DTI Eastern Visayas launches 16 business centers

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 8 (PNA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched 16 Negosyo Centers from January to November this year with two more facilities up for opening this month.

Business centers are scheduled for opening before the year ends in Tacloban and Ormoc City, bringing the total to 18 operating centers in Eastern Visayas.

In the past 11 months, the trade department has opened Negosyo Centers in Borongan City and Guiuan in Eastern Samar; Catbalogan City and Calbayog City in Samar; Laoang, Northern Samar; Maasin City in Southern Leyte; Palo, Tanauan, Abuyog, Baybay, Hilongos, San Isidro, Palompon, and Carigara in Leyte province.

“We still have to finalize the target for 2016. It would depend on how much the budget we have for the project next year,” said DTI Regional Director Cynthia Nierras in a phone interview.

Setting up of business centers is in compliance to Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act. The law seeks to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to create more job opportunities in the country.

Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III signed the law on July 15, 2014, which took effect on Jan. 13, 2015.

The centers will be responsible for promoting "ease of doing business and facilitating access to services for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within its jurisdiction," such as business registration assistance, business advisory services, business information and advocacy, and monitoring and evaluation.

The MSME Development Council, through the DTI, is the coordinating and supervising body for all the agencies involved in the establishment and operation of the Negosyo Centers.

It performs oversight functions and assigns personnel to fulfill the functions of the center. (PNA)
JMC/Sarwell Q. Meniano

DTI seeks wider participation of LGUs in competitiveness survey

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 3 (PNA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is stepping up its advocacy among local government units (LGUs) on the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) survey in a bid to widen the participation of provinces in competitiveness ranking.

DTI Regional Director Cynthia Nierras, chair of the regional competitiveness committee, said they just completed the orientation with local government officials in Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Southern Leyte.

“We will be meeting local officials in Leyte and Southern Leyte to solicit their support. Information kits will be distributed to mayors in preparation for the 2016 CMCI,” Nierras said.

The CMCI is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities based on an overall competitive score along the three indicators and their sub-indicators – economic dynamism, government efficiency, and infrastructure.

In the 2014 survey, only 14 of the 143 cities and towns in Eastern Visayas have made it to the roster of competitive areas last year due to lack of data gathered from LGUs.

Initial result for 2015 disclosed that only Leyte province was able to participate in the provincial ranking, having met the minimum 60 percent of the total population of all the participating areas.

Nierras said more cities and towns could have been included in the survey had the towns and cities took part in the data gathering.

“Results also revealed that majority of the LGUs in the region covered by the survey were ranked at the bottom or near bottom, which indicates low competitiveness partly due to lacking data on the three indicators,” she explained.

The overall competitiveness score is determined by the completion rate or all the number of data points filled out over the number of data points required. These information are sourced from the LGUs and national government agencies.

On Sept. 24, 2015, the Regional Development Council approved the CMCI action plan of Region 8 for adoption and support by the LGUs and concerned regional line agencies.

Prepared by DTI, the action plan includes advocacy, capability-building, and institutionalization activities intended to improve data collection in succeeding surveys, thereby enhancing the reliability of the survey.

The study serves as basis for LGUs to improve their competitiveness to attract investments and contribute to socioeconomic development. (PNA)
CTB/SQM