By PR | 03:18 PM September 12, 2026
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol —With a robust municipal waterworks system and vast farmlands now sprouting small agri-businesses, small time entrepreneurs of Dagohoy, can now come to a free business advice from professionals, as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bohol capped its August 2026 calendar by the opening of Bohol’s 40th Negosyo Center (NC) in town.
NCs are DTI’s programs established to provide accessible business developments services to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and aspiring entrepreneurs in the town, where formal business facilitation can be had for free.
Opened August 28, in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Dagohoyunder Mayor Sofronio Apat, the new NC is Bohol’s 40th, opened 11 years after the first two business facilitation centers in Bohol opened in 2015.
The DTI through SME development Division head Jerome Gabin and Mayor Apat signed the memorandum of agreement for the operationalization of the project, where the town MSMEs can have business registration assistance especially DTI business name registration for sole proprietorships.
Also available to residents from the NC are business advisory and mentoring, entrepreneurship training and seminars, market and product development assistance, business matching and market linkages, according to Engr. Naphtali Balaba, business counsellor.
Apart from those services, the DTI NC also offers assistance in accessing government programs for MSMEs, information on permits, licenses and regulatory requirements, digitalization and e-commerce assistance as well as referral to appropriate DTI offices and other government agencies for financing and credit window provisions.
Through the partnership of DTI and LGU Dagohoy, this NC aims to provide easier access to business registration, business advisory services, information, training and other programs that support MSMEs growth and development, Balaba said.
We have built one of the fundamentals in business: reliable potable water supply,Mayor Apat said as he expressed his appreciation for the government’s help in putting up the business help center where his residents can get reliable help from experts.
Dagohoy also attracted a green energy company to set up clean power in town, which is among Bohol’s first clean technology investments in line with the provincial agenda for sustainable development.
Earlier, the DTI also opened Negosyo Centers in Bien Unido (August 26, 2026), Garcia Hernandez and San Isidro (August 27) and Bilar.
Institutionalized by Republic Act No. 10644, or the Go Negosyo Act, which provides for the establishment of Negosyo Centers in provinces, cities and municipalities to promote ease of doing business and facilitate access to services for MSMEs, the Dagohoy NC, also brings to only 9 Bohol towns now without the business assistance hub.
The development also puts more arches into Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado’s push for Bohol’s economy by attracting over ₱20.4 billion in new investments, empowering local small businesses, and pushing for sustainable growth under the “Abante Bohol” development framework.
These investments from 2025 to early 2026, were in tourism, energy, retail, and infrastructure.
Such also generated some 2,800 new jobs for local residents, including the 1500 jobs opened by the new business process management center locating in Tagbilaran City.
The ongoing construction of the Bohol International Convention Center in Panglao aims to host massive international events and draw more business tourists, while Bohol forged sisterhood agreements with Cebu and other leading cities in the country to open up new economic doors and windows of opportunities for Boholanos. (PIAbohol)
