GENERAL SANTOS CITY — In a bid to enhance their services, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 12 is pushing for the upgrading of the region’s Negosyo Centers into complete units.
Vanessa Claire Pleña, DTI-12 information officer, said Wednesday they are currently working with local government units (LGUs) to facilitate the conversion of Negosyo Centers in the region that are still operating as Model C or desk-type facilities.
Pleña said a total of 52 Negosyo Centers were already established within the 45 municipalities and five cities, mostly operating as Model A or complete centers.
She said a Model A Negosyo Center has its own building and features complete facilities such as a reception area, lounge, library, consultation and meeting room, working area, and a training room. These are manned by three to five business counselors and a support staff from the DTI, she said.
She said Model C centers are those situated within local government offices, usually just a table manned by a lone business counselor.
For the upgrading, Pleña said LGUs mainly provide the site and the building while the DTI takes care of the manpower and needed equipment.
Negosyo Centers are “one-stop-shops” that cater to various concerns and needs of existing and prospective MSMEs on various aspects of doing business, from start-up to the actual operations.
It provides assistance to MSMEs in terms of business registration, business advisory services, business information and advocacy, and monitoring and evaluation of business processes.
To complement with the upgrading of the centers, DTI-12 has been enhancing their services to accommodate more residents.
Dorecita Delima, DTI-12 acting regional director, said they are specifically customizing their trainings and seminars to complement with the needs of prospective clients.
She cited beneficiaries of the national government’s conditional cash transfer or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and Senior High School graduates.
“They can come to us and avail of entrepreneurial trainings and support programs that are customized for them,” she said. (PNA)
