THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that the Barangay Micro-Business Enterprises (BMBEs) can now register their businesses, free of charge, through DTI’s Negosyo Center.
“We reiterate our invitation to micro enterprises to register their businesses and avail of the incentives under the BMBE Law,” said Engineer Rolando Acuña, DTI provincial director.
Acuña said registered BMBEs can avail themselves of government incentives that include income tax payment exemption for income arising from the operation of the enterprise, exemption from the coverage of the minimum wage law, special credit window of government financing institutions that will service the needs of BMBEs, as well as technology transfer, production, management training and marketing assistance.
Acuña said that a BMBE is referred to under Republic Act 9178, otherwise known as the BMBEs Act of 2002, as any business entity or enterprises engaged in the production, processing or manufacturing of products or commodities, including agro-processing, trading, and services whose total assets, excluding land, shall not be more than P3 million.
He said that such assets shall include those arising from loans but not the land on which the plant and equipment are located.
He said the DTI issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) 16-01 on April 22, 2016 that provides guidelines on registering BMBEs at Negosyo Centers.
He said that under DAO 16-01, the DTI is the sole agency that shall issue a Certificate of Authority (CA) to registered BMBEs at Negosyo Centers or at DTI offices where Negosyo Centers have not been set up.
Prior to the issuance of the DAO, BMBEs located in Zamboanga City register at the Office of the City Treasurer.
Acuña said they conducted a Negosyo Forum last June 20 to raise awareness on the incentives and benefits under the BMBE Act, as well as to provide in-depth discussion on the new guidelines relative to BMBE registration.
He said the BMBE Act of 2002 recognizes the role of BMBEs as an essential driving force for the country’s economic development.
Accordingly, BMBEs are “seedbeds of Filipino entrepreneurial talents” and strengthening them would generate much needed employment and alleviate poverty. (Bong Garcia)