BizConex roadshow brings government support closer to Western Visayas MSMEs

WESTERN VISAYAS — Government agencies brought financing assistance, regulatory support and market services directly to entrepreneurs across five Western Visayas provinces through WV BizConex on Wheels, reducing the need for small business owners to travel to Iloilo City to access regional programs.

Led by the Department of Trade and Industry Region VI with the support and endorsement of the Economic Development Committee-Regional Development Council VI, the mobile business summit traveled across Antique, Aklan, Guimaras, Capiz and Iloilo in July and August.

The roadshow sought to address a longstanding access problem for provincial micro, small and medium enterprises, whose owners often have to close their shops, spend on transportation and travel for hours to attend regional events or deal with government offices.

Bringing services closer to communities could lower those costs while giving agencies a clearer picture of the financing, logistics, regulatory and disaster-recovery barriers that affect small businesses outside major urban centers.

“BizConex on Wheels was more than a gathering of entrepreneurs. It became a convergence of MSMEs, government agencies, financial institutions, business organizations, academe and development partners, all united by one vision: building a stronger, more competitive, and more resilient MSME ecosystem in Western Visayas,” said DTI Region VI Acting Regional Director Mutya Eusores.

From July 14 to Aug. 7, 2026, the roadshow brought loan application desks, regulatory helpdesks and market-matching booths to local venues across the region.

The initiative gathered 908 participants during its five-province run.

A total of 289 MSMEs received one-on-one business consultancy from partner agencies.

Hundreds of other participants joined discussions aimed at identifying policy and business concerns affecting local enterprises.

Participating financial institutions processed 29 direct loan and assistance applications during the roadshow.

On-site product showcases also generated thousands of pesos in direct sales for local start-ups while helping businesses establish new trade links.

A major component of the initiative was the “Policy Sprint” workshops, which allowed entrepreneurs and agencies to identify local business constraints, potential government partnerships and issues requiring further policy action.

In Antique, producers raised concerns over high manufacturing costs that can make it difficult for small businesses to compete for general government procurement contracts.

In Aklan, business owners cited limited Manila-Kalibo flights as a constraint on air cargo capacity and the movement of locally produced goods to larger markets.

In Guimaras, island entrepreneurs pointed to high sea freight costs that increase the expense of moving products to and from the province.

Guimaras entrepreneurs also raised the emotional and psychological impact of losing livelihoods to major typhoons, highlighting the need for enterprise-recovery programs that address more than financial losses.

In Capiz, MSMEs called for agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration to expand their local presence so entrepreneurs would not have to travel long distances to secure permits.

In Iloilo, emerging start-ups said paying full statutory employee contributions at the beginning of operations can make it more difficult to maintain healthy operating margins.

The concerns gathered during the workshops are expected to provide inputs to partner national government agencies, local government units, the Regional MSME Development Council and RDC VI.

The synthesized findings may also guide inter-agency coordination and future programs addressing permitting, taxation, financing and enterprise recovery.

Among the areas identified for policy consideration are streamlined permitting platforms and localized tax templates for micro-enterprises.

The workshops also highlighted the potential need for tailored credit-guarantee mechanisms to improve financing access for smaller businesses.

Post-disaster enterprise recovery support was another area identified for further government action.

By moving services from regional offices and conference venues into local communities, BizConex on Wheels gave provincial entrepreneurs direct access to government agencies while allowing policymakers to gather feedback from businesses facing different conditions across Western Visayas.

The roadshow also demonstrated how regional economic programs can be made more accessible by reducing the time, travel and cost required for MSMEs to seek financing, permits, market connections and government assistance.