Forming Strategic Partnerships Key to

Negosyo Center Program’s Success

Republic Act # 10644 was
enacted into law on July
15, 2014 to promote job
generation and inclusive
growth through the
development of micro, small,
and medium enterprises
(MSMEs). One of the law’s
vital provisions include the
establishment of Negosyo
Centers in all the cities and
municipalities throughout the
country to bring government’s
services closer to the MSMEs,
particularly in the countryside.

To date, a total of 789

Negosyo Centers have been
put into place the Negosyo and GCash), Radiowealth
established, scattered across
Center Program Management Finance Corporation (RFC),
the different provinces
Unit (NC PMU) which oversees MyBusyBee, P&G, Sulit.Ph/
and regions throughout
the entire operations of the MSME Marketplace, Kontaras
the country. These centers
centers. Corp/SitePro for the private
provide an array of business
sector. NC PMU has likewise
development services to
The NC PMU, with the end- inked partnerships with other
By 2017, 789 Negosyo Centers were established throughout the country’s MSMEs such
view of maximizing the private companies for the
as business registration
the country, translating to the delivery of more business centers’ delivery of services, centers’ subscription plans,
facilitation, business
assistance services for MSMEs. These includes business has partnered with other thus leveraging on advanced
consultancy, and business
registration facilitation, access to finance, business government agencies and network connectivity. This
information and advocacy.
information, as well as access to market linkages. the public sector in coming includes the following:
up with strategic projects. MyLegalWhiz, Quickbooks
The establishment and Online, Negosyo Center App,
49% of these or 388 Centers are located in the island of This includes the Department
operationalization of the and Microsoft/Office 365
Luzon, 23% or 188 Centers are in Visayas, and 28% or 213 of Information and
Negosyo Centers were Accounts.- Cheryl Marie C.
Centers are in Mindanao. Communications Technology
spearheaded by the DTI Cipriano
(DICT) and Department of
through the Regional
117 (82%) of the 143 cities have Negosyo Centers -- 87 out Science and Technology (DOST)
Operations Group (ROG),
of 105 component cities, 4 out of 5 independent cities, and for the government sector;
which thereafter created and
26 out of 33 Highly urbanized cities. There are no Negosyo Globe Mynt Fintech (MEPS
Centers yet in 1 special, 6 first class, 5 second class, 7 third
class, 6 fourth class, 2 sixth class and 1 unclassified cities in
the country. 582 (42%) of the 1,373 municipalities have Negosyo Centers -- 205 Centers are in 1st Class,
97 Centers are in 2nd Class, 111 Centers are in 3rd Class, 104 Centers are in 4th class, 63
are in 5th class, 2 are in 6th class municipalities.

