QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lauded Kanegosyo Center as he led its launch on Thursday saying that it was the very thing that the governtment is trying to do "to create an ecosystem for startups."

“We are trying to make an ecosystem for startups, for the small businesses to thrive and hopefully turn small businesses into larger businesses as they go down the road,” Pres. Marcos said, emphasizing the administration’s thrust to revitalize the industry of the MSMEs sector in paving the way for the Philippines to become an investment destination. 

The ‘Kanegosyo Center’, pioneered by Cebuana Lhuiller, one of the country’s largest microfinance service providers is a  one-stop shop that aims to empower and provide startup resources to the various micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) sector in the country was officially launched on Thursday, June 29. 

During the 2022 MSMEs Summit, President Marcos expressed a mission of urgency that puts forward the growth of the MSMEs sector as a priority towards an inclusive economic recovery and development. 

Senior Executive Vice President Philippe Andre Lhuiller essentially affirmed Cebuana Lhuiller’s strategic position to make this goal tangible as an organization that has always been committed to foster financial inclusion through its services. 

“Today, I’d like to reiterate our commitment to continuously innovate and provide opportunities and possibilities for Filipinos and MSMEs in particular,” said Lhuiller. 

“We recognize their valuable contributions in economic growth and job creations. Their products and services exemplify the Filipino spirit, the ingenuity, and our resourcefulness,” he added. 

The Kanegosyo Center or KNC will primarily serve as an online open-source platform where aspiring and existing business owners can access assistive resources that allow them to learn how to manage their enterprises from the preparation, registration, up to expansion stages. 

The KNC offers three main services, namely the ‘Kagenosyo Coach,’ Kanegosyo Assist,’ and the ‘Kanegosyo Bundle.’ Through the ‘Kanegosyo Coach,’ MSME owners can access an array of mentorship videos as well as workbooks and learn firsthand the best practices of industry experts and renowned business coaches. 

Meanwhile, the ‘Kanegosyo Assist’ provides guidance on how entrepreneurs can process government forms relative to their business application and registration such as barangay clearance permits, business permits, and DTI and BIR registrations. 

Lastly, by means of the ‘Kanegosyo Bundle’ service, entrepreneurs can gain access to different loans and insurance portfolios that can help them start or expand their business ventures through the ‘Simula’ and ‘Paglago’ bundles. 

One of the private sector partners of the project, the ATR Asset Management Group (ATRAM), is currently aiming to facilitate micro-investments for as low as PHP500. 

To date, the KNC was able to garner over 100,000 members within its 2-week pilot launch. Its coaching video modules were meanwhile availed by more than 10,500 aspiring entrepreneurs which adds to the various microbusiness loans and microinsurance solutions that it provided among business owners in 79 provinces.  

The KNC works through an open architecture design, enjoining all stakeholders from the local government units, non-governmental organizations, to partners in the private sector towards enabling the legitimization and growth of more businesses. 

It can be accessed through its flagship website (https://kanegosyocenter.com), at 22 local government offices, and at KNC kiosks which will be available in select Cebuana Lhuiller branches nationwide. (PIA-NCR)