by admin | Jun 9, 2017 | Business, DTI Updates, National News
MARIKINA—Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s instruction to revive and to strengthen the country’s footwear industry, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez and the members of the Philippine Footwear Federation Inc. (PFFI) identified possible solutions to existing obstacles that hamper the shoe industry’s growth.
“Technological improvement remains an industry concern. While there are patrons who prefer manually-produced shoes citing their durability, still, innovation is crucial for the shoe industry to flourish and expand,” Sec. Lopez said.
In a series of site visits recently (8 June), Sec. Lopez and DTI officials explored ways to level-up current industry practices with PFFI. For one, DTI already has a sustainable Shared Service Facilities (SSF) Project with PFFI that houses machines and equipment that serve as common service facilities for efficient, quality and innovative production.
Among the SSF projects is the High Value Custom-Made Footwear, which intends to capture market that prefers custom-made shoes, featuring new methodologies in shoe engineering, footwear design and manufacturing. It also uses state-of-the-art scanner that automatically produces a 3D model of the foot in seconds for measuring and size estimation.
“Small shoemakers take turn in using the equipment. They need to expand the capacity and add more and newer machines,” Sec. Lopez added.
Within the compound where the SSF is located is DTI’s Negosyo Center-Marikina and the Philippine Footwear Academy that aims to produce job-ready workers for the Marikina footwear industry. The Academy is considered the first and only footwear school in ASEAN.
Meanwhile, the trade chief guaranteed PFFI that DTI remains committed in supporting the Marikina shoe industry from the policy and program level that will improve access to raw materials and supply chain, as well as enjoin government and private sectors to give preference in buying locally-made shoes.
Assistance on design creation through the Design Center of the Philippines up to provision of market access and promotion through the Go Lokal! stores in malls, national and international trade fairs and exhibitions, and the internationally-recognized Manila FAME will also be provided.
Headed by its president Roger Py, PFFI is composed of footwear manufacturers, retailers, cooperatives and allied industries from Marikina, Laguna, Bulacan, San Mateo and Cebu, whose members belong to the sector of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
On the same day, Sec. Lopez visited production facilities of Gibi Shoes Manufacturing, Bristol Shoes and micro-enterprises like Ruperta Enterprises, all of which are Marikina-based. He called on industry leaders to initiate the kind of entrepreneurship that is idea-based, demand-driven and innovation-led.
He also visited Marikina’s pride Rolando “Tatay Oly” Santos, the shoemaker, who gave President Duterte a pair of shoes as a gift, which the president wore during his international meetings with heads of state. Sec. Lopez learned the common sentiments of small Marina shoemakers in terms of machines, shoe molds and working capital.
Tatay Oly, who is currently borrowing from 5-6 loan sharks, got emotional when he was assured of working capital assistance from President Duterte’s Pondo para sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso or the P3 micro-financing program.
The trade chief also talked to some of Marikina’s talented and hardworking designers and artisans, who also serve as trainers in DTI’s SSF project for MSMEs aspiring to take part in reviving Marikina’s shoe industry.
“The Filipino artisanship and craftsmanship in designs, plus the highly-skilled, highly-trainable workforce that showcase ingenuity despite stiffer market competition will help bring back the glory of Marikina as the country’s shoe capital,” he concluded.
by admin | Jun 9, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
Angelito Zulueta presents a lecture on workplace excellence to FTCP participants
The Department of Trade and Industry-Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) thru its human resource development arm, the Construction Manpower Development Foundation (CMDF) is developing the construction industry’s manpower to be globally competitive.
The Foremanship Training and Certification Program’s (FTCP) pioneer batch began in April and finished in May 2017. CMDF conducted the program with 25 participants in partnership with Makati Development Corporation (MDC). FTCP is designed to develop construction foremen, have them learn skills in teamwork, supervision, communication, problem solving, documentation, labor management relations, work productivity, planning and scheduling, implementation of safety and environmental program and quality assurance, and aims to increase competency and competitive advantage of Filipino foremen. FTCP is a 5-day program where the first 4 days are dedicated to lectures on foremanship and the last day includes a written and oral examination.
by admin | Jun 8, 2017 | Business, DTI Updates
7 June 2017 – MSME Development. This is the main thrust of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Philippines as itpresented the priority work areas in the meeting with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez following the second ABAC meeting for 2017 last 25-29 April in Seoul, Korea.
“This is a very welcome development and a boost to the MSMEs that comprise 99.5% of the establishments in the country,” said Sec. Lopez. “The DTI has already been laying the ground work for strengthening MSMEs, especially with the participation of the youth and women. Now as we chair ASEAN this 2017, we likewise put the spotlight on MSMEs and entrepreneurship, as well as the sector’s integration in the global value chains.”
APEC Philippines, through DTI, is working on the development of an APEC SME Marketplace as a one-stop shop for SMEs in the region. This online portal is envisioned to provide useful information such as the MSME policies and regimes in different economies. Ultimately, the project aims to serve as a platform for SMEs to access and tap into global markets and transact with other players in the region.