Of the total number of Negosyo Centers, 691 centers are located at the Local Government
Units, 76 Centers are in DTI Offices, 12, 3 and 7 Centers in the Academe, NGOs, and Malls,
respectively. in terms of types of Centers, 162 are Full Service, 275 are Advanced, and 352
are Basic Centers. - Cheri Lou C. Marcelo
2
Bangon Marawi: Marawi Entrepreneurs
Receive Loan Assistance of P245K from SBC
At least 24 Maranao entrepreneurs
received assistance from the
Small Business Corporation (SB
Corp) in the form of the Pondo
sa Pagbabagao at Pag-asenso
(P3) loans to help bring back the
business environment in the war-
torn city.
SB Corp, the micro-financing arm
of the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI), released a total
of Php 245,000 to 24 borrowers
who were also recipients of DTI’s
business starter kits. Php 10,000
P3 loan package was also released
to 13 micro enterprises.
“DTI is bringing the government’s
P3 microfinancing program
closer to the entrepreneurs of
Marawi by helping them start and
rebuild their businesses. We are
committed in reviving the vibrant
business environment in the city,
especially for the Maranaos who
are well-known as traders,” said
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.
As part of Task Force Bangon
Marawi (TFBM), DTI, together
with other government agencies
comprising the
subcommittee on business
and livelihood (SC-BL), has
assisted affected Marawi
residents to bring back
business in the city.
DTI Undersecretary for
Regional Operations
Group Undersecretary
Zenaida Maglaya assured
that the agency has
been on the ground to
provide assistance to
affected Marawi internally
displaced persons (IDPs)
to hasten the recovery and
rehabilitation of the city.
“Together with member
agencies of the Task
Force Bangon Marawi
Subcommittee on Business
and Livelihood, we would
make sure that Marawi
City will quickly return to
normalcy upon the orders
of the President. We’re
bringing back business for
our brothers and sisters
who were greatly affected
by the war,” Maglaya said.
SB Corp has earmarked at least
1,000 Marawi entrepreneur-
beneficiaries who will receive loan
packages on the first quarter of
2018.
Maglaya added that more
entrepreneurs will be assisted by
the agency through loan packages
without interest.
The initial 37 borrowers were
recipients of DTI’s business starter
kit from DTI Lanao del Norte and
DTI Iligan City provincial offices.
Succeeding loans will be done
in cooperation with the local
government and the administrator
of the Marawi public market who
shall identify qualified market stall
owners as prospective borrowers.
Other micro enterprises who are
neither DTI starter kit recipients or
Marawi public market stall owners,
may apply for P3 loans from SB
Corp accredited conduits such as
Radiowealth Finance Company
Inc. (RFC) and CARD, Inc. who are
presently operating in the area.
The provision of starter kits is in
line with the order of Pres. Rodrigo
R. Duterte to provide livelihood to
IDPs from Marawi City and other
affected localities. This also
follows Administrative Order No.
03 of the President, mandating
the creation of an inter-agency
task force that will implement
the recovery, reconstruction, and
rehabilitation of Marawi City and
other affected localities, of which
providing business and livelihood
is crucial.
Member agencies of the
Subcommittee on Business and
Livelihood are the Department
of Agriculture (DA), Department
of Agrarian Reform (DAR),
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR),
Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE), Department
of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), Department of Science
and Technology (DOST), Mindanao
Development Authority (MinDA),
Office of the Presidential Adviser
on the Peace Process (OPAPP),
and Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA).
The P3 program for Marawi will
also provide credit risk support
to micro financing institutions
(MFIs) including rural banks who
want to start lending in the Lanao
del Sur area in exchange for their
timely and quick response. Loan
qualification criteria will be relaxed
to support gradual normalization
of MFI operations in Lanao del
Sur and nearby provinces where
the displaced micro enterprises
were temporarily relocated.
Interested microenterprise owners
may contact SB Corp P3 Marawi
coordinators at (088) 291-8033,
0975-906-2762, or 0916-662-
0488. - Jonno D. Bales
Over 150 Philippine
Mentors Join AMEN to Build
Up ASEAN MSMEs!
The Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI), has been
implementing the Kapatid Mentor
ME (KMME) program, in close
collaboration and partnership
with the Philippine Center for
Entrepreneurship (PCE) – Go
Negosyo in the 16 regions and
92 provinces of the country. The
program has already helped
micro, small and medium
enterprises (MSME) thru 121
batches of mentees, 2,663
graduate mentees, and 466
certified mentors nationwide.
On 12 November 2017, the ASEAN
Business Advisory Council, led by
its Chairman and Presidential
Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey
Concepcion, together with about
143 pioneer mentors across 10
member states of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) launched the largest
mentoring program in the ASEAN
region.
Dubbed as the ASEAN Mentorship
for Entrepreneurs Network
(AMEN), the program is a private-
public partnership platform for
ASEAN Member States (AMS)
intended to augment and actively
scale up the MSMEs through
mentorship and world-class
teaching modules. Entrepreneurs
will be given knowledge and tools
to penetrate global value chains.
About 48 Filipino entrepreneurs
were chosen to mentor MSMEs
in ASEAN. They include PA Joey
Concepcion, who is also the
founder of listed RFM Corporation,
Potato Corner President Jose
Magsaysay Jr., Credit Information
Corporation President Jaime
Garchitorena, and Tokyo Tempura
Chief Executive Officer Jorge
Wieneke. DTI-Bureau of Small and
Medium Enterprise Development
(BSMED) Director Jerry Clavesillas
was also chosen as one of the
pioneer mentors from the public
sector.
Mentorship is a way of educating
through intensive guidance in an
area that is of interest to both
the mentor and mentee. Mentors
are qualified volunteers who
are committed to share their
knowledge acquired through long
years of extensive business and
business related experiences.
Dir. Clavesillas said that it will be a
great step not only for the MSMEs
but also for the Philippines to lead
this big mentorship program in the
ASEAN region. “The MSMEs should
take advantage of this opportunity
that ABAC is providing them. Not
only the Philippines but the whole
ASEAN region, is now at their back
as they move up in life,” he added.
AMEN’s mentorship program
provides a platform to promote best
practices and maximize potentials
in the path towards inclusive growth
throughout the Member States.
It seeks to prepare the MSMEs
to face the growing challenges
in the business community and
to scale up their operations to
increase the production of their
goods and products through the
training modules provided in the
mentorship program.
Through AMEN, it is hoped that the
bloc would have an ASEAN Mentors
modules, an ASEAN certification
program for mentors, and an
ASEAN Mentors Academy by 2019.
- Marjorie Joyce C. Posas
 3

Negosyo Centers Fastrack Rewinding Shop Sees Business Expand

Drive to Get MSMEs to Sell After Availing
Online of P3 Loan
In this modern day and age, it has become essential for businesses to Delfin O. Bazarte was an OFW
have a level of online presence in order to be “searchable” on Google or for almost 15 years. He worked
other search engines and effectively promote their company, services, as a foreman in Saudi Arabia
and brand. from 2001-2007, and in Abu
Dhabi from 2007-2015. His
DTI and the Negosyo Centers continue to encourage their MSME clients primary driving force was the
to make their presence online. This can be through social media such welfare of his children, whom he
as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram; or through existing online buy-and- wanted to have a brighter future.
sell platforms and marketplaces such as OLX, Lazada, and Shopee. “I was focused on sending my six
Thanks to the various activities by the DTI regional and provincial offices children to school that all of my
which encourage their micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) earnings abroad were sent to my
to “be online”, many have taken the first step by creating their own family,” said Bazarte.
Facebook pages to promote their products, while some have even joined
a marketplace. There are even those who have opted to create their own Deciding to come home to the
websites and bought their own domains to further maximize their online Philippines for good, he decided to
presence. start his own business. When he
learned about the free trainings
Towards this end, DTI Region I’s NC Laoag City conducted an FB and services of the Negosyo
Registration activity for MSMEs for those who still have no Facebook Center, he eagerly availed of gain ideas on how to improve his and hot air machine for cellphone
accounts. They also facilitated a photo shoot for the MSMEs’ products so these trainings. He also attended business further. repairs.
that these could be featured online. DTI Region II took the initiative of seminars on Values Formation
Before, his gross income ranged
creating their own marketplace which featured SME products from their and Entrepreneurial Mind-setting Since he needed additional capital from Php 800.00 - Php 1, 000.00
region, cleverly dubbed inDOStriya.ph. Other regions held seminars on held at the NC-Malap to purchase equipment, he sought a day; but now, he is earning an
e-commerce and digital marketing to empower their MSMEs and take atan on December 8, 2016. the help of the center to help average of Php 2,000.00 - Php
advantage of the free digital platforms such as Facebook and Google him in applying for a loan. He 2,500.00 a day. Bazarte said that
My Business. A day after, on December 9, 2016, was then able to avail of a loan he is truly grateful to the Negosyo
he registered his business with amounting to Php 30,000.00 Center for all the help it extended
The ultimate goal for MSMEs to sell online is to have their own websites DTI. On January 2017, he opened from the Malapatan Multi-purpose to his business.
where customers can directly order and pay through a website or an his own service and repair shop at Cooperative, which is a conduit
application. DTI, through the NC PMU, is partnering with the private Purok Masbong, Brgy. Poblacion, partner of the Pondo sa Pagbabago Currently, he is planning to put
sector to assist MSMEs -- from getting their own websites to assisting Municipality of Malapatan, at Pag-asenso (P3) Program of up another branch at Brgy. Tuyan,
them with logistics and the delivery of their products. Once finalized, Sarangani. Thereafter, he the Small Business Corporation Malapatan, Sarangani, and is
these companies will be endorsed to the Negosyo Centers which will attended the seminar on Simple (SB Corp.), an attached agency of looking forward to expand his
then give their MSME clients a spread of companies that the latter can Bookkeeping, which taught him the DTI. From the proceeds, he business in other barangays soon.
use and turn to for their E-commerce needs. how to keep records of every purchased a rewinding machine, - Lovely Z. Ramos
financial transaction. Through compressor for aircon cleaning,
A total of 1,565 MSME’s were assisted by the Negosyo Centers to sell these seminars, he was able to
online by having online presence through social networking sites such
as Facebook, through marketplace platforms, or by having their own
businesses to greater heights.
websites. Region XII had the most MSMEs assisted, reporting having
assisted 238 MSME’s, most of whom are using Facebook as their
Indeed, the trainings and
platform. - Hannah D. Pabinguit
seminars conducted have
somehow addressed the main
concerns of the beneficiaries,

