THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental will open two more Negosyo Centers in the province this week.
In Victorias City, the agency will open Monday, September 19, the fifth Negosyo Center in Negros Occidental since 2015, and the second of the five centers targeted by the agency this year.
On August 3, the fourth Negosyo Center was launched in San Carlos City, which started its operation last June 29.
After Victorias, the DTI will open the sixth center in La Carlota City tomorrow.
DTI-Negros Occidental Provincial Director Lea Gonzales said Sunday, September 18, that the Negosyo Centers provide services such as business registration, trainings for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and business consultancy.
Gonzales, along with DTI-Negros Island Region Director Asteria Cabarte and officials of the two cities, will lead the opening of the latest Negosyo Centers.
She said the two other Negosyo Centers to be opened this year are those in Bacolod City and Hinigaran town.
Last year, DTI-Negros Occidental, in partnership with the respective local government units (LGUs), launched the Negros First Negosyo Center at the Provincial Capitol Complex in Bacolod City, and those in the cities of Kabankalan and Sagay.
“With more Negosyo Centers, more enterprises can avail of the services offered by the government, particularly DTI,” Gonzales said.
Through these centers, with the assistance of other agencies, DTI-Negros Occidental is looking at developing more competent MSMEs in the province, especially those in the informal sector, and help small businesses create more employment in their locality, she added.
The establishment of Negosyo Centers is provided under the Republic Act (RA) 10644, or the Go Negosyo Act.
It provides 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 also aims to ensure management guidance, assistance and improvement of the working conditions of enterprises, and facilitate market access and linkaging services for entrepreneurs.
The Go Negosyo Act also has a provision to include in the General Appropriations Act the funding for the creation of Negosyo Centers, which is normally in a counterparting scheme with the host cities and municipalities.
“LGUs provide the area while the DTI takes charge of the refurbishing, basic equipment, and training component,” Gonzales said.
In 2017, DTI targets to open not less than 100 Negosyo Centers nationwide. Of which, nine are in Negros Occidental.