REACH out to potential entrepreneurs in the grassroots level.
This is the new goal of the Deparment of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 as it plans to set up Negosyo Centers in the barangays.
“It’s time to go deeper to the barangays and to disseminate information. And if there are fledgling enterprises, they would know that we have a presence,” said DTI 7 Regional Director Asteria Caberte.
A Negosyo Center promotes ease of doing business and facilitates access to services for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Under Republic Act No. 10644, otherwise known as the “Go Negosyo Act,” the Negosyo Center program seeks to strengthen MSMEs to create more job opportunities in the country.
“These Negosyo Centers will be manned by business councilors who will give business counseling,” Caberte said.
She stressed that no business should be “orphaned” or left behind which meant that for every business model, a business councilor is tasked to guide it until it becomes profitable.
The DTI 7 aims to help interested individuals become entrepreneurs for they are seen to be the driving force of every country’s economy.
“We will help them. They can even contact me directly if they want advice on their business because that kind of accessibility was not available before,” she said.
Caberte said that if there are many businesses that will form and become stable, they will generate jobs.
“Job creation is a priority in these areas, especially in the barangays,” she said.
Last Thursday, Jan. 10, the agency together with the Cebu City Government and the Sinulog Foundation Inc. launched the Sinulog Fiesta Fair 2019.
The fair, which is now on its sixth year, boasts of homegrown and local products from MSMEs.
Some of the MSMEs from the towns of Northern Cebu ravaged by supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013 showcased their products.
The towns were recipients of DTI’s Shared Service Facility, One Town One Product, Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and the Kapatid Mentor ME programs.
This year’s trade fair composed of 68 booths, some came from cities outside of Cebu. JOB