According to ABAC Philippines Chair Tomas Alcantara, it is important to take advantage of this opportunity and ensure that SMEs in the country will optimize use and benefit from the system.
“ABAC PH’s first project will help advance MSMEs interests by developing a pilot Philippine SME Marketplace. We are trying to make concrete outcomes by facilitating linkages between SMEs and domestic market first, then to two or more international markets. After that to ASEAN, eventually to
APEC, and then finally, the global market.”
With the very broad and varying interests of the 21 APEC economies, the Philippine team will be keen in realizing its key priority areas.Aside from MSMEs, the group has also expressed interest in Infrastructure Investment. A specific initiative being discussed in ABAC is related to the Islamic
Infrastructure Investment Platform (I3P).
ABAC Philippines will look into how the Philippines can tap into the available funds from the Islamic banks in the region. Mr. Alcantara added, “With guidance and support from the DOF, ABAC Philippines will help develop a viable Islamic financial regime to benefit Islamic banks and investments in the country, ultimately to contribute to the development of Mindanao.”
“ABAC Philippines will work on identifying and enhancing the country’s comparative advantage and unique proposition so we can optimize and at the same time add value to our participation in APEC — now and on a continuing basis for the long term,” the chair concluded.
by admin | Jun 6, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines, National News
ILIGAN CITY—In response to a report that prices of goods, specifically rice, have suddenly doubled, reaching almost PhP 5,000.00 per 50 kilograms, National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) Chair and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, DTI Undersecretary for Consumer Protection Ted Pascua and DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau officials immediately conducted ground inspection and price monitoring in Iligan City on Monday (5 June).
Sec. Lopez reported that based on the monitoring, prices of goods in Iligan City remain stable. He reiterated that with Mindanao still under Martial Law, any upsurge in prices in the region is considered illegal and therefore violators and profiteers will face appropriate sanctions.
According to the initial report, PhP 100.00 per kilo of rice, whose price monitoring is under the Department of Agriculture (DA), is being sold in Marawi City and adjacent areas, amidst the ongoing encounter between state forces and Maute-ISIS group.
Sec. Lopez reiterated the importance of consistent price monitoring for both basic and prime goods under DTI and for rice under DA, as well as the sustained flow of supply to prevent price increases in Iligan City.
Iligan City instantly cradles refugees from Marawi City. There are reportedly 130,000 Marawi refugees, who currently stay in Iligan City.
Sec. Lopez also called on state forces based in Marawi City to urgently report anyone, who intend to take advantage of the situation and sought help for the safe delivery of rice supply.
Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia, meanwhile, called on sectors for help, especially for those directly affected by the crisis situation.
DTI coordinates with DA and the National Food Authority to ensure rice supply in areas near Marawi City, including Baloi and Tamparan.
DTI also confirmed that Cagayan de Oro also has normal supply and prices, and within the price freeze levels.
by admin | Jun 5, 2017 | DTI Updates
02 June 2017, Manila – The Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez led the ocular inspection of the Go Lokal! concept store@DTI in Makati City in preparation for the Model Store launch slated for the end of this June.
The Go Lokal! Stores project is the brainchild of the energetic Secretary which provides a free marketing platform for the country’s MSMEs with cool modern products that have high market potential.
Aware of the constraints encountered by MSMEs, the DTI offers Go Lokal! as an opportunity for the country’s entrepreneurs to go mainstream and access the lucrative local consumer market.
MSMEs who are interested to join Go Lokal! as a Supplier must offer new, never-been-in-the-market products or be willing to undergo product development with the Product Specialists and Designers from the Design Center Of the Philippines.
The Go Lokal! Project Management Office partnered with the Design Center of the Philippines to deploy a team of Product Specialists to help MSME’s develop a new line of products and a fresh collection for the Go Lokal! Stores.
Joining Secretary Lopez at the mock up are the members of the Go Lokal! team, from left: DCP Designers Lotti Galicia, Cristine Nazareth, OASIPG Coordinating Officer Rosario T. Liwanag, OASIPG Technical Asst Krystle Fernandez, DCP Designers Kate Añoso, Janine Piguerra, PDP-DCP Head Jinel Valdecañas, Design Center of the Phils., Executive Director Rhea Matute, Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotions Director Rhodora Leano, Product Specialist Team head/Creative Director Stanley Ruiz, TIPG-DTI Consultant Leon Flores, DTI Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Rowel S. Barba, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Go Lokal! Curator and Designer Ito Kish, Trade and Investments Promotions Group Asst. Secretary Rosvi Gaetos , Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotions Asst. Director Marievic Bonoan, DCP Designers Wataru Sakuma, Rey Soliven, Rachel Danganan, Ramon Pabillon, Ivan Limjoco and Mark Romualdo
