QUEZON CITY, Philippines – “As of July 10, 2015, there are now 54 Negosyo Centers launched this year. This brings us to a total of 59 Centers now operating all over the country. Five of these became operational on the fourth quarter of 2014,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 12 Assitant Regional Director (ARD) and Negosyo Center National Program Office (NC-NPO) Program Manager Dorecita T. Delima said.
Of the 59 centers, 16 are located in Mindanao, 12 are in Visayas, and 31 are in Luzon, or a share of 27%, 20%, and 53%, respectively. Majority of these centers are located in the various Local Government Units (LGUs) where the Centers are based, and in the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices nationwide. Only one Center is academe-based while another is housed at a Chamber’s Office.
The Digos Negosyo Center hosted by Cor Jesu College and the Davao City Negosyo Center hosted by the Davao City LGU and the Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPC) were launched on 9 July, with Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, author of Republic Act (RA) No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act, gracing the event. The Malaybalay Negosyo Center has also been launched on 10 July.
For the rest of the month of July, 26 more Negosyo Centers are likewise set for launching all over the country. It is expected that by month’s end, Negosyo Centers will be present in all the regions of the country.
A total of 146 Negosyo Centers are set to be launched by end of the year, or 46% of the total target of 100 centers for 2015. The total number of Negosyo Centers operating by then would reach 151, including the 4 centers already operating in 2014.
“Based on the numbers, we are on track in our goal of making sure that Negosyo Centers are set up in the areas where they matter the most, where they are felt the most. This is DTI’s commitment for the continued growth of our MSMEs, as enunciated by the DTI Secretary himself, Gregory L. Domingo,” DTI Regional Operations Group (ROG) Undersecretary Zenaida C. Maglaya said.
DTI has been given the key responsibility and challenge of establishing Negosyo Centers in all provinces, cities, and municipalities nationwide, as provided for under the Go Negosyo Act, which seeks to strengthen micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide to create more job opportunities in the country. It was signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III on 15 July 2014, with the DTI issuing Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 14-5 series of 2014 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations for Republic Act No. 10644.
DTI launches 54 more Negosyo Centers
