Enhanced Go Negosyo Act of 2025

Off or oft TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 29 P1:58 SENATE RICOVE 55 S. No. _ 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. Bam aquint

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 29 P1:58 SENATE RECET/. OB S. No. _ 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:

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

2 Act of 2025."

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 THEIR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS; (U) INSTITUTIONALIZE THE CONDUCT OF THE MENTOR ME PROGRAM, A JOINT UNDERTAKING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY 16 (DTI) WITH THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP (PCE),

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."

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: "SECTION 4-A. STAFFING OF NEGOSYO CENTER BUSINESS COUNSELORS. - TO EFFECTIVELY CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NEGOSYO CENTERS, 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 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 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR SPECIFIC, PRE- 29 APPROVED CONSULTANCY PROJECTS."

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 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 THROUGH THE NEGOSYO CENTERS."

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

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

2 regulations, and other issuances inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 3 modified accordingly.

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,