NC-Dulag Spearheads such that these will serve to

improve their operations and
lead to sustained growth.
BUB Implementation with NC-Dulag will continue to
serve existing and potential

Conduct of Capability- entrepreneurs in the municipality

as well as in neighboring
municipalities, beefed up by
building Activities the tagline, “Service Beyond
Expectation”. - Edwin H. Lotoc
Pursuant to RA No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act, Negosyo Center has
been established in selected municipalities and cities in the entire region.

Business Information and Advocacy is one of the three main services

of the Negosyo Center. With this, Negosyo Center Dulag tapped the
unused BUB fund given to the Municipality of Dulag amounting to Php
815,000.00 for the conduct of various activities in the LGU from June to
August 2017. These generated 569 participants coming from different
sectors in the community, especially the Business Sector. Then came the next step on helping
the Manufacturing Sector and
NC-Dulag shared responsibilities by inviting participants for each activity. businesses develop their outmost
Starting from Simplified Bookkeeping (2 days) composed of 130 local potentials with the seminar on
businessmen/women , followed by Packaging and Labeling (Peanut and “Proper Handling and Storage”.
Native) and anUpgrading Training on Coco Coir -- the former participated An estimated 60 business people
by existing peanut butter producers and the latter by the coco coir participated, all of whom gave
association of Rawis, Dulag with a total of 93 participants. their effort and time to learn.

Next were two (2) empowering seminars, “Pricing & Costing and Good Ending the note for the series
Manufacturing Practices” for the manufacturing sectors and other of trainings was the “Coco Coir
businesses to educate them with the right knowledge and tools for Training” for the Rawis, Dulag
developing what they already know about their business. This successfully Coco Coir association. This was
generated 190 participants who eagerly joined the learning sessions. composed of hundreds of coconut
farmers and Coco Coir producers
The Senior Citizen Association of the municipality was given the privilege who were granted of Coco Coir
to be trained on Candle Making. With the knowledge of their trainer facilities and machines for their
and the expertise they have developed, they can now start the candle processing. They expressed their
processing business that will generate additional jobs and more income gratitude for the opportunities
for themselves and family. that were given them to push their
4

SSF Program: Making the Country’s MSMEs More Competitive thru a

Shared System
The SSF Project, which started in 2013, is one of DTI’s strategies to
achieve inclusive growth and jobs generation. Specifically, it is aimed
at increasing the productivity and improving the competitiveness of
MSMEs by providing them with machinery, equipment, tools, systems,
accessories, and other auxiliary items under a shared system.

In the Philippines where the MSME sector accounts for 99.6% of the total
number of establishments, the SSF Summit served as one of the great
avenues to help entrepreneurs recognize their significant contributions in
entrepreneurial creativity and innovation.

“Within the four-year span of its implementation, we have already seen

how the SSF Project has made its way to the communities, boosted
the production capacities of MSMEs, and helped improve the lives of
many Filipino families,” said DTI Regional Operations Group (ROG)
Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya.

Highlighting the myriad challenges faced by the cooperators and

beneficiaries of the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) Project, the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Bureau of Small
and Medium Enterprises (BSMED) and the Regional/Provincial Offices,
successfully held the first National SSF Summit on 05 December 2017 at
the Philippine Trade Training Center, Pasay City.

It provided the more than 400 participants an opportunity to share their

experiences and learnings in managing the SSF and how the project is
continuously benefiting them.

