MAKATI CITY, Philippines – Barangay Micro-Business Enterprises (BMBEs) can now register their businesses, free of charge, at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the agency’s Negosyo Centers.
“We encourage micro enterprises to register their businesses and avail of the incentives under the BMBE Law,” DTI Regional Operations Group Supervising Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said.
Maglaya said that registered BMBEs can avail of government incentives that include exemption from the payment of income tax for income arising from the operation of the enterprise, exemption from the coverage of the minimum wage law, special credit window of government financing institutions that will service the needs of BMBEs, as well as technology and marketing assistance.
Under Republic Act No. 9178 or the BMBEs Act of 2002, a BMBE is referred to as any business entity or enterprises engaged in the production, processing or manufacturing of products or commodities, including agro-processing, trading, and services whose total assets, excluding land, shall not be more than P3 million. Such assets shall include those arising from loans but not the land on which the plant and equipment are located.
The DTI issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 16-01 last April 22, 2016 which provides guidelines on registering BMBEs at Negosyo Centers. Under DAO 16-01, DTI is the sole agency which shall issue a Certificate of Authority (CA) to registered BMBEs at Negosyo Centers or at DTI offices where Negosyo Centers have not been set up.
Prior to the issuance of the DAO, BMBEs register at the Office of the Treasurer of the city or municipality where the business is located.
Republic Act 9178 or the BMBE Act of 2002 recognizes the role of BMBEs as an essential driving force for the country’s economic development. According to the law, BMBEs are “seedbeds of Filipino entrepreneurial talents and strengthening them would increase job generation, provide livelihood and augment Filipinos’ quality of life.”
Barangay micro-business enterprises may now register for free at Negosyo Centers
