Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative 
BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NEGOSYO CENTERS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10644, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE “GO NEGOSYO ACT” 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to significantly bolster the role of Negosyo Centers, which are pivotal in 
supporting the Philippines' Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The proposed 
legislation aims to amend the existing "Go Negosyo Act" (Republic Act No. 10644) by 
expanding the centers' functions and ensuring they have the necessary personnel and resources to 
be more effective. 
At its core, the bill proposes to expand the responsibilities of Negosyo Centers to provide 
more holistic support for MSMEs. This includes a more explicit mandate to facilitate all aspects 
of business registration, from permits to licenses. It also seeks to officially institutionalize the 
"Mentor Me Program", a successful initiative that provides coaching and guidance to 
entrepreneurs. The bill also emphasizes specialized support for key groups by encouraging youth 
and women entrepreneurship and helping businesses access crucial financial assistance and 
grants. A new requirement for the centers is to create a centralized databank for research and 
policy studies, along with a feedback mechanism to better understand and respond to the needs 
of local businesses. 
August 13, 2025
5:41 pm
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Beyond expanding their roles, the bill addresses the need for a stable and skilled 
workforce. It mandates the institutionalization of Business Counsellors as permanent employees 
of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) within three years. This crucial provision aims to 
professionalize the role, ensuring that MSMEs receive consistent, high-quality advisory services 
from experienced personnel. 
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the bill is the designation of certain Negosyo 
Centers as Rural Export Centers. This new function is designed to empower rural businesses to 
compete in the global market. These specialized centers would provide tailored services such as 
in-depth market research for international opportunities, strategic planning for exports, and 
support for participating in global trade shows. To complement this, the bill calls for the creation 
of a dedicated website to showcase successful rural export businesses and serve as a platform for 
promotion and networking. 
In essence, this proposed law represents a comprehensive effort to transform Negosyo 
Centers from basic assistance hubs into powerful engines of economic growth. By enhancing 
their functions, professionalizing their staff, and creating a new pathway for rural businesses to 
export, the bill aims to strengthen the country's MSME sector and, in turn, the national economy. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
Representative 
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____________ 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by Representative 
BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE FUNCTIONS 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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10644 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 4. Functions of the Negosyo Centers. – Negosyo Centers shall 
have the following functions: 
(a) x x x
(b) x x x
(c) Accept and facilitate all registration application FOR BUSINESS PERMITS,
LICENSES, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS of MSMEs;
(d) x x x
(e) x x x
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(f) x x x 
(g) x x x 
(h) x x x 
(i) x x x 
(j) x x x 
(K) INSTITUTIONALIZE THE CONDUCT OF THE MENTOR ME PROGRAM, A 
JOINT UNDERTAKING OF THE DTI WITH THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR 
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AIMED AT COACHING THE MENTEE - MICRO AND 
SMALL ENTERPRISES ON THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF BUSINESS 
OPERATIONS; 
(L) Build local support networks and establish market linkages for MSME development; 
(M) Coordinate with schools and organizations on the development of youth 
entrepreneurship program; 
(N) Encourage women entrepreneurship by giving women access to information, support, 
training and credit facilities; 
(O) Facilitate access to grants and other forms of financial assistance, shared service 
facilities and equipment, and other support for MSMEs; 
(P) Ensure management guidance, assistance and improvement of the working conditions 
of MSMEs; 
(Q) Establish a databank which shall be a source of all information necessary for project 
monitoring, research and policy studies and informal dissemination campaigns; 
(R) Map out all information and services essential to prospective entrepreneurs and 
prospective investors especially in key value chains and economic subsectors within its 
jurisdiction; 
(S) Establish a feedback mechanism among the MSMEs in the respective jurisdiction of 
Negosyo Centers; [and] 
(T) Conduct other programs or projects for entrepreneurial development in the country 
aligned with the MSMEs development plan; AND 


(U) “IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AIMED AT PROVIDING 
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO RURAL BUSINESSES RELATED TO THE 
MARKETING AND EXPORTING OF THEIR PRODUCTS OR SERVICES TO 
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS FOR NEGOSYO CENTERS LOCATED OUTSIDE 
HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES AND METROPOLITAN AREAS.” 
SECTION 2. A new section is hereby inserted after Section 4 of the same Act and numbered as 
Section 4-A, to read as follows: 
“SEC. 4-A. INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF BUSINESS COUNSELLORS. – WITHIN 
THREE (3) YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE BUSINESS 
COUNSELLORS WHO 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, SUBJECT TO THE EXISTING ORGANIZATION AND 
COMPENSATION LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS, AND EVALUATION AND 
APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT.” 
SECTION 3. A new section is hereby inserted after Section 8 of the same Act and numbered as 
Section 8-A, to read as follows: 
“SEC. 8-A. NEGOSYO CENTERS AS RURAL EXPORT CENTERS. – (a) NEGOSYO 
CENTERS DESIGNATED AS RURAL EXPORT CENTERS BY THE MSMED COUNCIL 
SHALL: 
(1) PROVIDE IN-DEPTH, CUSTOMIZED, AND ACTIONABLE MARKET RESEARCH 
SERVICES THAT A BUSINESS MAY OPT INTO BASED ON NEED, AND ARE: 
(i) FOCUSED ON ACTIONABLE AND MEASURABLE RESULTS FOR A 
BUSINESS; 
(ii) BUSINESS- AND PRODUCT- OR SERVICE-SPECIFIC; 
(iii) TARGETED TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS; 
(iv) BASED ON HIGH-QUALITY DATA, INCLUDING DATA FROM 
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATIONS, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, AND 
SIMILAR ENTITIES; AND 
(v) BASED ON MARKET RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BY GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, AND REPUTABLE 
NON-GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS; 


(2) CONDUCT STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PROVIDE EXPORT SUPPORT SERVICES 
FOR RURAL BUSINESSES AS NEEDED; 
(3) SUPPORT RURAL BUSINESSES FOR POTENTIAL INCLUSION IN INTERNATIONAL 
TRADE SHOWS AND TRADE MISSIONS; AND 
(4) SERVE AS ONE-STOP SHOPS FOR RURAL BUSINESSES TO COMMUNICATE AND 
MAKE CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS RELATED TO 
THE CONDUCT OF EXPORT BUSINESS. 
“(b) THE MSMED COUNCIL SHALL SET UP AND MAINTAIN A WEBSITE 
WHICH SHALL: 
(1) BEST PRACTICES FOR THE GUIDANCE OF BUSINESSES BEGINNING TO 
EVALUATE EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES; 
(2) SHOWCASE THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OF SUCCESSFUL RURAL EXPORT 
BUSINESSES; 
(3) PROVIDE FOR A PLATFORM WHERE RURAL EXPORT BUSINESSES MAY 
PARTICIPATE IN ORDER TO LAUNCH, PROMOTE, AND ADVERTISE THEIR 
PRODUCTS OR SERVICES; AND 
(4) PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION OF ALL EXISTING RURAL EXPORT 
CENTERS.” 
SECTION 4. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be charged against 
the current year’s appropriations of the DTI. Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 5. Within ninety (90) days from its approval, the DTI shall formulate the necessary 
rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 6. If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the 
remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
SECTION 7. 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. 
SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 


 
 
 
 
 
 
HON. BRIAN DANIEL POE LLAMANZARES, PhD, MNSA 
Representative 
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List