by admin | May 18, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines, National News
Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Toronto (PTIC-Toronto) confirmed eight (8) Canadian food distributor and companies to visit the International Food Exhibition Philippines (IFEX) on May 19 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Participating companies are major companies in the mainstream and ethnic food trade business based in three provinces of Canada including British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. The Canadian delegation includes Loblaw, the biggest mainstream supermarket chain in Canada; Canda Six Fortune Enterprise Co Ltd, Corinthian Distributors Ltd and AFOD Ltd, all involved in ethnic market distribution; Bianca International Organic , known for bulk trading; APO Products, Wilby Commercial Ltd, and New Almanic International Ltd, companies known for distributing Filipino products in Canada. These companies will also be part of Incentive Program of DTI-Center for International Trade Exposition and Mission (CITEM), the organizer of IFEX, as they are classified as Very Important Buyer (VIB) at the said trade exposition.
“This is one way of further assisting our Filipino exporters in penetrating markets such as Canada,” said PTIC-Toronto Senior Trade Commissioner Maria Roseni M. Alvero.
With over 700 exhibitors, IFEX 2017 will highlight the Philippines and the ASEAN region as a reliable supplier of ingredients and specialty food, tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood, beverages, bakery and confectioneries, Halal certified products, natural and organic food as well as allied industries and services.
As the first Canadian Food Buying Mission to the Philippines, the mission is organized by the newly opened Trade Section of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, the representative office of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry in Canada.
The Canadian delegation is also expected to meet with Philippine exporters and brand owners in pre-arranged business meetings during IFEX.
by admin | May 18, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), announced free training seminars on various food exports-related topics alongside the holding of International Food Exhibition Philippines (IFEX) organized by DTI’s Center for International Trade Exposition and Missions (CITEM) on 19-21 May at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Scheduled at the PTTC during the 3-day trade show are food export and investment seminars discussing topics on Health and Wellness Importance of Cacao, Cocoa, and Chocolates, 1st Organic Coconut Congress, Agribusiness Research and Development Forum and Market Entry Requirements.
IFEX Philippines is the biggest international trade exhibition on ethnic and specialty food, tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood, beverage, bakery & confectionery products, meal & poultry, HALAL-certified products together with natural, organic, and healthy food products in the Philippines and Asia.
This year’s edition will also feature ethnic ingredients and food from ASEAN member states through the TASTE ASEAN as part of the official programs under the ASEAN Committee on Business and Investment Promotion (ASEAN CBIP).
The trade show is seen as a great opportunity for food companies, both local and international, to test new markets, launch new products and sell them to international buyers.
by admin | May 17, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines, Negosyo Center Updates
two-coconuts-and-coconut-oil-in-jar-without-lid
Coconut remains as country’s biggest export product with $487.3 million in sales in the fourth quarter of 2016
The Philippines top agricultural export products will be among the highlights of the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines to be held on May 19–21, 2017 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and the Philippine Trade and Training Center, Pasay City.
In line with its efforts to promote the country’s food commodities to the international market, IFEX Philippines will have special highlights on coffee, cacao, coconut, and fruit and nut products as part of the Food Industry Cluster under the Food Artisans Village. Each pavilion site will showcase the Philippines’ high-demand export commodities in numerous varieties and cultivars.
“Through IFEX Philippines, we hope to close new deals and partnerships with our extensive list of international buyers, a majority of which are new comers to the event,” said CITEM Executive Director, Clayton Tugonon. “We are showcasing only the best in IFEX Philippines and buyers can expect to see the finest agricultural products the Philippines has to offer.”
Agro-based products contributed to 6.1% of the share of the Philippine’s export in the first half of 2016, amounting to a $291.5 million in sales. Coconut products lead the country’s agricultural exports with 34% share to total agricultural exports, closing off the last quarter of 2016 with a total of $487.3 million.
The Philippines is a major producer of tropical fruits, exporting more than 744,000 metric tons of homegrown products in the fourth quarter of 2016. Bananas ranked second in the total agricultural exports with a share of 12% and sales of $172.6 in 2016. Pineapples follow right after at 10.7% with $153.7 million in sales.
