DTI encourages small entrepreneurs to visit Negosyo Centers

People who are planning to start or expand a micro, small or medium enterprise may visit and Negosyo Centers nationwide and seek assistance, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Wednesday.

There are 1,071 Negosyo Centers across the country, Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said during an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

“Ito po ay puntahan ng mga gustong magtayo ng negosyo, malaman kung anong proseso, what are the licenses required, papaano maguumpisa ng negosyo. Kung may negosyo man, paano palalaguin ang negosyo,” Maglaya said.

“Tuturuan sila kung paano palalaguin … May merkado ba ‘yung kanilang produkto? Paano ba maiimprove ‘yung kanilang produkto?” she added.

Small businesses in need of office space may also use the Negosyo Centers near them. These are open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Maglaya noted.  

The DTI could link small entrepreneurs to establishments where they could file loan applications for business expansion.

She noted the low-cost lending Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program was launched in 2017 to curb the usurious 5-6 lending scheme.

Qualified beneficiaries with existing businesses may borrow from P5,000 to P200,000, with a monthly interest rate of of 2.5 percent.

Interested businesses may call the DTI hotline at 751-3330 to locate a Negosyo Center in their area. —Dona Marsino/VDS, GMA News