Enhanced Go Negosyo Act of 2026

Office of tie Bette TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) FEB 19 A9:52 First Regular Session ) RECEIVED BY: SENATE S. No. 1875 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito 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 The widespread recognition of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMES) as an essential driver of a country's economy continuously provide growth especially for developing countries. In the Philippines, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as of 2024, majority of the registered business establishments are categorized as MSMEs consisting of 99.63%. In terms of employment, MSMEs consist of 66.58% in the overall share of registered businesses in the country. The passage of the Go Negosyo Act marked a significant step forward in strengthening the operations of our micro, small, and medium enterprises, or MSMEs. It opened doors to greater access to government services, mentorship, and business support. However, despite these gains, many challenges continue to persist. Studies show that small businesses still struggle to find adequate guidance, reliable advice, and timely support, and many perceive existing government assistance 1 2024 Philippine MSME Statistics / Department of Trade and Industry Philippines. (2025, October 29). Department of Trade and Industry Philippines. https://www.dti.gov.ph/dti-knowledge-hub/dti-statistics/dti-msme-statistics

as insufficient to meet their day-to-day operational needs?. More importantly, our MSMEs themselves recognize the need for deeper and more sustained assistance- particularly in the areas of education, access to information on productivity, capacity- building, compliance with international standards, and skills training that will enable them to compete not only locally, but also in the global market'. These realities remind us that while the law laid a strong foundation, much more must be done to truly empower our MSMEs to grow, innovate, and thrive. This bill seeks to address these challenges by bolstering the capacity of Negosyo Centers to be legitimate partners of MSMEs in their development. The key reforms for the Enhanced Go Negosyo Act are the following: 1. Triage and Referral Hub Role - empowering Negosy Centers to conduct needs assessment and refer MSMEs to the appropriate government or private service sector providers; 2. Institutionalization of the Mentor Me Program - strengthening the program between Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) that aims to train and educate MSMEs on the various aspects of business operations; 3. Facilitation of Higher-Value Services - upgrading MSMEs access beyond basic registration that includes technological enhancement, financial packaging, market intelligence, and support in innovation and product development; 4. Designation of Business Counselors - adding business counselors that ensures to provide quality support to MSMEs; 5. Business Development Services (BDS) Voucher System - the creation of a voucher system that enables access to MSMEs to specialized advisory services; and 2 Tecson, K., & Garcia-Vigonte, F. (2022). The role of philippine government to micro, small, and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) after the COVID-19 pandemic. Small, and Medium-Size Enterprises (MSMEs) after the COVID- 19 Pandemic (May 23, 2022). 3 Raquiza, M. V. R. (2021). Micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector financing Issues and challenges. University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies Discussion Paper, 1.

6. Accreditation System for BDS Providers - establishing a national registry of public and private service providers to guarantee specialization, accessibility, and quality. In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly sought. - • JV EJERCITO

Ome of the Buret ty TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FEB 19 A9:52 First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE S. No. 1875 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito 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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Enhanced Go Negosyo

2 Act of 2026."

Sec. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10644, otherwise known as the "Go

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: 9 XXX (T) ACT AS A TRIAGE AND REFERRAL HUB BY CONDUCTING A NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR EACH MSME CLIENT AND REFERRING THEM TO THE 13 APPROPRIATE ACCREDITED BUSINESS ADVISOR, SPECIALIZED GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, OR PRIVATE SERVICE PROVIDER BASED ON THEIR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS;

1 (U) INSTITUTIONALIZE THE CONDUCT OF THE MENTOR ME PROGRAM, A 2 JOINT UNDERTAKING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY 3 (DTI) WITH THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP (PCE), 4 AIMED AT COACHING THE MENTEE - MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES (MSES) ON THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS; AND 7 (V) FACILITATE ACCESS TO HIGHER-VALUE SERVICES BEYOND BASIC REGISTRATION AND COMPLIANCE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO 9 TECHNOLOGY UPGRADING, FINANCIAL PACKAGING, MARKET 10 INTELLIGENCE, AND INNOVATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT 11 SUPPORT."

Sec. 3. A new section, to be designated as Section 4-A, is hereby inserted after

13 Section 4 of the same Act to read as follows: "SECTION 4-A. STAFFING OF NEGOSYO CENTER BUSINESS COUNSELORS. - 15 TO EFFECTIVELY CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NEGOSYO CENTERS, 16 EACH NEGOSYO CENTER SHALL EMPLOY AT LEAST TWO (2) FULL-TIME BUSINESS COUNSELORS. THESE BUSINESS COUNSELORS SHALL POSSESS RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, OR RELATED FIELDS, AND SHALL BE COMPENSATED WITH AT LEAST SALARY GRADE 10 OR AS PRESCRIBED BY THE DBM FOR POSITIONS REQUIRING SIMILAR QUALIFICATIONS AND 22 RESPONSIBILITIES. THE DTI, IN COORDINATION WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION (CSC), SHALL DEVELOP THE QUALIFICATION STANDARDS AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR THESE POSITIONS."

Sec. 4. A new section, to be designated as Section 8-A, is hereby inserted after

Section 8 of the same Act to read as follows:

"SECTION 8-A. BDS VOUCHER SYSTEM. - THE DTI SHALL ESTABLISH A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE (BDS) VOUCHER SYSTEM TO ENABLE MSMES TO ACCESS SPECIALIZED ADVISORY SERVICES. ELIGIBLE MSMES SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH VOUCHERS THAT CAN BE USED TO PARTIALLY OR FULLY COVER THE COST OF ENGAGING ACCREDITED PRIVATE

1 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR SPECIFIC, PRE- 2 APPROVED CONSULTANCY PROJECTS."

Sec. 5. A new section, to be designated as Section 8-B, is hereby inserted after

4 2 the new Section 8-A of the same Act to read as follows: "SECTION 8-B. NATIONAL ACCREDITATION SYSTEM FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS. - THE DTI SHALL ESTABLISH AND MANAGE A NATIONAL ACCREDITATION SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS: PROVIDED, THAT THE SYSTEM SHALL HAVE MULTIPLE TIERS OF ACCREDITATION BASED ON EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE, AND SPECIALIZATION (E.G., FINANCE, MARKETING, TECHNOLOGY, HUMAN RESOURCES, OPERATIONS). PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT ONLY SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO PASS A STANDARDIZED COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT OR DEMONSTRATE EQUIVALENT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE SHALL BE ACCREDITED. A PUBLIC DIGITAL REGISTRY OF ALL ACCREDITED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS SHALL BE MAINTAINED AND MADE ACCESSIBLE 17 THROUGH THE NEGOSYO CENTERS."

Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of

19 this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Department 20 of Trade and Industry (DTI). Thereafter, such amounts as may be necessary for the 21 continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 22 Appropriations Act (GAA).

Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from

the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Trade and Industry, in consultation with the MSMED Council and other relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared

unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

regulations, and other issuances inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 32 modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,