One of the highlights of the Summit is the awarding ceremony which aims to
recognize the efforts of DTI Regional and Provincial staff in implementing
the SSF Project to empower the MSMEs in their communities.
Award categories include the Most IAS (Internal Audit Service) Compliant
Office, Best SSF Provincial Coordinators, Best SSF Logo with Tagline, and
the Best SSF Regional Documentary Presentation which aims to capture
the highlights of their SSF implementation.
DTI Region 3 (Central Luzon) headed by RD Judith Angeles bagged
the Most IAS Compliant Office. The Best SSF Regional Documentary
Presentation was awarded to the DTI Region XI (Southern Mindanao)
headed by RD Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi. DTI Region Xt (Northern Mindanao)
headed by RD Linda Boniao got the Best SSF Logo with Tagline. DTI also
identified the Best SSF Provincial Coordinators from each region.
With the theme, “Sharing Services, Facilitating Progress,” the Summit
showcased the collective efforts of entrepreneurs to become more than
just competitors. They have also transformed as co-operators working for
the greater good of the industry and community.
Through SSF, the MSMEs are able to leapfrog several steps in the product
development and execution stages, brought about by the shared service
facilities which they used for certain processes requiring equipment or
machinery.
Through FabLabs, MSMEs, aspiring entrepreneurs and students are provided with innovation, prototyping
technologies, and software for their products and design.
Currently, there are 12 FabLabs in the country operated by schools, institutions, or centers. The Fablabs are
located and cooperated by the Bohol State University (Bohol); Philippine Science Highschool Central Luzon
Angeles City, Pampanga; Local Government Unit in Santiago City, Isabela; Don Honorio Ventura Technological
State University in Bacolor, Pampanga; Philippine Science Highschool – Ilocos Region Campus San Ildefonso,
Ilocos Sur; University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu City; Bicol University, Legaspi City Albay; Mindanao State
University – Iligan Institute of Technology Iligan City; Philippine Footwear Federation, Inc. Marikina City;
University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, Diliman, Quezon City; Zamboanga Polytechnic College; and,
Mindanao Trade Expo Foundation, Davao City.
As the backbone of Philippine economic growth, MSMEs have since become a major priority of Pres.
Rodrigo R. Duterte, with DTI placing the sector’s development at the front and center of its Employment and
Entrepreneurship (Trabaho at Negosyo) agenda.
The SSF Program is part of the Philippine MSME Development Plan to encourage the graduation of MSMEs
to the next level where they could tap a better and wider market share and be integrated in the global supply
chain.
“We will continue to push significant interventions to support the growth of MSMEs and build a climate conducive
to business and innovation. We will continue to provide the necessary services to help entrepreneurs thrive and
even expand their businesses in an increasingly competitive market. We will continue to implement,” Maglaya
said. -- Marjorie Joyce C. Posas

More Shared Service Facilities to be Given Out to MSMEs

The DTI will continue to provide equipment sharing facilities for MSMEs
as part of the agency’s drive to contribute in the administration’s Trabaho
at Negosyo agenda.

“For us to contribute in providing jobs, encourage Filipinos to do business,

and spur economic activity in the countryside, we will provide more
Shared Service Facilities (SSFs) to help MSMEs produce fast and efficient
products that are proudly Filipino made and of export quality,” Maglaya
said during the SSF Summit on December 05, 2017.

With access to better technology and more sophisticated equipment,

MSMEs will have higher productivity, better and efficient products,
higher levels of innovation and creativity, and improved market access to
address the gaps and bottlenecks they will face in the global value chain.
This also increases capabilities of both manufacturing and agriculture-
based MSMEs to enable them to develop capacity and a culture of quality.

As of October 31, 2017, DTI has provided MSMEs throughout the country
with 2,222 SSFs worth P1.188 billion , benefitting 215,628 existing and
potential MSMEs and providing 111,747 jobs to Filipinos. SSF beneficiaries
include cooperatives, associations, or groups of MSMEs including MSMEs
or individual entrepreneurs.

Also under the SSF Project, DTI has established Fabrication Laboratories
(FabLabs) throughout the country which aim to enhance the core
competencies of existing manufacturers and emerging entrepreneurs
in digitally-enabled manufacturing workflows guided by art and design
principles.
 5

91 SBCC TRAININGS CONDUCTED FOR 2017

Business Counsellors have always been at the forefront of DTI’s Negosyo Centers. As such, they are continuously
being trained to be competent and experts on their field, thus adequately deliver their services. To this end, they
are required to undergo extensive trainings, specifically on Small Business Counsellors Course (SBCC), which
have the following courses:

SBCC 101-Diagnosing an Enterprise; SBCC 102-Business Environment; SBCC 103-Strategic Marketing; SBCC
104-Operations Management; SBCC 105-Financial Management,; and, SBCC 106-Investment Promotion.
Each of the SBCC course has an estimated duration of 4 days except for SBCC 106, with the ideal number of
participants ranging from 25-30 per module. These trainings aim to equip the Business Counsellors with the
required competence to provide technical assistance to the clients.

As of December 31, 2017, there are 52 SBCC 101 trainings conducted, participated by 1,613 Negosyo Center Over P600M Worth of
staff. These trainings introduce Business Counsellors to the different principles and methods used to diagnose
the viability, productivity, profitability, and sustainability of an enterprise. Of these, 375 are hired business
counsellors who are assigned at the DTI Offices (109), at the LGUs (247), Academe (17), and at the Malls (2).
Loans Availed by MSMEs
Nationwide
Thru the direct intervention of the Negosyo Centers, a total of 5,662
MSMEs have availed of loans amounting to Php 603,852,294.91 from
different financing institutions in the country. The number of access-
to-finance (A2F) related services rendered to MSMEs has thus reached
11,396 while the number of loan applications endorsed to partner FIs/
GFIs has reatched 7,585.

The financial institutions that offered loans to MSMEs include the

following :

A total of 777 Business Counsellors underwent the SBCC Trainings as of December 31, 2017. The most number
of Business Counsellors were assigned at the LGU, accounting for 53%, next were Business Counsellors at DTI
Offices (44%), and lastly 3% at the Academe.

