MANILA — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has established 661 Negosyo Centers nationwide, the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED) said.
BSMED said 342 of these Negosyo Centers are in Luzon, 146 in Visayas, and 173 in Mindanao.
The DTI is mandated to establish Negosyo Centers under Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act.
Negosyo Centers assist in business registration, provide business advisory services, promote business information and advocacy, and monitor and evaluate business processes for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
BSMED Director Jerry Clavesillas said these Negosyo Centers have made doing business easier for MSMEs.
In an earlier interview, DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said the department had allotted PHP530 million to establish 150 Negosyo Centers this year.
The DTI, however, has already surpassed its full-year target, having put up 209 Negosyo Centers to date.
There were 452 Negosyo Centers across the country by the end of 2016.
The agency began establishing Negosyo Centers in 2014. (PNA)