KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO –The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 12 invites owners of micro-sized business enterprises in the region to register their businesses online as Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) to avail themselves of the benefits stipulated in the Republic Act 9178 or the BMBE Act of 2002.
The online portal bmbe.dti.gov.ph streamlines the application process for BMBE, requiring only a few clicks, and the system generates a BMBE certificate that is automatically emailed to the applicant within minutes after the successful online application.
Prior to the launch of the BMBE online portal, business owners had to file physical applications with the nearest DTI or Negosyo Center.
The BMBE is defined by RA 9178 as any business entity or enterprise engaged in the production, processing or manufacturing of products or commodities, including agro-processing, trading, and services, whose total assets, including those arising from loans but exclusive of the land on which the particular business entity’s office, plant, and equipment are situated, shall not exceed Php 3M.
Among the incentives enjoyed by businesses recognized as a BMBE are exemption from tax for income arising from the operations of the enterprise, exemption from the coverage of the Minimum Wage Law, and priority in the provision of technology transfer, production and management training, and marketing assistance from supporting government line agencies like DTI.
In an interview with Flora Politud-Gabunales, the OIC-Regional Director of DTI-12, she stressed the importance of barangay micro business enterprises in local economic development as they are the seedbed of entrepreneurial activities. She mentioned the need to strengthen these enterprises and for them to take advantage of the benefits accorded by the BMBE Act of 2002.
“We help strengthen and integrate the micro-enterprises in the informal sector into the mainstream economy. And by strengthening the BMBEs, it would mean more jobs and an improvement in the quality of life of the people,” said Politud-Gabunales. The local trade chief also stressed that BMBE registration is free of charge, and invited business owners to visit the nearest DTI or Negosyo Center for more information on BMBEs and to avail themselves of free one-on-one business consultation. ♦
Date of release: 16 February 2023