The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)- MIMAROPA Region reported over 14,000 new and existing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) assisted through its Negosyo Centers.

For 2020 alone, consolidated figures reveal that 25,952 clients have been assisted by the Negosyo Centers, where 14,856 are MSMEs. Aside from the MSMEs, clients also vary from students, Out of School Youth, Overseas Filipino Workers, and the like.

Fifty-one Negosyo Centers have already been established in the region, and DTI-MIMAROPA is set to establish more Centers to cover all municipalities in the coming years.

Business Counsellors are deployed in these Negosyo Centers to provide would-be and existing MSMEs business advisory services to cater their different business development needs through one on one consultation, focus group discussion, and coaching and mentoring. Under the Business Registration Assistance, the Business Counsellors facilitate processing and documentation of necessary paper requirements such as the Business Name Registration and Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE). Complementing these, the Centers conduct trainings, seminars and dialogues to increase the MSMEs productivity and efficiency.  

Furthermore, over 10,000 businesses registered with DTI in the same year and 424 micro businesses registered under the BMBE. Despite the hit of the COVID-19 pandemic, which initiated the implementation of stricter health protocols in the conduct of activities, Negosyo Centers in total, have organized 663 seminars and trainings. In retrospect, the pandemic paved way for DTI-MIMAROPA to execute innovative ways in the delivery of business development services.

Negosyo Centers also serve as catalyst to other MSME-serving programs of the Department such as the Kapatid Mentor ME Program or KMME, Pondo so Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3), Shared Services Facilities (SSF), and OTOP Next Gen Project among others. 

DTI-MIMAROPA Regional Director (RD) Joel B. Valera emphasized that Negosyo Centers in the region shall continue to serve as the gateway to ease of doing business and countryside development.

MSMEs are encouraged to visit the nearest Negosyo Centers or DTI Provincial Offices in their area to know more about the program and sign up for the upcoming activities.♦

Date of Release: 21 January 2021