CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- More than 100,000 existing and potential micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in Central Luzon were assisted by the Negosyo Centers in 2018.
Based on a report of the Department of Trade and Industry Region (DTI)-Central Luzon SME Development Division, a total of 102,339 clients were assisted in the 94 centers across the region.
Of the total number of assisted MSMEs, 28,165 of them received assistance in Bulacan, while Pampanga Negosyo Centers aided 17,657 entrepreneurs.
Negosyo Centers in Nueva Ecija were also able to assist 17,481 clients while Bataan centers served 12,777 clients; Tarlac had 11,499; Zambales had 11,204; and Aurora had 3,557 clients.
Aside from Business Consultancy and Advisory Services, DTI-Central Luzon regional director Judith Angeles said other types of assistance provided to the Central Luzon MSMEs include Business Name Registration (BNR) assistance and registration as Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs).
Through the said service, a total of 66,611 business names in Central Luzon were registered in 2018 through the different Negosyo Centers of DTI.
Bulacan remained as the province with the most number of business names registered in the Negosyo Centers with 19,942 followed by Nueva Ecija with 13,512 and Pampanga with 10,616.
Zambales also registered a total of 8,016 BNRs while Tarlac had 7,192 and Bataan had 5,581.
In addition, 2,983 enterprises in Central Luzon were registered as BMBEs in 2018 through the 95 Negosyo Centers in the region.
“Under Republic Act No. 9178, enterprises registered under the BMBE category are provided incentives such as tax exemption from the operations of the business, minimum wage exemption, priority in technical assistance from government agencies and priority in the special loan window facility of financial institutions,” Angeles said.