THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental will open the province's 19th Negosyo Center in Escalante City this month, its top official said.
Lea Gonzales, director of DTI-Negros Occidental, on Tuesday said the third facility to be opened in the province this year will be launched on September 27.
It follows with those in Binalbagan town and Cadiz City, which were opened in June and July, respectively.
Gonzales said like other Negosyo Centers in the province, it is lodged at the city hall. Also, the local government provided the office space while the DTI took charge of the signage, furniture and other equipment plus one contractual business counselor.
“The Negosyo Center will further enable the agency to bring its services closer to the public, especially to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Escalante City,” she said, adding that it will also facilitate the creation of more entrepreneurs under various sectors in the locality.
The establishment of Negosyo Centers is provided under the Republic Act 10644, or the Go Negosyo Act.
It provides MSMEs the ease of doing business, and facilitates access to grants and other forms of financial assistance, and shared service facilities (SSF), among others.
The law aims to ensure management guidance, assistance, and improvement of the working conditions of enterprises, and facilitate market access and linkage services for entrepreneurs.
Aside from these services, the Negosyo Center can also accept and facilitate business name registration applications.
There are already 18 Negosyo Centers opened in Negros Occidental since 2015.
Last year, eight other Negosyo Centers were opened in the province. These are in Isabela, Hinoba-an, La Castellana, Cauayan, E.B. Magalona, Himamaylan, Bago City, and Sipalay City.
In 2016, the eighth Negosyo Center in the province was unveiled in Hinigaran town. Others that opened that 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, DTI-Negros Occidental targets to “soft launch” three more Negosyo Centers in Talisay City, Pontevedra and San Enrique.
Gonzales, however, said they are still waiting for the transfer of funds.
“It will be opened but the location will change once expansion and construction of their respective new city and municipal halls will be finished,” she said, adding that the formal launching comes next year.