Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

747

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The collective efforts of the public and private sectors to promote micro, small and
medium enterprises have borne national economic gains. In order to further the growth and
development of MSMES in the country, Republic Act No. 10644, otherwise known as the “Go
Negosyo Act”, was enacted. Its primary goal is to promote the ease of doing business and
facilitate access to government services for MSMEs through the Negosyo Centers.

‘The Mentor ME Program has been recently implemented as a joint undertaking of the
Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship. The
program uses a coaching and mentoring approach for large corporations to teach micro and
small enterprises on different aspects of business operations. This has paved the way for MSEs
and aspiring entrepreneurs to be provided with the necessary capability and linkages to finance
and market their business. The success of the program has inspired the initiative to
institutionalize it by expanding the functions of the Go Negosyo Centers under Section 4 of
Republic Act No. 10644.

To aid the Negosyo Centers in fulfilling their mandated functions, it is also necessary
to promote the employment stability and security of its employees. For this purpose, there is a
need to institutionalize and classify as organic employees of the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) the business counsellors which have been trained to provide business
registration assistance, business advisory services, and business information and advocacy to
MSMES in the Negosyo Centers. Another amendment of the same law is thereby proposed to
be enacted.

In view of its vital importance in the growth of MSMEs, the early passage of this bill
is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

747
HOUSE BILL NO. ¢

Introduced by Representative Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE MENTOR ME PROGRAM FOR MICRO
AND SMALL ENTERPRISES AND CLASSIFYING AS ORGANIC
EMPLOYEES OF THE DTI THE BUSINESS COUNSELLORS OF THE
NEGOSYO CENTERS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 10644, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “GO NEGOSYO ACT”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10644, otherwise known as the “Go
Negosyo Act”, shall be amended to read as follows and the subparagraphs
renumbered accordingly:

“SEC, 4. Functions of the Negosyo Centers. — Negosyo Centers shall
have the following functions:

(a) xxx
(b) xxx

(c) Accept and facilitate all registration application FOR BUSINESS
PERMITS, LICENSES, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT.
REQUIREMENTS of MSMEs;

XXX

(j) Co-organize with the local chambers of commerce and other
business organizations a mentoring program for prospective and
current entrepreneurs and investors;

(K) INSTITUTIONALIZE THE CONDUCT OF THE MENTOR ME
PROGRAM, A JOINT UNDERTAKING OF THE DEPARTMENT


OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTI) WITH THE PHILIPPINE
CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP (PCE), AIMED AT
COACHING THE MENTEE- MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES
(MSEs) ON THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF BUSINESS
OPERATIONS;

‘The succeeding subparagraphs of Section 4 shall be renumbered
accordingly.
XXX

SEC. 2. A new section, Section 4-A, is inserted after Section 4 of Republic Act
No, 10644, to read as follows:

THE BUSINESS COUNSELLORS WHICH HAVE BEEN TRAINED

TO PROVIDE BUSINESS REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE,

BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES, AND BUSINESS

INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY TO MSMES IN THE

NEGOSYO CENTERS SHALL BE INSTITUTIONALIZED AND BE

MADE ORGANIC EMPLOYEES OF THE DTI.
SEC. 3. Appropriations. -The amount necessary to carry out the implementation
of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the DTI.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DTI, in consultation with
the concerned agencies, shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations to
implement the provisions of this Act within nincty (90) days after its approval.
The rules and regulations issued pursuant to this Section shall take effect fifteen
(15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — if any provision or part of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — For purposes of this Act, pertinent provisions of
Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the “Dangerous Drugs Act of
2002,” as amended, and all other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or
parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,