Negosyo Center - Echague

18/08/2026

𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧, 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐄𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐈 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲

CABAGAN, ISABELA — The Municipality of Cabagan has made history as the first municipality in the Province of Isabela to pass an ordinance promoting and developing the Creative Industry, or Malikhaing Industriya para sa Trabaho, Husay, at Inobasyon (MITHI).

The landmark ordinance recognizes the creative industry as an important contributor to local economic development, employment generation, entrepreneurship, innovation, tourism, and cultural preservation.

💡 What's in store for Cabagan's creatives?
✅ A Local Culture and Arts Council (LCAC) to lead implementation
✅ A Creative Industry Database to register local creatives and creative enterprises
✅ Priority access to municipal projects, exhibits, trade fairs, and grants
✅ A Creative Incentives and Grants Program for creative startups
✅ Annual Philippine Creative Industry Month celebration every September

As the first municipality in Isabela to institutionalize a local policy specifically focused on the creative industry, Cabagan sets a pioneering example for other local government units to recognize creativity as a strategic component of local economic development.

The initiative is led by Hon. Mila T. Albano-Mamauag, Municipal Mayor, and Hon. Ferdinand R. Fugaban, Municipal Vice Mayor, together with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Cabagan. The ordinance was sponsored by Hon. Erasmo T. Guingab, Chairman, Committee on Trade, Industry, and Investment; and Hon. Sheila Marie B. Aggabao-Sia, Chairman, Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Culture.

The MITHI Ordinance is more than a policy—it is a commitment to empower people to transform their talent into opportunity, creativity into enterprise, and innovation into inclusive economic growth.

17/08/2026

06/08/2026

𝐃𝐓𝐈 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐄𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞'𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 (𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐀).

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Isabela Provincial Office, represented by Acting Provincial Director Atty. Cyrus I. Restauro and Klint A. Fortuna, Negosyo Center Business Counselor (NCBC) of Echague, attended the State of the Municipality Address (SOMA) of Echague Municipal Mayor Hon. Faustino "Inno" A. Dy V on July 31, 2026, held in Echague, Isabela.

DTI Isabela recognizes the local government's continued efforts in fostering a business-friendly environment and supporting initiatives that promote entrepreneurship, MSME development, investment promotion, and consumer protection. Through its continued partnership with the LGU, DTI Isabela and its Negosyo Center Echague remain committed to supporting programs and initiatives that contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the municipality.

05/08/2026

𝐃𝐓𝐈 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐰𝐨-𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐋𝐏𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Isabela Provincial Office, through Negosyo Center Echague, successfully conducted a two-day Entrepreneurial Development Training (EDT) for applicants under the Enhanced Livelihood Program for Overseas Filipino Workers Reintegration (ELPOR) on July 15–16, 2026, in Echague, Isabela.

This initiative was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Region II. As one of the key capability-building components of ELPOR, the EDT was designed to equip qualified applicants with the entrepreneurial knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to establish and sustain successful business ventures as part of their reintegration into productive economic activities.

The two-day training was facilitated by Mr. Klint A. Fortuna, Negosyo Center Business Counselor (NCBC) of Echague, and Ms. Emy Jhon L. Villanueva, NCBC of San Guillermo, who served as resource speakers throughout the activity. The sessions covered essential entrepreneurial concepts, including entrepreneurial mindset development, business opportunity identification, business planning, marketing strategies, financial management, business registration, and the fundamentals of starting and managing a microenterprise.

Participants actively engaged in interactive discussions, workshops, and practical learning activities that enhanced their understanding of entrepreneurship as a sustainable livelihood option. They were also introduced to the various business development services and support programs offered by DTI, enabling them to access government assistance that can help them establish, manage, and expand their enterprises.

Through the continued partnership between DTI and DMW, initiatives such as this reinforce the government's commitment to empowering returning OFWs through entrepreneurship. DTI Isabela remains dedicated to fostering a vibrant and resilient micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector through capacity-building programs and responsive business development services.