Green and go for Negosyo! Local officials of Masantol led by Mayor Danilo Guintu (4th from R) show their thumbs up during the opening of the new Negosyo Center in the Municipal Hall.
The coastal town of Masantol, Pampanga recently opened its own Negosyo Center on June 16, 2021. Mayor Danilo Guintu, Vice Mayor Epifanio Lacap Jr. and DTI Pampanga Provincial Office Director Elenita Ordonio led the launching ceremony together with key officers of the municipality and the DTI. Gil Navarro, a leading entrepreneur and exporter assisted by DTI also joined to support the opening of the new Negosyo Center.
During the opening program, the message of support of Regional Director Leonila T. Baluyut was read to the participants. She noted the growth potential of business in the area as the fisheries sector and culinary expertise of the town are well known. Director Baluyut also emphasized the need for a Negosyo Center to help micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) especially during this time of pandemic. She further stated that there are opportunities for businesses, even small ones, during times of crisis. She urged the entrepreneurs of Masantol to avail of the services of the center to help them grow their businesses.
Mayor Danilo Guintu expressed his heartfelt gratitude to DTI for the establishment of the center in their municipality. He stressed that with the office in place, his townmates do not have to go far to San Fernando or Apalit to register their business names. He also welcomed the DTI to help potential entrepreneurs get into business and contribute to the local economy. Vice Mayor Lacap also thanked DTI for initiating the opening of a Negosyo Center in their locality. He noted that the initiative will help bring unregistered enterprises to the radar of assistance of the government.
Provincial Director Elenita Ordonio gave a background of the Negosyo Center and explained the law which provided for the establishments of the center. She also listed the services that will be provided by the Negosyo Center. Director Ordonio also thanked the local officials of Masantol for accommodating the center and lending its support for its establishment.
The Negosyo Center is a one-stop shop for services that cater to entrepreneursโ need in processing requirements to establish a business and in accessing information for their growth. Among its services are business registration assistance; business advisory services that include product development, trade promotion, financing facilitation, investment matching and MSME counseling; business information and advocacy that include provision of economic, technical, market and investment-related materials and conduct of information campaigns through training, seminars, dialogues, and publication; and monitoring and evaluation.
