The province of Rizal launched its third Negosyo Center in Tanay on August 31, 2016 at the Tanay Municipal Hall in Barangay Plaza Aldea.

“Negosyo Center is one of the Department’s milestones. The idea of having a Negosyo Center is to address the needs of our entrepreneurs right at their doorsteps. In CALABARZON, we have already established 12 Negosyo Centers last year, and this year, we are targeting 23 NCs. This is the centerpiece of the DTI assistance and services,” said DTI-CALABARZON Director Marilou Q. Toledo.

The launching commenced with an opening remarks from Municipal Mayor Rex Manuel C. Tanjuatco who highlighted Tanay being the Top 19 Most Competitive Town in the country and one of the top tourist destinations in the province of Rizal. Dr. Olivia de Leon, Rizal Board Member, praised Tanay’s continuous development as first-class municipality and its numerous achievements over the years.

The Negosyo Center Tanay, in partnership with the Tanay Business Club, will serve as a one-stop shop to ease the process of starting up and registering businesses of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) around the town and its nearby municipalities. The NC will also facilitate development programs and provide capacity building programs on business conceptualization, management, marketing, human resource, and other aspects of maintaining businesses.

“Negosyo Center is materialized through Republic Act 10644 or “Go Negosyo Act. Through this act, the DTI, with the support of the local government units and other government agencies, expects to nurture MSMEs efficiently,” said DTI-Rizal Director Mercedes A. Parreño.

During the launching, the Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the DTI and the Tanay government officials, including the Heads from the local business sector. Two business name registration certificates were already processed.

“President Rodrigo Duterte instructed our Department to help the poor and to address the concern in employment. Therefore, we are looking at the area of concentrating and supporting the development of MSMEs in the countryside,” said Regional Director Toledo. She mentioned the “Kapatid” project, a DTI and Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship Foundation, Inc. partnership program designed to embolden big corporations to assist MSMEs through introducing Inclusive Business (IB) models, which is a very effective business solution that benefits low-income business practitioners by including them in a company’s value chain.

“Under the Kapatid Program is the “Mentor Me” project. This brings together recognized and aspiring industry leaders who will provide a series of free tutoring sessions on all aspects of entrepreneurship for budding and existing business practitioners. The goal is to help MSMEs to be equipped with essential competences and knowledge to sustain their own enterprises effectively,” Regional Director Toledo discussed.

Tanay Business Club President Manuel Chua committed to give full support to the Go Negosyo and other DTI programs as well as to deliver the projects’ services. Also present during the launching were Rizal Vice-Governor Reynaldo San Juan, Jr., Tanay Vice-Mayor Jaime Vista, Tanay Municipal Administrator Dr. Gabriel Piguing, government agencies from the Department of Tourism and Department of Interior and Local Government, and other partners from the private sector.