DTI speeds up installation of “Go Negosyo Centers”

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry Central Visayas office is now fast tracking the opening of a Go Negosyo Center in Cebu that will serve as a one-stop-shop for small and medium entrepreneurs in the region.

DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte said works and negotiation are now being done to accelerate the establishment of the "Biz Store" or "Negosyo Center", an inter-active help-desk designed to help SMEs in their various needs.

Go Negosyo Center is a project aimed at preparing the country for the full implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community integration, and promote growth of the country’s SMEs, as stipulated in RA 10644, otherwise known as Go Negosyo Act of 2004.

In an interview with DTI undersecretary for regional group operations Zenaida Maglaya, she said that the department targets to open at least 100 Negosyo Centers this year, with Cebu as one of the pilot areas for the facility.

A one-stop-shop for SMEs, Negosyo Center is where SMEs can do business without hopping from one office to another in order to comply with needed requirements.

The facility may be located within the DTI office compound or at designated area by local government unit.

Maglaya said there is a dire need for the Philippines to offer this kind of service to the SMEs, which comprise the 99 percent of businesses in the country.

She said taking care of the SMEs as well as boosting the growth of the small and medium business players is vital to the Asean Economic Community.

According to DTI at least 50 percent of the total target of 100 Go Negosyo Centers should be put in place by second quarter of 2015. Funds will be allocated per region.

Under the implementing rules and regulation, DTI’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development 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 centers will be linked to the Philippine Business Registry System to make it easier and faster for entrepreneurs to start and register their businesses at the local level.

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.

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. — (FREEMAN)