DTI releases implementing rules for Go Negosyo Act

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has come up with implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the set-up of facilities which seek to make it easier for entrepreneurs to start and register their businesses under the Go Negosyo Act.

Under the Go Negosyo Act signed into law by President Aquino on July 15, Go Negosyo Centers which will provide assistance and services to micro, small and medium enterprises will be put up by the DTI.

The IRR stated that the DTI’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Council will approve a multi-phase plan for the establishment and management of Go Negosyo Centers within 180 days of its reconstitution.

In areas where there are existing SME Centers and National Economic Research and Business Assistance Centers administered by the DTI, the facilities may be converted into Go Negosyo Centers.

The Go Negosyo Centers shall have the following functions: business registration assistance, business advisory services, business information and advocacy and monitoring and evaluation of business processes for MSMEs.

The Go Negosyo Centers will be linked to the Philippine Business Registry System (PBRS) to make it easier and faster for entrepreneurs to start and register their businesses at the local level.

The PBRS is a government project that integrates the services of all agencies involved in business registration, such as the DTI, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Social Security System, Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), Philippine Health Insurance Corp., and other permit and license-issuing agencies to facilitate registration.

For the Go Negosyo Centers to be able to provide business registration assistance, the DTI along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and other relevant agencies will develop a unified and simplified business registration form based on the current form being used for the business process and licensing system.

“Should the concerned business permits and licensing office (BPLO) fail to process the application within 15 days upon receipt of the BPLO, the MSME shall be deemed registered for a period of one year,” the DTI said.

However, any BPLO will have the authority to revoke the permit or license within 30 calendar days from date of application upon failure of MSME to meet the requirements.

Aside from making business registration easier, the Go Negosyo Centers will allow MSMEs to avail of other services such as technology transfer, production and management training programs as well as marketing assistance from the DTI, Department of Science and Technology, University of the Philippines – Institute for Small-Scale Industries, Cooperative Development Authority, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other agencies concerned.