The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is stepping up programs to support micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs), which make up over 90 percent of all registered businesses in the country but continue to face low productivity and lack of financing. DTI-Bukidnon provincial director Famelah R.D. Villanueva told reporters that while MSMEs contribute 16 percent of national employment, many remain constrained by outdated technology and limited access to affordable credit.
To boost productivity, DTI provides Shared Service Facilities (SSF) that give cooperators access to modern equipment.
After two years of sustained use, these facilities may be awarded to them free of charge.
Other agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), and PhilMech, also extend equipment support, particularly to agri-based enterprises, Villanueva noted.
On financing, Villanueva admitted many micro-entrepreneurs remain ‘non-bankable’ due to a lack of formal records, prompting them toward exploitative informal lenders. To address this, DTI’s financing arm-the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp.)-offers flexible and more affordable loan schemes, with offices in Malaybalay City and Maramag, and applications accessible online or via Negosyo Centers.
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Bukidnon has 23 Negosyo Centers covering all cities and municipalities except Malaybalay, where the DTI provincial office currently serves as the main hub. Plans are underway to open a dedicated Negosyo Center in the city.
‘MSMEs are the backbone of our economy. For them to thrive, we must ensure access to the right tools, technologies, and financing,’ Villanueva said./coa