THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental has registered 8,766 businesses in the province from January to June 2018, almost 14 percent higher than 7,566 in the same period last year.
Records showed that of the total number of registered businesses during the first half of the year, 7,781 are new enterprises while the remaining 985 are for renewals.
Of which, more than 50 percent are under the retail sector while others are in the service and manufacturing.
In January to June last year, the agency only registered 7,082 and 484 new and for renewal businesses, respectively, it added.
Engiemar Tupas, senior trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, told VoxPop Bacolod yesterday, July 10, that the increase on the number of enterprises registered with the agency is mainly attributed to the presence of Negosyo Centers in the province.
Aside from delivering entrepreneurial and business development interventions to local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the centers are also providing business name registration services.
Tupas said personnel of the Negosyo Centers regularly conduct monitoring of businesses and encouraging those without business name registration yet to register with the DTI.
Currently, there are already 16 Negosyo Centers opened in Negros Occidental since 2015. The recent was that in Binalbagan town, the first of three facilities to be opened this year.
"Unlike before, they do not need to go to Bacolod City as business name application can be done within the centers in their respective localities," he said, adding that the presence of Negosyo Centers has made DTI services accessible especially to out-of-town enterprises.
For the whole of 2017, DTI-Negros Occidental registered a total of 10,607 businesses. The figure is almost 41 percent higher than 7,562 in 2016.
Aside from the presence of Negosyo Centers, the vibrant business environment in the province is resulting in the sprouting of many enterprises.
Tupas said despite the negative statements of few people against the government, yet the economy is picking up. Thus, the agency expects more businesses registration by the end of the year.
"Business confidence in the province is high. Enabling laws that would encourage enterprises to open are already in place," Tupas said.
He stressed that all enterprises need to register with the DTI as provided by law, as well as securing local permits.
Registered businesses have legal identities enabling them to avail various assistance and services from the government, Tupas also said.
