QUEZON CITY (PIA)—President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. expresses his support to local businesses days before Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Month this July.

President Marcos said during the Kanegosyo Center launch in Parañaque City on 29 June 29, 2023, “We have now extended the definition. MSMEs are micro, small [and medium-sized] enterprises.”

“We have begun to include what we call non-enterprises which are so small that they do not actually fall into any category of economic activity because they’re way below the radar,” PBBM said as he emphasizes the need for an inclusive business sector.

2021 Department of Trade and Industry data indicates 99.58% or 1,076,279 business enterprises in the country are MSMEs with 978,613 (90.54%) micro businesses, 93,230 small businesses (8.63%) and, 4,437 (0.41%) medium enterprises, majority of which are located in the Central Luzon, CALABARZON and National Capital Regions. 

Existing and new government partnerships and initiatives are in place for Filipinos to utilize this MSMEs Month whether as consumers or entrepreneurs in line with the president’s directive to boost local businesses.

Kanegosyo & Negosyo for MSMEs

The newly-launched Kanegosyo Center (KNC) is an effort by Cebuana Lhuillier guiding business owners through a one-stop-shop in line with the president’s whole-of-nation approach.

KNC provides skills and knowledge to entrepreneurs leading to increased competitiveness

by assisting clients in accessing government permits, registration services and providing skills development through https://kanegosyocenter.com and KNC kiosks located in select Cebuana Lhuillier branches.

Kanegosyo Assist gives entrepreneurs access to forms such as barangay clearance permits, business permits, DTI registration, Bureau of Internal Revenue registration, and Barangay Micro Business Enterprise registration.

Similar to the Kanegosyo center, the DTI’s nationally established Negosyo Centers (NC) provide business registration services and business coaching on a community level resulting in ease of doing business.

In addition, DTI NCs also empower MSMEs through the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) Program, a 10-day coaching program facilitated by successful entrepreneurs sharing their best practices via face-to-face, online or hybrid methods.

NCs give access to government services especially in far-flung areas with little to no telecommunications connectivity through their physical offices headed by trained business counselors.

Go Lokal! Concept Stores

DTI Go Lokal Concept Stores are also an avenue to popularize MSME products and services to the mainstream market.

The program, launched in 2017, is seen as a way to funnel spending and product consumption towards local MSMEs.

Go Lokal! boosts new and developing businesses through market access provided by retail operators and malls such as a recently-opened Go Lokal Store in Intramuros on March 2023, which offers food and non-food products for both locals and tourists alike. 

Increased visibility in areas with high foot traffic coupled with online promotion and marketing provided by the program are seen to introduce more local products to the mainstream market and contribute both to economic growth and MSME revenues. 

Locally-made MSME products are showcased nationwide in Go Lokal Stores and social media via Instagram at dti.golokal and the Go Lokal Official Facebook Page, Facebook.com/DTI.GoLokal.

The currently implemented whole-of-nation approaches are seen to hasten business development and income generation through help of both government and non-government partners. (GG/PIA with reports from PCO, DTI Go Lokal)