DTI to open four more negosyo centers in Cebu

The Department of Trade and Industry is targeting to open four more negosyo centers in Cebu province this year.

DTI provincial director Maria Elena Arbon said the agency is set to talk with its four target local government units (LGUs), however stopped short of revealing which particular LGUs they are currently talking to.

As of end 2017, Cebu already has 23 negosyo centers in various cities and municipalities.

All over the province, Arbon said the trade agency has assisted about 50,000 registered, unregistered and potential micro, small and medium enterprises through the negosyo centers.

"The NC is really about bringing our services and also that of other agencies closer to the people," she told The FREEMAN.

Nationwide, she said the negosyo center in DTICebu office topped last year in terms of MSMEs assisted at over 32,000.

The negosyo center can register business names, offer advisory to aspiring entrepreneurs, and help existing enterprises link their products to potential markets, among others.

Last year, DTI registered a total of 17,751 sole enterprises — both new and renewal — in Cebu, up by 14 percent from 15,588 registered in 2016.

The presence of the negosyo center can potentially increase the number of registered businesses.

DTI already has NCs in its office in Cebu City, University of the Philippines Cebu, LapuLapu City, Consolacion, Bogo City, San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Tuburan, Santa Fe, Carcar City and Dalaguete.

It also launched NCs in Bantayan and Madridejos on Bantayan Island; Poro, Pilar, San Francisco and Tudela on Camotes Island; as well as Balamban, Borbon and Sogod.

NEGOSYO ACT

Republic Act 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act mandates the creation of negosyo centers across the country to help grow the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector which accounts for around 99 percent of registered businesses in the Philippines.

The law says that negosyo centers must facilitate ease of doing business in the country and access to services for MSMEs.

Aside from accounting for most registered businesses, MSMEs also make up for most jobs created in the country.

MSMEs are considered to be an important economic growth driver, as they stimulate domestic demand through job creation, innovation and competition.

With that, prioritizing MSME development is critical in achieving inclusive growth.