DTI reaches out to MSMEs through Negosyo Centers

Mayor Democrito Diamante (seated) tests the business name registration system at the newly opened Negosyo Center in Tuburan town, midwest Cebu. Present during yesterday’s Negosyo Center opening were Vice Mayor Danilo Diamante (from left, standing), Trade and Industry Provincial Director Maria Elena Arbon, Trade and Industry Assistant Regional Director Nelia Navarro, Tuburan Administrative Officer Rowena Borneo and Trade and Industry Business Development Chief Elias Tecson (DTI CEBU FACEBOOK).

Seventh business center in Cebu opens in Tuburan town, midwestern Cebu

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Cebu expects to reach out to more entrepeneurs in the province with the establishment of additional Negosyo Centers here.

DTI Cebu Provincial Director Ma. Elena Arbon said yesterday that each year, her office would target a certain number of micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) that they could assist.

“The Negosyo Centers really helped because they expanded our reach,” she told Cebu Daily News.

The agency aims to provide assistance to 4,900 MSMEs this year through Negosyo Centers spread across the province.

MSMEs helped

Based on data from the DTI, the agency has already extended assistance to 3,789 MSMEs as of August 30 this year.

Regardless of how many times an enterprise availed of assistance from the DTI, they will only be counted as one.

DTI data showed that MSMEs account for 99.6 percent of the total registered enterprises in the country.

Among the businesses that have been assisted by the DTI especially in the countryside are makers of fashion accessories and processed food, water refilling stations, and small furniture manufacturers.

Types of assistance

The types of assistance DTI provides include trainings, market matching, credit facilitation, product development, and livelihood fairs for MSMEs.

With the establishment of more Negosyo Centers, the agency is confident that it can even exceed its target this year.

Tuburan center

DTI on Monday opened a Negosyo Center in Tuburan, midwest Cebu, just behind the town’s municipal hall in Barangay Poblacion 4.

Present during the inauguration of the town’s business center were Arbon, DTI Central Visayas Director Asteria Caberte, and Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante.

Mayor Diamante, in his speech broadcast live on DTI’s Facebook page, said he would ensure that the environment in town would enable businesses there to grow.

He promised to keep the peace and order in Tuburan to attract more investors to the town as well as make sure there would be no red tape in local government services.

Centers were also launched in Santa Fe on Bantayan Island, San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Dalaguete, the University of the Philippines Cebu in Lahug, Cebu City earlier this year, and only last month, Carcar City.

Arbon said that they target to open centers in Lapu-Lapu City and Consolacion town within this year, as well. A center was launched in Bogo City in 2015.

“It’s good that we have someone on the ground in these places so we can conceptualize programs that are more relevant to the area,” said Arbon.

Center defined

A Negosyo Center aims to promote ease of doing business and facilitates access to services for MSMEs within its jurisdiction.

Among the services it offers are business registration assistance, business advisory, business information and advocacy, and monitoring and evaluation.

DTI also promises business registration in under 15 minutes at the Negosyo Centers.

The presence of these centers all over the province have also made it easier for entrepreneurs to start their own business.