MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) intends to establish more facilities across the country this year that would benefit cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. said the agency is intensifying efforts for shared service facilities (SSF) development with plans of putting up at least 400 SSFs this year.
“These initiatives are geared toward identifying and addressing supply chain gaps. By providing technical and institutional capacity building to MSMEs nationwide, we sustain the gains we have achieved in recent years to increase competitiveness and enable our entrepreneurs to access regional and global markets,” Cristobal said.
According to the DTI, SSFs improve competitiveness of MSMEs by providing machinery, equipment, tools, systems, skills and knowledge under a shared system.
“These SSFs, located nationwide, aim to improve the quality of products and productivity of entrepreneurs,” the agency said.
DTI partners with various government agencies, non government and international organizations, cooperatives, and local government units to acquire and maintain SSFs.
Since the SSF program started in 2013, there are currently 1,702 SSF projects in the country worth P776.53 million.
Aside from the establishment of more SSFs, the DTI said it continues to promote MSME development through the expansion of Negosyo Centers.
DTI last week launched its fifth Negosyo Center in Metro Manila located at the Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo.
The new Negosyo Center is In partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and property giant Megaworld Corp.
Negosyo Centers serve as a one-stop shop for MSMEs by providing business name registration and business advisory services, and business information and advocacy.
“With the Negosyo Centers, more MSMEs and entrepreneurs are connected with the government through services and eventually opening doors for them to the mainstream market, helping MSMEs widen their reach,” DTI said.
Since the signing of Republic Act 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act in 2014, the DTI already opened 155 Negosyo Centers across the country to date.
The DTI said it would launch 144 more Negosyo Centers this year.