Other than the SBCC Trainings, the regions have conducted related trainings involving business facilitation to
further help the Negosyo Centers’ MSME clients such as Frontline Service Management and Negotiation Skills
Training and Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) Modules. - Amanda C. Cutaran

BEST PRACTICE (NC PMU)

NC PMU Goes Paperless • Department of Labor and Employment - ECC (DOLE-ECC)

The Negosyo Center Program
Management Unit’s (NC PMU)
has adopted as a best practice
the paperless system in all of its
operations. This involves avoiding
the printing of office documents
unless a hardcopy or a signature is
required.
The office has maximized the use
of the Internet and the Microsoft
Office 365 online platform
which provide all the necessary
software that NC-PMU requires for
its operations. Office apps such
as Excel, Word, and SharePoint
are being used on a daily basis.
Consolidation of all the Negosyo
Centers’ reports is done completely
online, relying on a steady internet
connectivity and the office servers’
maintenance on Microsoft’s end,
whenever appropriate, important
documents and communications
are sent directly via e-mail.
This saves time and money as
replies are more instant and
communication becomes efficient.
Monitoring of all the 789 Negosyo
Centers’ reports on the Negosyo
Center Monitoring System (NCMS)
is done online with the use of Office
365’s SharePoint, dubbed the • Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
Negosyo Center “Portal”. Updating
• Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
and monitoring of reports are also
done instantly and in real-time. • FUSE Lending, Inc.
• Land Bank of the Philippines
ARD / Program Manager Dorecita
T. Delima explained, “All these • Mediatrix Multi-Purpose Coop.
enable the NC PMU to save on time
• MSU IIT Coop.
and resources, while effecting
important improvements that • Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3)
impact positively on the delivery
• Radiowealth Financing Corporation (RFC)
of its services; thereby, contribute
to the smooth flow of program • Small Business Corporation (SB Corp)
operations” - Hannah D. Pabinguit
-Cheri Lou C. Marcelo
 9

BEST PRACTICE (Region IV-A)

BEAMS of Light in CALABARZON

As an agency
p r o m o t i n g
In 2016, a Public Private Partnership was formed between DTI and the innovative, inclusive,
Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE). As an offshoot of such job-generating
partnership, the Kapatid Mentor ME Program (KMME) was launched. It and globally-
is a program designed to produce confident entrepreneurs with the right competitive micro,
mindset and business know-how that will enable them to sustain and small and medium
scale-up their businesses. enterprises (MSMEs)
in the country, the
The KMME pilot and roll out runs were conducted in 2016 in selected Department of
regions and the full implementation nationwide was achieved in 2017. Trade and Industry
As a result of the 2016 and 2017 runs, to date, the program has been has envisioned to
able to reach a total of 92 cities and provinces in 16 regions and provide Filipinos
assisted 19,853 MSMEs, as well as graduated a total of 2,663 mentees. with employment
and income
opportunities.

The CALABARZON
region, coming
in second to NCR
with predominant
number of MSMEs,
has come up
with the Building
Entrepreneurs
through Advisory
and Mentoring Services (BEAMS)
to assist these businesses with
various concerns to be able to fully
reach their potential.
Under the Go Negosyo Act,
the establishment of Negosyo
Note: The number of Certified Mentors is still subject for validation with PCE and DTI
Regional Offices. Centers in the various cities and
municipalities is necessary to
provide business advisory services
The search for the 2018 mentees is on – to those who are interested, to assist the MSMEs improve and
they may reach out to their respective DTI Offices in Metro Manila and sustain their business operations.
all provinces nationwide for more information and inquiries on the The BEAMS project, essentially
program. lodged in NC, was equipped with
a complete pool of volunteer
More competent MSMEs mean more jobs for the Filipino people! More mentors with various expertise,
jobs mean a more progressive Philippines! - Marie Loraine G. Ayson / who can be tapped for the various
Ma. Isabel M. Caguioa NC functions.
The BEAMS concept is rooted in
the “bayanihan” spirit of Filipinos,
referring to the spirit of communal
unity, work and cooperation to
achieve a particular goal under
a big-small brother handholding
and mentoring concept. With the
proliferation of NCs throughout
CALABARZON, mentors are tapped
to man the coaching desks on
various topics like entrepreneurial
mindset, taxation, and
development and improvement
of business improvement plan
preparation, among others.
They have also been recoursed
to as resource speakers for the
SME Roving Academy (SMERA),
Livelihood Seeding Program
(LSP), and the Kapatid Mentor
Me (KMMe), as well as other NC
business operation/development
trainings.
These volunteer mentors have
also been commissioned to assist
towards the full operationalization
of the Shared Service Facilities
(SSFs) where they would mentor
problematic SSFs and help them
fully maximize the use of their
facilities, and in turn help the region
reach 100% operationalization of
the project.
The strength of the BEAMS thus
lies in the fact that its competent
mentors can help MSMEs and SSFs
in improving their operations by
providing the needed area-specific
and firm-level assistance. - Nicola
Teresa Y. Salgado

