ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Wednesday opened another Negosyo Center in this city to further address the needs of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The Negosyo Center, which is the fourth, is situated in Barangay Curuan, located 50 kilometers east of this city.
The other three are located at the DTI provincial office on Veterans Avenue; Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College; and, Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone in the west coast.
DTI officials, led by DTI-IX Director Sitti Amina M. Jain and DTI-ZCO Provincial Director Ceferino J. Rubio, as well as barangay officials of Curuan attended the launch on Wednesday, December 13.
The event was also attended by other concerned stakeholders.
“Considering the immense size of Zamboanga City and the distance to and from the city center, transportation is one of the major concerns of our MSMEs in far-flung barangays. With the establishment of a Negosyo Center in Barangay Curuan, government services will now be brought closer to MSMEs in the area in order to promote their growth and development,” Rubio said.
The creation of the Negosyo Centers is pursuant to Republic Act No. 10644 otherwise known as the “Go Negosyo Act” that stipulates for the establishment of Negosyo Centers in all provinces, cities and municipalities.
The basic policy of R.A. 10644 is to foster national development, promote inclusive growth, and reduce poverty by encouraging the establishment of MSMEs that facilitate local job creation, production and trade in the country.
The functions of the center are business registration assistance; business advisory services; business information and advocacy; monitoring and evaluation; and, other functions that may be assigned by the MSMED Council as germane to RA 10644 and other related laws.
“As a one-stop-shop for existing and potential MSMEs, the Curuan Negosyo Center will facilitate and expedite the business application process of MSMEs in the east coast in coordination with the local governments and other concerned agencies and will provide assistance in the availment of technology transfer, production, and management training programs and marketing assistance of the DTI and other government agencies,” Rubio added. (PNA)
