Among all regions in the country, Central Luzon had the most number of Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) registered through the Negosyo Centers. For 2017, a total of 2,240 BMBEs registered in the 64 Negosyo Centers spread throughout the region. The number of BMBEs in the region represents 20 percent of all the 12,197 BMBEs registered in the country in 2017. Based on the records of the DTI Regional Operations Group, Calabarzon followed as it was able to register 2,126 BMBEs, the National Capital Region had 1,861 while Western Visayas had 1,153 BMBEs registered IN 2017.
In Central Luzon, Zambales had the most number of BMBEs registered in 2017 with 691, Nueva Ecija had 384, Pampanga had 259, Bulacan had 258, Bataan had 257, while Aurora had 211 and Tarlac had 180.
Under the BMBE law or RA 9178, establishments registered as BMBEs are provided with incentives such as tax exemption from the operation of the business, exemption from the Minimum Wage Law, priority in Special Loan Windows of financial institutions and technical assistance to increase their productivity.
Aside from BMBE registration assistance, the 749 Negosyo Centers throughout the country provide other services like Business Name registration, Product Cliniquing, Product Catalogue production, Business Matching, Loan Assistance, Packaging and Labelling assistance and Product Development. A total of 635,941 clients have been assisted nationwide by Negosyo Centers. The Negosyo Center in Cebu had the most number of assisted clients with 34,428 clients served. Cabanatuan City is ranked 8th nationwide with 9,568 MSMEs assisted in 2017.
The Negosyo Centers were created by virtue of Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act. The law aims to establish at least one Negosyo Center in each local government to help spur inclusive growth and countryside development through the development of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises sector.♦