BEST PRACTICE (Region VII) DTI Builds Brand Equity for

NC-Tagbilaran Helps Turn Trash to Cash
The KALIPI (Kalipunan Ng Mga
Liping Pilipina) Tagbilaran City
Chapter, one of the women’s
organizations under the City
Social Welfare and Development
Office (CSWDO) that aims to
catalyze women development
and empowerment issues by
harnessing their strengths and
developing their full potentials, was
chosen as a beneficiary of TAGBTIC
(Tagbilaran Technology and
Innovations Center) to help create
inclusive business opportunities
and provide livelihood for the local
communities.
KALIPI is engaged in the
fabrication of waste plastic bags
to a new material called waste
plastic sheets. This new material
is reinvented into different
textures and thickness. It can be
transformed into variable patterns
and designs with numerous
uses such as for souvenirs and
fashion accessories. It also has
applications in the homestyle and
furnishings sectors.
Through the combined effort
of DTI Bohol, JICA, Fablab
Bohol and City Government of
Tagbilaran, an upcycling facility
TAGBTIC (Tagbilaran Technology
and Innovations Center) was
established in the area. The facility
has a heatpress machine which
can manipulate waste plastic into
new material, providing possible
solutions to the garbage problem,
such as the conversion of wastes
into new materials or products with
environmental value.
Negosyo Center - Tagbilaran, Bohol,
through its Business Counsellor
and Graphic Designer, Tamara
Ansley Raut, prime-moved the use
of upcycled waste plastic bags as a
cover for their 2018 Diary. In doing
so, the center is leading the way for
other centers to follow in the area
of environmental conservation -
by using upcycled materials in its
operation.
The Cebu supplier tapped to
produce the diary has also received
queries from both government and
private sector regarding the use of
this upcycled material. - Claire C
Sevilla
MSMEs thru BrEDP
Recognizing the importance
of branding and brand equity
development in increasing the
competitiveness of the Philippine
MSME sector in the regional and
international markets, and in
reducing poverty and increasing
prosperity, the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI) has developed
the Brand Equity Development
Program (BrEDP).
BrEDP intends to develop innovative
and globally competitive brands
that can successfully penetrate
into the national, regional, or
international markets.
Through the Bureau of Small and
Medium Enterprise Development
(BSMED), the DTI Regional and
Provincial Offices have successfully
conducted various brand equity
awareness workshops, benefitting
MSMEs throughout the country.
“Increasing brand awareness and
creating the right brand image
will help the MSMEs better widen
their domestic and international
markets and become familiar with
the local and global marketing
trends and practices,” said DTI-
BSMED Director Jerry Clavesillas.
DTI has successfully conducted
various workshops in 16 regions
which discussed key concepts
of branding and marketing, new
trends and basic principles of
brand development, and a one-on-
one cliniquing with MSMEs.
The overall goal of the BrEDP
program is to increase awareness
and identity at least one brand
per province, per year over the
six years of implementation from
2017 to 2022. It seeks to enhance
branding capacities of MSMEs
through DTI’s identified set of
interventions, register the brands
with the Intellectual Property of
the Philippines (IPO), improve
packaging and labelling, and
launch the brands for massive
promotion. - Marjorie Joyce C.
Posas
10
FRIDAY JAM: Putting the Fun into Learning
for ZSP Business Counsellors
Friday Jam with the
Business Counsellors is
a mentoring innovation
introduced by no less
than the DTI IX’s RFP --
Engr. Al-Zamir I. Lipae,
who is a mentor/
coach himself. The
entry of eleven (11) NC
Business Counselors
in Zamboanga
Sibugay who possess
diverse experiences
and educational
backgrounds prompted
DTI ZSP to gather them
on a Friday for two
reasons: one for the
conduct of a regular
meeting, and the other
for their continuing
learning sessions
through mentoring,
also known as the
Friday Jam with the
BCs.
Friday Jam commences on a
Friday afternoon where NC BCs
are given their assigned topics
a week ahead. These topics are
taken from the SMERA/RIPPLES
stages of trainings. They are given
15-20 minutes to present their
assigned topics to the PO Staff at
the Ipil Negosyo Center which is
lodged at the DTI ZSP Provincial
Office. The PO staff who will serve
as mentors/critics will be asked
to comment on the performance
of the NC BCs (presenters).
Comments/commendations range
from the presenter’s delivery,
presentation materials, grammar/
DTI Staff Undergo Green Growth Training
for Mainstreaming to MSMEs
The Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI), through the Bureau
of Small and Medium Enterprise
Development (BSMED) and in
partnership with the Global Green
Growth Institute (GGGI), has
successfully held the training on
Mainstreaming Green Growth of
the MSMEs at the Local Level on 16
November 2017 at the Richmonde
Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
This is part of the National Economic
and Development Authority (NEDA)
project on Mainstreaming Green
Growth in Development Planning
(MGDDP) with the GGGI of the
Republic of Korea which seeks
to promote climate resilience
and inclusive growth through the
institutionalization of green growth
tools and guidelines in the national
and local development planning
processes of the country.
With DTI as pilot National
Government Agency (NGA), the
training was attended by the
planning officers and concerned
staff of DTI-BSMED and DTI
BEST PRACTICE (Region IX)
pronunciation, use of real
life examples, among others.
As a result, the practice yielded
noteworthy milestones. One, basic
tips in conducting training in their
respective NCs are now integrated
in their system as it calls for
them to adjust their presentation
based on their participants’ profile
and need. Two, the tapping of
resource persons from among the
regular staff and other agencies
is minimized since the business
counsellors are now able to handle
simple trainings for their MSMEs
and other clientele. And lastly,
budgetary requirement for regular
staff travel and/or other agencies’
staff honoraria is also minimized.
Regions 3, 4A, 4B, and NCR. It
seeks to enhance the knowledge
and understanding of DTI staff on
green growth planning to aid them
in promoting the mainstreaming
of green growth in local MSME
development planning.
“The concepts and practices
of green growth will be best
understood by our MSMEs if we
understood it first so this training
is very useful for us to better
understand how to mainstream
green growth in MSME development
planning and strategies,” said DTI-
BSMED Director Jerry Clavesillas.
The training session focused
on increasing the appreciation
of green growth concepts and
principles, acquiring broader
knowledge of selected international
and local green growth practices
and experiences, reviewing the
existing MSME development
planning guidelines and identifying
applicable green growth data and
indicators, and enhancing the
understanding of selected green
growth tools and methodologies
With their SBCCs, supplemented
by this practice, the business
counsellors have now become
not just Training Coordinators but
also Trainers/Resource Persons
themselves. Apart from delivering
the NC programs and services,
they can now handle both on-site
and off-site NC trainings, lectures,
and/or orientations to various
stakeholders -- LGUs, NGAs,
CSOs/POs and MSMEs. - Patrick
Dalid
that support an evidence-based
development planning and
monitoring and evaluation of the
MSMED Plan and/or strategies.
This is part of the capacity building
approaches of GGGI to assess
the gains, identify the gaps, and
recommend actions to further
implement the “Pilot-Testing of
the Green Growth Toolkit” that will
commence in 2018.
GGGI is an international
organization committed to
strong, inclusive green growth.
It was established by treaty in
June 2012 at the United Nations
Rio+20 Conference by an initial
group of 18 nations including
the Philippines who share the
organization’s vision. To date, a
total of 26 Member Countries
have joined the organization. -
Marjorie Joyce C. Posas
Sweet Success Comes thru
Gensan’s Many-flavored
Empanadas
Through sheer hard work and
determination, Khristine S.
Obasa has turned her humble
empanadas into a viable business
venture.
In 2010, Khristine Obasa started
her business, Hotpockets Food
Station, which initially produced
cakes, pastries, and other
Filipino delicacies. Upon seeing
the increasing demand for her
empanadas, she then decided
to focus on empanadas, which
proved to be the turning point of
her enterprise. Her empanadas
come in different flavors -- cheese,
chocolate, buko, and vegetable.
Along with positive feedback from
her customers, she put up a cart at
the General Santos City National
High School, Calumpang, General
Santos City, where her product
sold like hotcakes.
Eager to learn more to grow her
business, she went to Negosyo
Center-General Santos City where
she availed of free trainings
and business assistance. Her
breakthrough as an entrepreneur
came when she was endorsed
by the the center as one of the
Kapatid Mentor ME mentees on
April 2017.
“Sa Kapatid Mentor ME, madami
akong natutunan tulad ng pag-
handle ng mga employees, paano
ang tamang pag-market at pag-
presyo ng produkto, at ano ang
iba’t ibang taxes sa negosyo,”
said Obasa.
KMME gave her the push to grow
her business and gain more
customers in the process. “I
gained more confidence as an
entrepreneur since I learned the
ins and outs of business,” she said.
Obasa also participated in a
Market Matching activity wherein
her product, Longtaw Empanada,
was matched with institutional
markets like hotels and Farmer’s
Market. Her entry as a supplier to
major hotels, schools and regular
customers has made a significant
result to her business -- from a
monthly gross income of Php
100,000, she now has an income
of about Php 200,000 per month.
She was also able to participate
in various DTI-initiated trade fairs,
Yaman Gensan, and the WOFEX
Learning Mission. In the WOFEX
Mission, she learned about the
different processing and packaging
techniques; and currently, she is
processing her License To Operate
from FDA and other government
permits.
Aside from that, she has
applied her learnings in product
development from KMME, and is
currently applying for an IPO for her
product’s brand name- Longtaw
Empanada- through the IPO’s Juana
Makes a Mark incentive package.
In addition, she is undergoing a
packaging development activity
under the DTI’s OTOP Program.
With a growing income and
ongoing business development
plans, Obasa’s Hotpockets Food
Station, with the brand name
Longtaw Empanada, has already
started to make her mark in the
food industry. - Sharon Faith B.
Medecilo / Katrina G. Coloso
 11

