Manila, Sept. 18 -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has brought its business services closer to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the remote island barangay of Semirara in Caluya with the opening of a Negosyo Center.

DTI Antique provincial director Mary Jade Gonzales said Friday that the Negosyo Center, which opened Sept. 2, provides MSMEs access to business registration assistance, information, training, financing and market linkages.

"Semirara is the first barangay in Antique to have a Negosyo Center with a business counselor assigned," Gonzales said in an interview.

The center was opened at the request of Barangay Captain Catherine Lim, who provided the office space, she said.

Semirara has about 1,000 regist...