lodged at the city’s new government center in Barangay Gil Montilla is the ninth Negosyo Center established in the province since 2015.

Lea Gonzales, provincial director of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the center is strategically situated within the Business Processing and Licensing Office to provide one-stop-shop services to clients.

Gonzales said that aside from its regular services like business advisories, business information and advocacy, and trainings, the Negosyo Center will mainly work on capacitating entrepreneurs in various sectors vital in boosting the tourism sector.

Some of the identified potential sectors which the city would like to further develop include food, fashion accessories and garments, furniture and furnishings, gifts, and decor, among others.

“These sectors, if developed, will significantly help improve the city’s tourism industry by attracting more tourists,” Gonzales said, adding that Sipalay has abundant raw material resources which can be developed to spur economic growth.

In 2016, the eight Negosyo Center in the province was unveiled in Hinigaran town. Others opened last year are those in the cities of Bacolod, San Carlos, Victorias, and La Carlota.

The Negros First Negosyo Center at the Provincial Capitol Complex in Bacolod City was opened in 2015 along with those in the cities of Kabankalan and Sagay.

For this year, the DTI-Negros Occidental targets to open six more centers for the cities of Bago, Himamaylan, Cadiz, Silay and Escalante, and municipality of La Castellana.

The establishment of Negosyo Centers is provided under the Republic Act 10644, or the Go Negosyo Act.

It is mainly aimed at providing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) the ease in doing business, and facilitating access to grants and other forms of financial assistance, and shared service facilities, among others.

The law also aims at ensuring management guidance, assistance and improvement of the working conditions of MSMEs, and facilitating market access and linkaging services for entrepreneurs.

The city government of Sipalay provided the area while the DTI took charge of the refurbishing, basic equipment, and training component, Gonzales said.

In terms of business registration, Gonzales said the center will facilitate enterprises, but the processing will still be at the DTI-Negros Occidental Office in Bacolod City.

“Negosyo Centers have been one of our sustaining measures to empower local MSMEs as these efficiently help us in further equipping them to be more competitive entrepreneurs,” she added.

The launching activity was also attended by city officials headed by Vice Mayor Gina Lizares and Provincial MSME Development Council Chairman Mary Ann Colmenares.