AFTER launching two Negosyo Centers in San Enrique and Pontevedra towns on Friday, October 26, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental will open another one in Talisay City on Tuesday, October 30.
The three facilities form part of the 22 Negosyo Centers opened in the province since 2015.
DTI-Negros Occidental Senior Trade and Industry Development specialist Engiemar Tupas, also the Negosyo Center coordinator, said these additional centers are positioned to boost micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the three localities especially those in the food sector.
Tupas said that since San Enrique is known for native delicacies, the Negosyo Center can provide interventions mainly product development seminars and trainings.
“We are also looking at expanding the number of beneficiaries of the product packaging and labeling assistance,” he said, recalling that 10 food processors in San Enrique have received product packaging and labeling materials from the DTI and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in July 2018.
Though the DTI has yet to conduct an inventory of other potential industry sectors in Pontevedra, the agency is looking at initially developing its one-town, one-product (Otop), which is banana marbles.
Tupas said the center can further help MSMEs in terms of value adding, or producing other processed products using a banana as raw material.
“Talisay City is also strong when it comes to food products plus gifts, décor, and houseware (GDH). So this is where the Negosyo Center can provide development interventions,” he said.
Like other Negosyo Centers in the province, their respective local government unit (LGU) has provided for the area while the DTI took charge of the signage, furniture and other equipment, among others.
The Negosyo Center in Pontevedra is temporarily lodged in one of the town’s facilities while that in Talisay City is located in its tourism center near the public plaza.
Both will be transferred once the construction and expansion of their municipal and city hall, respectively, will be completed.
San Enrique’s Negosyo Center, on the other hand, is permanently lodged at the ground floor of the municipal hall.
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.
For this year, the first three facilities were opened in Binalbagan, Cadiz City and Escalante City.
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.
“The Negosyo Center is also positioned to further enable the DTI to bring its services closer to the public,” Tupas stressed.
Meanwhile, the launching in Talisay City will be led by DTI-Negros Occidental provincial director Lea Gonzales and city officials headed by Mayor Nilo Jesus Antonio Lizares III.