Tuna, fourth in the overall export shares with 5.5%, recorded an increase in exports by 39.2% during the fourth quarter of 2016 from $56.58 million in 2015 to $78.76 million. Other seafood products, such as seaweeds, carrageenan, shrimps, and prawns, produced $67.54 million during the same period.
Coffee exports rose by 24.7% from $91.50 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 to $114.14 million in 2016, while cacao closed off the year with $72.16 million, an increase by almost 30%.
“There is a constant increase in the exports of our commodities and with new partnerships, such as our outstanding one with Japan, this trend will only continue within the next years,” said Tugonon. “IFEX Philippines will be our one-stop trade platform in promoting our local products and building relationship with global buyers.”
The 11th edition of IFEX Philippines will feature four major exhibition halls that will present a spectrum of flavors from across the globe.
Top and emerging Philippine exporters and business support organizations (BSOs) in the food industry will be stationed at the “Food Philippines Hall”, while the “International Hall” presents top food products and ingredients from top international companies and manufacturers.
The distinct flavors of the country’s provinces take center stage in the “Food Artisans Village”, presented by the Department of Agriculture, through the Agribusiness Marketing and Assistance Service (DA-AMAS). The Food Artisans Village includes the Commodity, Seafood, Mindanao, and Negros Occidental Pavilions.
The “MarketPlace” is a free-for-all where buyers and visitors can purchase on retail throughout the event.
IFEX will also present highly curated exhibit of product prototypes developed through the locally fabricated food machinery operated by Food Innovation Centers (FICs), under the Department of Science and Technology- Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) at the “Food Innovation Gallery”.
—
IFEX Philippines, Asia’s ethnic food & ingredients show, is the country’s biggest international trade exhibition on the Philippines’ and Asia’s specialty food, with around 700 exhibitor companies, attracting wholesale buyers, importers and food distributors from all over the world.
IFEX Philippines is a fast-rising Asian marketplace where sellers of unique tropical flavors, products, innovations, and services are linked with international buyers, importers, and retailers, propelling for bigger international presence, wider variety of products, and world-class features. Categories include tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood, beverages, bakery and confectionery products, meat and poultry, Halal-certified products, as well as natural, organic, and healthy food products. It is organized in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS), and the ASEAN Committee on Business and Investment Promotion (CBIP), which is chaired by DTI.
by admin | May 17, 2017 | National News
1. What is RA 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act?
RA 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act is a new law that prohibits motorists from using communication devices and other electronic entertainment and computing gadgets while vehicles are in motion or temporarily stopped on a traffic light or an intersection. A motorist, as defined under this law, is a person who is driving a motor vehicle.
2. What vehicles are covered by this Act?
This act covers both public and private vehicles. It also covers wheeled agricultural machineries, construction equipment, and other forms of conveyances such as bicycles, pedicabs, trolleys, “habal-habal”, “kuligligs”, wagons, carriages, and carts that may either be human-powered or pulled by an animal as long as the same are operated or driven in public thoroughfares, highways or streets.
3. What does this law prohibit?
Prohibited acts made while driving include but not limited to: making or receiving calls, writing, sending or reading text-based communications, playing games, watching movies, performing calculations, reading e-books, composing messages, and surfing or browsing the internet.
4. What are the actions exempted from this law?
Motorists are allowed to use their devices to make or take emergency calls to authorities in cases of a crime, accidents, bomb or terrorist threat, fire or explosion, instances needing immediate medical attention, or when personal safety and security is compromised.
5. Can we use hands-free devices like microphones and earphones?
Yes. Motorists can use the aid of hands-free function and applications as long as these do not interfere with the driver’s line of sight. This means that no communication or electronic gadget should be affixed on the car’s dashboard and steering wheel. In addition, drivers are only allowed to wear earphones when making or receiving calls. Using earphones to listen to music falls under “similar acts” in Section 4B of the law, in addition to reckless driving violation penalized under other relevant laws. Dashcams may be placed above the dashboard or behind the rear view mirror as long as it does not obstruct the driver’s line of sight.
