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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
4068

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Alfred Delos Santos

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of the
productive economy. More than 90% of the firms from all over the Philippines are of
the nature of an MSME. Also due to their large numbers, MSMEs also contribute
the largest share in terms of employment opportunities for Filipinos. However,
many challenges face today’s MSMEs. These include the constant fight for market
share, lack of access to decent financial services, and the lack of training or
capacity for the entrepreneur or their employees to successfully carry out their
business.

To address the issue of capacity-building, the Department of Trade and
Industry launched the Kapatid Mentor Me program. This program seeks to assist
MSMEs scale up and sustain their enterprises by equipping them with the
necessary knowledge and skills through the introductions to business theories via
lectures and mentoring and coaching sessions.

This bill would seek the institutionalization of the Kapatid Mentor Me
programs by making the program a mainstay amongst the Negosyo Centers in the
provinces so that MSMEs in the provinces are able to face the challenges of owning
their own enterprise. Through this program, the up-an-coming Filipino
entrepreneur is sure to be able to contribute more and more to local economic life
and at the same time provide jobs for their towns and provinces. It is not unlikely
that this would be one of the many steps necessary towards attaining development
in the rural areas of the Philippines.

It is for these foregoing premises that the approval of this bill is earnestly

sought.
a SANTOS
RepresentativeAng

Probinsyano Party List


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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO., 4068

Introduced by Representative Alfred Delos Santos

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 THE
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) 00x

(b) x0«x

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

()) 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.
xx

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


“SEC. 4-A. 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 shall formulate and
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this
Act within ninety (90) days from its approval. The implementing rules and
regulations issued pursuant to this Section shall take effect thirty (30) days after
its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — If any part or section 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. — All laws, decrees, proclamations, issuances or
ordinances that are contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are
hereby amended, 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,