Tagbilaran City, Bohol — A delegation from Nueva Vizcaya composed of cooperative leaders, organizational representatives, and higher education officials embarked on a four-day Trade Techno Mission – Benchmarking Activity in Bohol, aimed at strengthening micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) programs and fostering inclusive economic growth.
On September 8, 2025, the delegation was formally welcomed by the Bohol Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (BEDIPO), led by its Head, Ms. Maria Fe Dominise, with assistance from Ms. Ligaya Castillo, Market Specialist of BEDIPO. During the session, BEDIPO presented Bohol’s strategic approaches in advancing entrepreneurship, supporting local industries, and ensuring sustainable economic development.
The mission itinerary includes a courtesy visit to the Governor of Bohol and on-site MSME visits across the province. These activities are designed to provide first-hand exposure to innovative business models, technological applications, and institutional support systems that can be contextualized for Nueva Vizcaya’s local development initiatives.
Representing one of the the academic sector in NV, Aldersgate College, Inc. participated through its Research, Development, and Extension (RDE) Unit personnel, led by Mr. Kristian Cesar C. Ollier and RDE Center Director, Ms. Jovelyn A. Detablan. Their involvement underscores the vital role of higher education institutions in linking research, instruction, and extension programs with local entrepreneurship and industry needs.
A highlight of the mission is the visit to the Bohol Business One-Stop Shop (Bohol BOSS), a streamlined facility that consolidates essential services for business registration and compliance. It integrates transactions from national agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS), and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).
This innovation has reduced bureaucratic barriers and created an enabling environment for MSMEs to thrive.
Key Bohol BOSS Programs and Services
* Core Services: Business name registration (DTI), SEC name registration assistance, and customer feedback-driven service improvement.
* Extension Services: Ease of Doing Business Campaign and Abante Negosyo Caravan.
* Capability Enhancement and Innovation Support: Basic Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Transformation (BEST) series, Brand Development Program in partnership with BISU, product development for non-food MSMEs, and Accelerating Technology and Innovation initiatives.
* Market Expansion: KADIWA ng Pangulo Program, Market Connect, Sandugo sa Bohol: OTOP Trade Expo 2025, and Sandugo sa Bohol: Batwan and Fusion Nights 2025.
Beyond BOSS, the Business Development Division (BDD) of BEDIPO plays a catalytic role in driving MSME growth by promoting ease of doing business, supporting product development, advancing technology integration, and expanding market access.
This comprehensive ecosystem has positioned Bohol’s MSMEs as models of innovation-driven, inclusive local economic development.
Through this benchmarking activity, the Nueva Vizcaya delegation aims to bring home actionable strategies to empower local cooperatives and entrepreneurs. By aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), alongside SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)—the mission reinforces the commitment of Nueva Vizcaya stakeholders to build resilient communities through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable enterprise development.
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