6. Can we still use traffic and navigational apps like Waze and Google Maps while driving?
Yes. Although motorists are being advised to set their preferred destination on these applications prior to their departure. Gadgets with these applications may be installed in areas shown in the picture below, or other areas that will not obstruct the driver’s view. In cases when motorists need to find alternate routes while in traffic, they are advised to first pull their vehicles aside.
7. Who are authorized to apprehend violating motorists?
The DOTr – Land Transportation Office (LTO) is the lead implementing agency of the Act. The LTO also has the authority to deputize members of the PNP, MMDA, and LGUs to carry out enforcement functions and duties.
8. How will we know if drivers of private vehicles with heavily-tinted windshields are violating the law?
Aside from high-definition cameras that can monitor lights from devices inside heavily-tinted vehicles, the law will also be strictly enforced by enforcers on the ground who were well-trained to determine from the movement of the vehicle whether or not a driver commits distracted driving. A Memorandum Circular setting specifications on the regulation of tints shall be released by LTO soon, upon consultation with tint manufacturers.
9. What are the penalties?
Violators will be penalized with a fine of five thousand pesos (Php5,000) for the first offense, ten thousand pesos (Php10,000) for the second offense, and fifteen thousand pesos (Php15,000) for the third offense with a three-month suspension of driver’s license. Violations incurred beyond the third offense shall be penalized with the revocation of driver’s license and a fine of twenty thousand pesos (Php20,000).
10. Are operators of Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) also liable for violations made by drivers?
Yes. Operators and owners of Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) and other commercial vehicles shall both be held liable for the violations committed by their drivers.
11. When will this be implemented?
The Anti Distracted Driving Act shall be implemented nationwide starting May 18.
Source: https://web.facebook.com/notes/department-of-transportation-dotr-philippines/anti-distracted-driving-act-11-things-you-need-to-know/895831227222681/
by admin | May 16, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced the opening of another Go Lokal! store in partnership with the country’s largest mall chain, SM Group, on 17 May at SM Makati.
“This launching is another milestone for DTI’s initiatives to provide greater market access for our micro entrepreneurs that are part of Go Lokal!,” said DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.
Last March, SM Group signed an agreement with DTI which allowed SM’s Kultura Filipino to operate and manage Go Lokal. It will display and sell world-class products sourced from micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) all over the Philippines which offer consumers, institutional buyers, and tourists, value for their money.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez together with SM Investments Corporation Vice-Chaiperson Teresita Sy-Coson will lead the ribbon cutting ceremonies which will be held at the ground level of SM Makati where a 3-day Go Lokal exhibit will also be up. Meanwhile, the Go Lokal permanent store located at the 2nd level concourse area near Kultura Filipino will be open to the public starting May 17.
“Most of our small businesses are unable to pay high rental fees in consumer-frequented areas. Through Go Lokal, DTI with its partners aim to provide support services by providing free-spaces for their products for a certain period of time,” explained Secretary Lopez.
DTI sees Go Lokal! as an opportunity for the country’s MSMEs to go mainstream and test the marketability of their products without incurring the high costs of operating a retail outlet.
SM Group, the largest chain mail in the country, vowed to help DTI in achieving its goal of helping small businesses by partnering with it. DTI and SM Group partnership aims to ensure a strong and nationwide presence of Go Lokal stores in prime locations for the convenience of the buying public.
At present, Go Lokal stores are operational in Enchanted Kingdom’s Pugad souvenir shop and at Robinson’s Ermita branch. DTI also signed partnership with Double Dragon’s CityMall.
Initiated by DTI, in collaboration with selected retail partners, Go Lokal! aims to be an excellent marketing avenue for MSME incubation, marketing, and branding. Go Lokal! carries everyday products made from indigenous materials but modern in design, world class in packaging, and are competitively-priced: from food, home décor, arts and crafts, health and wellness products, to fashion apparel and accessories.
Through Go Lokal, DTI advances inclusive growth by driving MSME development, generating jobs and promoting meaningful livelihood. It provides market access to hundreds of MSME’s, as well as contributes to the upliftment of communities and other vulnerable sectors of society by apportioning part of store sales to community-based projects including drug rehabilitation.
