Registered MSMEs expected to increase

CEBU, Philippines - Dalaguete is the first southern town in Cebu to have a Negosyo Center, which will serve the needs of the micro, small and medium enterprises there.

Elias Tecson, business development chief at the Department of Trade and Industry Cebu, said yesterday at the launching of the center in Barangay Poblacion, Dalaguete that they hoped to increase the number of registered enterprises in the town with the newly built negosyo center.

Currently, there are 653 registered enterprises in Dalaguete, Tecson said, adding that this may increase to more than 700 eventually.

The negosyo center can register business names, offer advisory to aspiring entrepreneurs, help existing entrepreneurs link their products to potential markets and can organize seminars on product packaging and designing, among others.  

Asteria Caberte, DTI regional chief, said Dalaguete is an important growth center in Cebu, considering its "healthy market" and law of supply and demand.

Dalaguete is considered as the Vegetable Basket of Cebu, being a source of most vegetable products in the province.

Small entrepreneurs from other southern Cebu towns such as Alcoy, Argao, Boljoon, Oslob and Santander can also seek help from the Negosyo center.

DTI is opening seven more negosyo centers this year in towns of Tuburan and Daanbantayan, and cities of Carcar, Talisay, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu (specifically in UP-Cebu).

The agency already opened six negosyo centers in Cebu since last year in Sta. Fe, San Remigio, Dalaguete, Bogo City and in its provincial and regional offices in Cebu City.

Republic Act 10644 or Go Negosyo Act mandates the creation of negosyo centers across the country to help grow the MSME sector which accounts for around 99% of registered businesses in the Philippines.

The law says that negosyo centers must facilitate ease of doing business and access to services for MSMEs.  (FREEMAN)