More than 8,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Negros Occidental have availed of assistance from various Negosyo Centers of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the past four past years.
The figures include 4,177 newly-assisted enterprises in 2019, and 3,935 existing MSMEs or those assisted in the previous years since 2015.
Engiemar Tupas, officer-in-charge chief of Industry Development Division of DTI-Negros Occidental, said on Thursday the MSMEs are provided with a package of assistance, and the agency’s service does not just end with business name registration.
“These should include having them attend seminars and orientation on consumer rights and provision of information materials. We also encourage them to register as barangay micro business enterprise (BMBE),” he added.
There are 23 Negosyo Centers in 22 cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, established under the Republic Act 10644, or the Go Negosyo Act.
A Negosyo Center provides MSMEs the ease of doing business and facilitates access to grants and other forms of financial assistance, and shared service facilities (SSF), among others. It also accepts and facilitates business name registration applications.
In 2015, the Negros First Negosyo Center was opened at Provincial Capitol Complex in Bacolod City, along with those in cities of Kabankalan and Sagay.
The following year, Negosyo Centers also operated in Hinigaran town, cities of Bacolod, San Carlos, Victorias, and La Carlota then in 2017, those that opened were in towns of Isabela, Hinoba-an, La Castellana, Cauayan, E.B. Magalona, and cities of Himamaylan, Bago, and Sipalay.
Those established in 2018 were in towns of Binalbagan, San Enrique, Pontevedra, cities of Cadiz, Escalante, Talisay City, and Silay.
Ten more are expected to open this year in Negros Occidental.
Tupas said the establishment of these facilities has positively contributed to the development of Negrense entrepreneurs, and also enabled the DTI to bring its services closer to the people, especially those in the countryside. (PNA)
