REITERATING its support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Department of Trade and Industy (DTI) 7 will complete the rollout of Negosyo Centers in the region within President Rodrigo Duterte’s 100 days in office, an official said.
DTI 7 Director Asteria Caberte announced this during the launching of the Negosyo Center in Carcar City yesterday. Negosyo Centers provide business registration services, business advisory, business information and advocacy, and monitoring and evaluation of MSMES in their respective and neighboring areas.
“This is a marching order and all other regions are rolling out Negosyo Centers as well during the President’s 100 days in office,” she said.
Currently, there are 18 Negosyo Centers in Central Visayas and 12 more are scheduled to open before Oct. 8 this year.
Cebu has nine existing Negosyo Centers located in Cebu City while the others are located in Bogo City, Sta. Fe, San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Carcar City and Dalaguete.
The rest are in Dumaguete City (two), Bayawan City, and Bais City in Negros Oriental, and Tagbilaran City (two) and Loon in Bohol and another in Siquijor and Larena in the province of Siquijor.
Those that are yet to be launched are in the town of Tuburan, Lapu Lapu City, and Mandaue City in Cebu; Talibon, Tubigon, Carmen, Jagna, Ubay, and Looc in Bohol; and Canlaon, Guihulngan, Tanjay in Negros Oriental.
“The presence of the Negosyo Center in each municipality and province aims to provide better and more efficient services to MSMEs,” DTI said.
Caberte said DTI can issue business name registrations as quickly as four minutes from application.
As of June 30, there are 252 Negosyo Centers nationwide since it started in 2014. Of the total number of centers, 162 are located in Luzon. The Visayas has 46 while Mindanao has and 44 centers.
There are 150 more expected to be rolled out within the year.
Data from the trade agency shows that Negosyo Centers have assisted 178,681 existing or new entrepreneurs and 61,678 potential entrepreneurs.
DTI is the lead implementing agency of the Go Negosyo Law or Republic Act 10644 that mandates the creation of a Negosyo Center in all provinces, cities, and municipalities.