BEST PRACTICE (Region V)

BEST PRACTICE (Region V) BEST PRACTICE (Region XII)

The Buddy-Buddy System for Business SOCCSKSARGEN NCs Go to

Counselors in Albay the Barangays
The opening up of eleven (11) Negosyo Centers in
the province of Albay as mandated by Republic Act
10644 otherwise known as “the Go Negosyo Act”,
created new challenges of getting new hires and
preparing them for frontline services as Business
Counselors. Mostly young and inexperience, these
young counselors have been trained on various
Small Business Consultancy Courses and other
capacity building activities. The final phase is putting
them in the actual job; providing a total package of
services to businesses and aspiring ones.

Equipped with the recent trainings on business

consultancy and past exposures, business
counselors are immersed on real job at their
respective Negosyo Centers. They are not on their
own yet, not until they gain the confidence of real business counselors. This is the role played by DTI Albay
Staff to these new force; train, couch and mentor them
on one-on-one basis. Hence, the Buddy-Buddy System
of capacitating Negosyo Center Business Counselors
was conceptualized, ultimately to provide quality
service to clients.

The success of this system is the key in providing DTI

services down to the LGU level. Negosyo Center is in its
infant stage, yet has successfully delivered its mandate:
Promote and develop MSMEs in the countryside!

Below are some of the successful activities conducted

through such system. - Elmer M. Aguilar

Shanelle’s Bakeshop: Mastering the Art of

Innovation
Shanelle’s Bakeshop first started
as a small bakery in 2012 in Lapu-
Lapu City, Cebu owned by Regel DTI Region 12 launched its first Barangay (NCGB) is a half-day
Zamora and his wife. The name for Negosyo Center on May 2015, caravan per barangay that aims
the bakeshop was taken after his and since then, has made its to develop new entrepreneurs and
daughter’s name, who was born presence felt to the local MSMEs. nurture existing ones. The event is
on the same year. The owner, who However, it has been observed festive in nature, wherein people
has been exposed to baking since that majority of these clients are gathered in one big venue,
his early childhood decided to put come from the urban barangays such as the barangay gymnasium,
up the business with the idea of located within the 15-kilometer and are given the opportunity to
serving the people distinctively radius of the centers. Thus comes personally experience the services
delicious, freshly-baked, high the challenge to reach MSMEs of the center; and at the same time,
quality breads. from the farthest barangays, get inspiration from the success
especially the existing and stories of partner MSMEs/mentors
After two years of staying in Cebu, potential microentrepreneurs. who share their experiences during
Regel decided to move to Leyte Negosyo tCenter-Gensan took the plenary or promote their
and opened his bakeshop in Palo upon itself the task of meeting products at the Mini Trade Fair.
and Alangalang. According to him, this challenge, and in 2016,
Shanelle’s Bakeshop continues conceptualized the project, NCGB is specifically designed to
to thrive because of its innovate “Negosyo Center Goes to the provide potential and existing
products and warm customer Barangay”, which enabled the entrepreneurs with the right
service. center to penetrate the far reaches entrepreneurial mindset and
of the city’s 26 barangays, thus attitude to establish and grow their
Shanelle’s Bakeshop encountered delivering the center’s services to businesses; to increase awareness
many difficulties along the way. these MSMEs. of MSMEs on government business
This included managing the and licensing requirements; to
people, monitoring the business Having seen the productive educate the public on the salient
operation, expanding the market, results of the activity, the concept features of RA No. 10644 or the “Go
as well as maintaining quality was adopted region-wide and Negosyo Act”; to promote locally
control. All these have made it was conducted across all of the manufactured/processed products
and mentoring/coaching sessions consisting of ten (10) modules for
urgent for Regel to look for ways region’s four provinces and two made by local processors through
twelve (12) weeks. As a result, Regel was able to get the picture of how
that will enhance his knowledge cities For the Year 2017, R12 a Mini Trade Fair; to make local
his business is doing, and the things he needs to do to realize what he
and help him improve his business. Negosyo Centers have reached a micro-financing more accessible
wants to happen for his business.
Through the Negosyo Center total of 104 barangays, conducted and available to barangay-based
Alangalang, Regel was able to 128 entrepreneurial and skills MSMEs through the participation of
NC-Alangalang has helped Regel keep track of his business using the
enroll in the Kapatid Mentor trainings, serving around 8,247 partner Microfinance Institutions;
learnings he has acquired -- from making his Business Model Canvass
Me (KMME) program last April potential and existing MSME and, to develop Cottage Industries
down to his Financial Management. He was also able to join a trade fair
2017. It enabled him to scale up clients. Around 659 informal at the Barangay-level through the
during the 1st Leyte Negosyo Center Caravan 2017 in Baybay City. He
and sustain their operations by businesses were also encouraged provision of Technology Transfer/
now has two (2) additional branches in Baybay City.
equipping them with the needed to register their Business Names. Skills Enhancement Trainings.
- Daisyre S. Ayo
skill sets through theoretical/ -Sharon Faith B. Medecilo
conceptual discussions (lectures) Negosyo Center Goes to the
12

