ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that there are now 40 negosyo centers serving existing and would-be entrepreneurs across Region 9 or Zamboanga Peninsula.
This, as DTI Regional Director Sitti Amina Jain led the inauguration of the 39th and 40th negosyo centers on Tuesday and Wednesday in Gutalac and Polanco towns, respectively, in Zamboanga del Norte.
“The launch of these facilities brings to 40 operational and functioning negosyo centers in Zamboanga Peninsula. These e also the 11th and 12th negosyo centers in the province of Zamboanga del Norte. We will be establishing negosyo center in the remaining municipalities in the region in partnership with the local government units (LGUs),” Jain said.
Jain said the establishment of the negosyo centers is the agency’s way of bringing government services at the doorsteps of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs).
Jain said the partner agencies of the DTI, like the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and even Bureau of International Revenue (BIR) may use the center to conduct seminars and trainings.
“We are also encouraging the LGUs to move their Business Licensing Office to the negosyo center to make our facility a one-stop shop for our MSMEs,” she emphasized.
She said the business counsellor manning the negosyo center will received all the concerns of the MSMEs and forward these to the concerned agencies in case the personnel from DTI’s partner-agencies are not around.
“What we want is when our MSMEs leave our facility, all their concerns are already solved or addressed so they won’t have to go from one area to another saving them of additional expenses and efforts in complying all of the requirements for their businesses,” Jain pointed out.
She said the establishment of negosyo centers has contributed much in terms of economic vibrancy in the region.
She said data of the DTI regional office showed that there was an increase of 61 percent in business name registration from 7,323 in 2016 to 11,809 in 2017.
“This means more businesses in the region, more employment, and people have income, thereby addressing the ultimate goal of poverty alleviation,” Jain said. (PNA)
