DTI urges BMBEs to register for incentives

BARANGAY-BASED micro enterprises can easily avail incentives through Negosyo Centers set up by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the agency said.

Zenaida Maglaya, supervising undersecretary of the DTI’s Regional Operations Group (ROG), said that barangay microbusiness enterprises (BMBEs) can register their businesses for free at the DTI’s Negosyo Centers scattered nationwide that aim to help and support micro and small enterprises alike.

“We encourage micro enterprises to register their businesses and avail of the incentives under the BMBE Law,” Maglaya said.

Registered BMBEs at Negosyo Centers can avail of government incentives that include exemption from income tax payments on operations income, exemption from the coverage of the minimum wage law, a special credit window of - ing BMBEs, as well as technology and marketing assistance.

Under the Republic Act No. 9178 or the BMBEs Act of 2002, BMBEs are business entities or enterprises engaged in producing, processing and manufacturing products or commodities in agro-processing, trading and services, and which have maximum assets of P3 million. The those arising from loans, but not the land where the business facilities are located.

According to the DTI’s Department Ad last April 22, the DTI is the only agency - ity (CA) to registered BMBEs at Negosyo Centers have not been set up.

Before DAO issuance, BMBEs usually the city or municipality where the business is located.

The BMBE Act of 2002 recognizes the role of BMBEs as essential drivers of the economy. According to the law, BMBEs are “seedbeds of Filipino entrepreneurial talents and strengthening them would increase job generation, provide livelihood and augment Filipinos’ quality of life.”

The law is very much in line with the DTI’s mandate to provide support, promote and market BMBEs and MSMEs, which account for over 98 percent of the country’s business.