THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental is optimistic that the just-opened Negosyo Center in Cadiz City will help strengthen the dried fish industry of the locality, its official said.
Engiemar Tupas, senior trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the facility will work on improving the packaging and labels of the city's dried fish products on top of its other services.
Lodged at the new city hall, 17th Negosyo Center in the province was launched in Cadiz City on Tuesday, July 31.
Tupas, also the Negosyo Center coordinator in the province, said aside from product packaging and labeling, they are also pushing for seminars on good manufacturing practices in order to further equip dried fish producers in preparing more hygienic products.
"We want to present better dried fish products especially during trade fairs and other events outside the province," he said, adding that "hopefully, through these interventions, we can further strengthen the local industry."
The establishment of Negosyo Centers is provided under the Republic Act 10644, or the Go Negosyo Act.
It provides micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) the ease of doing business, and facilitates access to grants and other forms of financial assistance, and shared service facilities (SSF), among others.
The law aims to ensure management guidance, assistance, and improvement of the working conditions of enterprises, and facilitate market access and linkage services for entrepreneurs.
Aside from these services, the Negosyo Center can also accept and facilitate business name registration applications.
"Aside from dried fish, the city is also producing various food products like pastries which the facility can also help boost," Tupas also said.
The Negosyo Center in Cadiz City is the second of the three facilities to be opened this year.
In June, DTI-Negros Occidental launched the Negosyo Center in Binalbagan, while it has yet to schedule the opening of the facility in Escalante City.
Currently, there are already 17 Negosyo Centers opened in Negros Occidental since 2015.
Last year, eight other Negosyo Centers were opened in the province. These are in Isabela, Hinoba-an, La Castellana, Cauayan, E.B. Magalona, Himamaylan, Bago City, and Sipalay City.
In 2016, the eighth Negosyo Center in the province was unveiled in Hinigaran town. Others that opened that year are those in the cities of Bacolod, San Carlos, Victorias, and La Carlota.
The Negros First Negosyo Center at the Provincial Capitol Complex in Bacolod City was opened in 2015 along with those in the cities of Kabankalan and Sagay.
Like most of these centers, the office space in that of Cadiz City was provided by the local government while the DTI took charge of the signage, furniture and other equipment plus one contractual business counselor.
