Lapid wants "Go Negosyo" Centers to act as rural export centers
Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid is now seeking passage of a bill seeking to amend the “Go Negosyo Act” or Republic Act No. 10644, to expand the scope of the services provided by the Negosyo Centers by empowering them to act as rural export centers.
Currently, these “Negosyo” Centers, totaling 1,158, offer assistance in starting and registering a business, processing of documents, financing, and marketing through the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program.
Lapid said that since these centers are already institutionalized and given the widespread presence of Negosyo Centers, these NCs should act as rural export centers so more people can avail of the benefits of the law and startup their own businesses.
The senator said doing so would enable micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to have access to market research, strategic planning, and other support services to boost their chances in the local market.
“The motivation for this is two-fold: rural businesses are often located far away from trading and commercial centers and major transportation hubs such as international airports and seaports, and because of their location, rural businesses face higher barriers to accessing international markets and exporting their products or services,” Lapid said in the explanatory note of his bill.
Under the measure, Negosyo Centers situated outside highly urbanized cities and metropolitan areas will be designated as Rural Export centers and will be tasked to provide information and resources to rural businesses related to marketing and exporting of their products or services to international markets.
Lapid said the measure also seeks the creation of the MSMED Council who would be tasked to set up and maintain a website that would contain best practices that rural business may adopt; showcase successful rural export businesses and their products or services.
They would also be mandated to provide a platform for business promotion and contain a directory of all existing Rural Export Centers.
“The website would be good to use as a way to promote different types of businesses. It is my goal that every Filipino would be successful in the business venture they choose, whether big or small,” Lapid said in Filipino.