CEBU CITY -- The Cebu Provincial Government, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) and the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), launched on Wednesday the P100-million “SUGBO Negosyo” livelihood assistance to micro-entrepreneurs in the cities and municipalities of Cebu.

DTI Assistant Secretary Asteria Caberte said that through the Negosyo Centers, the DTI will provide the eligible SUGBO Negosyo program beneficiaries with entrepreneurship development seminars, facilitate business name and Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE) registration, and assist them in other business development services.

“We will not be giving the beneficiaries the fish, but the fishing rod.  Ang Sugbo Negosyo ang muhatag ug kahayag sa kaugmaon sa ato-ang mga igsuong Sugboanon,” Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia said in her message during the SUGBO Negosyo launching at the Capitol on Wednesday.(Sugbo Negosyo will give a bright future to our Cebuano sisters and brothers.)

 “????? ???????” is an assistance program that aims to promote ?ustainable, ?plifment, and ?rowth through ?usiness ?pportunities (SUGBO) to micro-entrepreneurs 

SUGBO Negosyo will open windows of opportunities and endless possibilities for families affected by the pandemic.  Assistance categories of the program include the N???????? ??????? for established micro-enterprises that need recovery assistance and enhancement. They will receive P50,000.00 worth of goods, equipment, or raw materials.

The ?????????? ????????? category is for aspiring micro-entrepreneurs who want to engage in manufacturing or processing of products. They will receive P20,000.00 worth of goods, equipment, or raw materials. The ??? ???????? ?? ?????????? ????????? category is for micro-entrepreneurs engaged in trading or services. They will receive P10,000.00 worth of goods, equipment, or raw materials.

Vice Governor Hilario Davide III said the program envisions to uplift the lives of the ?????????? by providing them an opportunity to establish a micro-enterprise or reboot their business operations which have been severely impacted by the pandemic.

Applicants to the SUGBO Negosyo program categories must be registered voters of the Province of Cebu; at least 18 years of age at the time of application; may be a new or existing micro-entrepreneur who has been severely affected by the pandemic, including those who want to boost or re-purpose the business for the New Normal; and for new or existing business to be located within the districts in the Province of Cebu.

Each category will have its own unique set of eligibility requirements. Caberte said the initiative is very timely since 90,000 businesses have closed down. She also committed that the DTI and the Technical Working Group (TWG) per district will assist in the evaluation of applications under the program.

Application period will run from October 1-31, 2020. The forms can be downloaded from the SUGBO Negosyo official Facebook page, official Facebook pages of the board member per district, city/municipal Social Welfare and Development offices, and barangay halls.