TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
VOff rr of V'
25 JUL29 PI 58
SENATE
s. No. 759
RliCcIVi ;>b''
Introduced by Senator Bam Aquino
AN ACT
TO MODERNIZE THE NATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
ECOSYSTEM BY AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT. NO. 10644, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE GO NEGOSYO ACT
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (mSMEs) are the backbone of our 
economy, comprising 99.5% of all business establishments and generating over 60% 
of jobs in the country. Yet many mSMEs continue to face barriers to growth due to 
limited access to quality business development services, such as financial advisory, 
technology support, innovation assistance, and market intelligence.
When we passed the Go Negosyo Act in 2014, our goal was to bring 
government services closer to our small entrepreneurs through the creation of 
Negosyo Centers across the country. Since then, thousands of mSMEs have benefited 
from improved access to basic services like business registration, information, and 
training.
This bill builds on that success by strengthening the capacity of our Negosyo 
Centers to serve as true partners in mSME development. It introduces the following 
key reforms:
1. Triage and Referral Function - Designating Negosyo Centers as the first point 
of contact for mSMEs, where their needs can be assessed and referrals can be 
made to the right government or private sector service providers;
2. Institutionalization of the Mentor Me Program - Mainstreaming the successful 
joint initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine 
Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) that provides direct coaching and mentoring 
to micro and small enterprises (mSEs) on key aspects of business operations;
3. Facilitation of Higher-Value Services - Supporting mSMEs in accessing 
advanced services beyond basic registration, including technology upgrading, 
financial packaging, market development, and innovation support;


4. Dedicated Business Counselors - Ensuring that each Negosyo Center is staffed 
with at least two full-time, qualified business counselors to deliver and facilitate 
meaningful support;
5. Business Development Services (BDS) Voucher System - Establishing a voucher 
mechanism to help mSMEs afford specialized advisory services through 
accredited private providers; and
6. Accreditation System for BDS Providers - Creating a national registry of public 
and private service providers to ensure quality, specialization, and accessibility.
Through these amendments, we aim to strengthen the role of Negosyo Centers 
as strategic enablers of MSME growth, equipping them not only to respond to 
entrepreneurs' needs, but to guide them toward innovation, competitiveness, and 
long-term resilience.
I authored the original Go Negosyo Act with the belief that Filipino 
entrepreneurs deserve direct, accessible, and high-quality support from government. 
With this bill, we renew and expand that commitment so we can build a stronger, 
more inclusive economy, one small business at a time.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
iM


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
\ ■ i. U V
afr.ff uf i,"
SENATE
759
S. No
25 JUL29 PI 58
RCCEI./. d bV
Introduced by Senator Bam Aquino
AN ACT
TO MODERNIZE THE NATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES 
ECOSYSTEM BY AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT. NO. 10644, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE GO NEGOSYO ACT
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Enhanced Go Negosyo
2 
Act of 2025."
3 
Sec. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10644, otherwise known as the "Go
4 
Negosyo Act," is hereby amended to include new subparagraphs (t) and (u) to read
5 
as follows:
6 
"Section 4. Functions of the Negosyo Centers. - Negosyo Centers shall have the
7 
following functions:
8 
XXX
9 
(T) ACT AS A TRIAGE AND REFERRAL HUB BY CONDUCTING A NEEDS
10 
ASSESSMENT FOR EACH MSME CLIENT AND REFERRING THEM TO THE
11 
APPROPRIATE ACCREDITED BUSINESS ADVISOR, SPECIALIZED
12 
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, OR PRIVATE SERVICE PROVIDER BASED ON
13 
THEIR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS;
14 
(U) INSTITUTIONALIZE THE CONDUCT OF THE MENTOR ME PROGRAM, A
15 
JOINT UNDERTAKING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
16 
(DTI) WITH THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP (PCE),
1


1 
AIMED AT COACHING THE MENTEE - MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES
2 
(MSES) ON THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS; AND
3 
(V) FACILITATE ACCESS TO HIGHER-VALUE SERVICES BEYOND BASIC
4 
REGISTRATION AND COMPLIANCE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
5 
TECHNOLOGY UPGRADING, FINANCIAL PACKAGING, MARKET
6 
INTELLIGENCE, AND INNOVATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
7 
SUPPORT."
8 
Sec. 3. A new section, to be designated as Section 4-A, is hereby inserted after
9 
Section 4 of the same Act to read as follows:
10 
"SECTION 4-A. STAFFING OF NEGOSYO CENTER BUSINESS COUNSELORS. -
11 
TO EFFECTIVELY CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NEGOSYO CENTERS,
12 
EACH NEGOSYO CENTER SHALL EMPLOY AT LEAST TWO (2) FULL-TIME
13 
BUSINESS COUNSELORS. THESE BUSINESS COUNSELORS SHALL POSSESS
14 
RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS
15 
DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, OR RELATED FIELDS, AND SHALL BE
16 
COMPENSATED WITH AT LEAST SALARY GRADE 10 OR AS PRESCRIBED BY
17 
THE DBM FOR POSITIONS REQUIRING SIMILAR QUALIFICATIONS AND
18 
RESPONSIBILITIES. THE DTI, IN COORDINATION WITH THE CIVIL
19 
SERVICE COMMISSION (CSC), SHALL DEVELOP THE QUALIFICATION
20 
STANDARDS AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR THESE POSITIONS."
21 
Sec. 4. A new section, to be designated as Section 8-A, is hereby inserted after
22 
Section 8 of the same Act to read as follows:
23 
"SECTION 8-A. BDS VOUCHER SYSTEM. - THE DTI SHALL ESTABLISH A
24 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE (BDS) VOUCHER SYSTEM TO ENABLE
25 
MSMES TO ACCESS SPECIALIZED ADVISORY SERVICES. ELIGIBLE MSMES
26 
SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH VOUCHERS THAT CAN BE USED TO PARTIALLY
27 
OR FULLY COVER THE COST OF ENGAGING ACCREDITED PRIVATE
28 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR SPECIFIC, PRE-
29 
APPROVED CONSULTANCY PROJECTS."


1 
Sec. 5. A new section, to be designated as Section 8-B, is hereby inserted after
2 
the new Section 8-A of the same Act to read as follows:
3 
"SECTION 8-B. NATIONAL ACCREDITATION SYSTEM FOR BUSINESS
4 
DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS. - THE DTI SHALL ESTABLISH AND
5 
MANAGE A NATIONAL ACCREDITATION SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
6 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS. PROVIDED, THAT THE
7 
SYSTEM SHALL HAVE MULTIPLE TIERS OF ACCREDITATION BASED ON
8 
EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE, AND SPECIALIZATION (E.G., FINANCE,
9 
MARKETING, TECHNOLOGY, HUMAN RESOURCES, OPERATIONS).
10 
PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT ONLY SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO PASS A
11 
STANDARDIZED COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT OR DEMONSTRATE
12 
EQUIVALENT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE SHALL BE ACCREDITED. A
13 
PUBLIC DIGITAL REGISTRY OF ALL ACCREDITED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
14 
SERVICE PROVIDERS SHALL BE MAINTAINED AND MADE ACCESSIBLE
15 
THROUGH THE NEGOSYO CENTERS."
16 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of
17 
this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Department
18 
of Trade and Industry (DTI). Thereafter, such amounts as may be necessary for the
19 
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
20 
Appropriations Act (GAA).
21 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
22 
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Trade and Industry, in consultation with
23 
the MSMED Council and other relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary
24 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
25 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
26 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in
27 
full force and effect.


1 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
2 
regulations, and other issuances inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
3 
modified accordingly.
4 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
5 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,