1. What are Negosyo Centers?
To be established under the supervision of DTI and the MSMED Council, Negosyo Centers are convergence points for the DTI, LGUs, and the private sector to (1) promote ease of doing business, and (2) ensure access to services for MSMEs within its jurisdiction.
The Go Negosyo Law or RA10644 mandates the creation of a Negosyo Center in all provinces, cities, and municipalities. The MSMED Council shall approve a multi-phase plan to roll out Negosyo Centers in all of these localities.
2. What are the different roles that DTI,LGUs, and the private sector will play?
DTI shall be the lead implementing agency for the establishment, management, and personnel assignments of Negosyo Centers.
Meanwhile, the law mandates that LGUs coordinate with the local DTI in the processing of different permits and licenses, and for other business development services to support MSMEs.
The private sector, especially the business community and the academe, is encouraged to coordinate with DTI to support the delivery of services.
3. What are the services offered by the Negosyo Centers?
DTI organized the functions mandated in Section 4 of RA10644 into four different categories of services that should be available in all Negosyo Centers:
Business Registration (functions c, d, e, and g in RA10644)
Facilitate business registration through the Philippine Business Registry including those for (1) Barangay Micro Business Enterprise registration, (2) Business Name registration, (3) Business Permit Registration; with the goal of also processing other permits and licenses businesses need to acquire.
Business Advisory Services (functions b, k, n, o, h, j, and s)
Provide free one-on-one advisory services to MSMEs tailored according to their needs including access to financing, market promotion, training and mentorship, and other business development services, investment facilitation, financial management.
Business Information and Advocacy (functions p, q, a, i, l, and m)
Provide access to information on markets, suppliers, buyers, government assistance programs, and other relevant information.
Monitoring and Evaluation (functions f, and r)
Track the progress of MSMEs and their development.
4. What should one see inside a Negosyo Center?
DTI has identified four types of Negosyo Centers with corresponding facility and personnel requirements:
Model A: A facility ideal for provinces, cities, and first-class municipalities with 3 to 5 business counselors plus support staff. Facility includes a reception area (receiving counter, PBR kiosk, computers, lounge, and library), consultation and meeting room, working area, and a training room.
Model B: A facility ideal for second-class municipalities with 2 to 3 business counselors plus support staff. Facility includes a reception area, consultation and meeting room, and working area.
Model C: A facility ideal for third- to fourth-class municipalities with 2 business counselors plus support staff. Facility includes reception area and 3 desks.
Model D: A facility ideal for fifth to sixth class municipalities with 1 desk officer.
LGUs and the private sector are encouraged to assign personnel to support the Negosyo Centers. They are also allowed to host the facility should they have available space that is accessible to more entrepreneurs.
5. What services are NOT offered by a Negosyo Center?
The Negosyo Centers do not provide any form of capital or financing, including those in the form of grants, equity, or loan financing. However, they are expected to help MSMEs get access to financial service providers relevant to their needs.
It also does not provide manpower pooling or deployment services as it caters to entrepreneurs and not job seekers.
6. What are the steps to take in establishing a Negosyo Center in my area?
Leaders from the local DTI office, the LGU, the business community, the academe, the financial services sector and the rest of the private sector can come together in a stakeholders meeting to secure everyone’s commitment. They then identify each of their roles and responsibilities and articulate these in a memorandum of agreement. A commitment ceremony may be held to rally the general public towards their Negosyo Center

Launch Event. Representatives are then invited to a Learning Workshop where they can dive deeper into the operational details of managing and sustaining an effective Negosyo Center.
7. What if an LGU has something similar already?
We can encourage the LGU to upgrade their existing business development center into a Negosyo Center that is strongly linked to DTI and other partners so that it can offer a wider range of services.
8. How are Negosyo Centers funded?
For 2015, Negosyo Centers are funded through the budget of DTI. LGUs are encouraged to support their own Center by allocating their own manpower and financial resources as well.