Over 12,000 BMBEs Nationwide Negosyo Center Goes from

Registered for 2017! Strength to Strength thru
A total of 12,197 its IT-enabled Network
BMBEs were registered
in 2017 through the
assistance of the
Backbone
Negosyo Centers in
various parts of the
country. This was
made possible through
the continued efforts
of DTI and the Negosyo
Centers to raise
awareness amongst
their MSME clients
about the incentives
made available under
Republic Act No. 9178
or the BMBE Law.

In terms of having
the highest number
of BMBEs registered,
Region III had the
highest number,
reaching 2,466 or a 20% share of the national total. The National Capital Region (NCR) came in second with
2,216 BMBEs registered or 18% of the total, while Region IV-A came in third with 1,526 BMBEs or a share
of 13%.

As of date, a total of 178 Negosyo Centers nationwide can process BMBE registrations on site, while the other Information technology serves as
563 centers get support from the different DTI Provincial Offices in processing BMBE registrations. The other the backbone in the operations
remaining centers only provide relevant information. - Lovely Joy Chan of 789 Negosyo Centers now
established nationwide, as
seen in the widespread use
of computers, the internet,
NC PMU Provides Online Platforms to telecommunications systems,
and various software. This highly
cloud services. They adapted the
use of Office 365’s cloud storage
services, specifically SharePoint,
which serves as a repository of data
of information and references.
“Negosyo Centers and their staff
are provided with their own Office

Business Counsellors advanced level of connectivity

QuickBooks is an accounting
software developed designed
mainly for small and medium-
sized businesses (SMEs). The
software accepts business
payments, manages and pays bills,
and has payroll functions to ease
bookkeeping. QuickBooks Online
is the cloud-based version that is
accessible online through almost
any device.
Seventy (70) of such accounts were
provided to the Negosyo Centers so
that business counselors may use
it to help micro small and medium
enterprise if they are in need of
assistance in bookkeeping and
accounting. A walkthrough seminar
on the platform was hosted by the
service provider on November 29,
2017 during the Negosyo Center
Year End Cum Planning Workshop.
The training covered topics such
as accessing the accounts, setting
up the companies, tax rates or
multi-currency, creation of charts
of accounts, and how to track
expenses and organization of bills.
It was followed up by a hands-on
activity that tested the trainees on
what they had newly learned that
day. This same activity was given
to the business counselors so
they could train their clients in the
platform as well.
has enabled the Negosyo Center
Program Management Unit (NC
PMU) and all the Negosyo Centers
scattered across the country, to
manage, store, communicate, and
transmit data and information
conveniently and effectively
across regions. In the past, work
had to be done manually, resulting
to a slower and more tedious
process. Physical paper files
have turned digital to save space
and trees. They are now stored
in computers and in the cloud,
and are accessible to the user at
all times, anytime. Created to
assist existing businessmen and
potential entrepreneurs, Negosyo
Centers provide the much-needed
services to jumpstart or expand
their business.
Negosyo Centers have acquired
600 Microsoft (MS) Office 365
accounts with the domain:
negosyocenter.gov.ph, a the SharePoint site. - Hannah D.
subscription plan that can access
Office applications and other
through the Internet. It’s an online library that covers many legal topics
productivity services over their
with tons of references and information. Users may find previous cases
and references to Philippine Civil Codes.
The app also has forms that you can use to draw up contracts, agreements,
and other legal documents you may need. Business counselors in the
Negosyo Centers have been given access to this platform to add it
as a bonus service to their MSME clients when they need some legal
consulting or need to draft contracts.
In 2017, the CARAGA region had made use of the platform the most
with a total of 371 activities. -Hannah D. Pabuinguit
365 email addresses/accounts.
It allows them to access the
Office 365 suite and exchange
emails. The procurement of these
accounts is one of the many ways
to promote ease of doing business
for MSMEs through the help of
technology” per ARD Delima, the
Negosyo Center Program Manager.
The Negosyo Center Portal has two
micro sites: the Negosyo Center
and Strategic Initiatives. This
databank supports the operations
of the 789 Negosyo Centers
nationwide which can now be
accessed online, serving as the
repository of data or information
on the various NC Program’s
projects, reports, and references.
It is so organized to facilitate local
or remote information retrieval
by the DTI and Negosyo Center
staff/Business Counsellors and
visitors who will be given access
based on their permissions for
Pabuinguit

DTI and Negosyo Centers all over

the country have access to the
MyLegalWhiz platform which
can be used for research and
consulting work. It is online and
cloud-based, meaning you can
access it anywhere at any time