by admin | Nov 28, 2016 | DTI Updates, Headlines, National News
MAKATI—To create globally competitive, value adding, innovative and inclusive industries is the main objective of the country’s new industrial strategy, the trade and industry chief declared.
Speaking on the first day of the Manufacturing Summit 2016 yesterday (28 November), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez emphasized that the new strategy focuses on industries where the Philippines has existing and potential comparative advantage to generate employment and promote entrepreneurship.
The new strategy’s top five industry priorities include manufacturing, agribusiness, information technology-business process management (IT-BPM), tourism and infrastructure and logistics.
“This industrial strategy is the best way to uplift the lives of Filipinos towards the goal of sustainable inclusive growth and shared prosperity for all. This is needed not only to generate jobs and reduce poverty but also to take advantage of market opportunities,” said Sec. Lopez.
Citing the country’s positive economic outlook as the fastest growing economy in Asia with sustained strong macroeconomic position at 7.1% recorded growth in the third quarter of 2016, the trade chief shared that the Philippines outpaced other countries like China (6.7%) and Viet Nam (6.4%) and fared above average consensus forecast of 6.8%.
While services industry was the main driver of the country’s growth in past decades, the manufacturing industry has been playing an important role, and has been contributing substantially to economic growth since 2013, according to him. In the third quarter of 2016, manufacturing grew by 6.9% or more than one percent point higher that the rate posted in 2015 at 5.8%.
He also said that the manufacturing sector presents opportunities to provide productive jobs to low-skilled, medium-skilled and highly-skilled workers, and further emphasized the need to shift from traditional agriculture to more modern agribusinesses, as well as the relevance of tourism as source of income and jobs.
The new industrial strategy is DTI’s key response to sustain today’s high level growth, while addressing the issue of unemployment, where the bulk are young with ages ranging from 15 to 24 years old, 61% are male and 40% have high school education, while 36% have college education.
“Given these characteristics of our workforce, our industrial strategy focuses on labor intensive industries such as food and resource-based manufacturing, tourism, garments and construction,” said Sec. Lopez, adding that it will also focus on high-tech industries like electronics, aerospace, automotive and chemicals.
Consistent with DTI’s Trabaho at Negosyo agenda, the strategy also focuses on strengthening linkages between micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and large domestic and multinational enterprises to make growth more inclusive.
Meanwhile, Sec. Lopez also called on stakeholders to take advantage of preferential free trade agreements, where the country may benefit. Specifically, he referred to those with ASEAN, as having over 100 million population, a growing middle class, rising consumer and business confidence.
“Huge export markets could be tapped in the ASEAN Economic Community with a population of over 600 million, and as we forge the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), this grows further to over three billion people representing 45% of the world’s population,” he added.
Taking into account external factors such as economic slowdown in US, Japan, Europe and China, opportunities from participating in global value chains and emerging new business models, the DTI chief said that the current strategy would require “climbing the industrial ladder and moving into higher value added activities” in specific sectors.
These sectors include electronic manufacturing services, semiconductor manufacturing services, auto manufacturing, aerospace, chemicals, furniture, garments, shipbuilding, food and resource-based processing and IT-BPM.
“As an enabler, the government pursues an industrial policy strengthening our industrial base and removing the most binding constraints, but to be strategic, we are focusing our efforts by identifying and prioritizing the most binding constraints,” explained Sec. Lopez.
The summit participants, composed by representatives from the private and the public sector, labor, civil society, the academe and some international development partners, were divided into groups to identify such constraints, formulate recommendations to address them and determine the most appropriate intervention.
Sec. Lopez called on the participants to ensure that the recommended policy measures bring “the most significant impacts on and benefits for the development of globally competitive, value adding, innovative and inclusive manufacturing linked with agriculture and services industries.”
The two-day Manufacturing Summit is in partnership with the DTI and the Board of Investments (BOI), in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
by admin | Nov 26, 2016 | Headlines, Tech Talk
The Province of Bohol hosted the Open Collaboration of East Asia New Champions 2016 Summit (OCEAN 16) on November 24-26, 2016 at the Be Grand Resort in Panglao, Bohol. Thought leaders and movers from the Philippines, the ASEAN, the US and the UK joined the summit which tackled breakthroughs in technology that are fundamentally transforming whole systems of production, management, and governance. These transformations aid societies overcome challenges from business and energy, to transportation and climate change.
The so called “Fourth Industrial Revolution” or “Industry 4.0,” was the main theme of the summit and this presents an opportunity for the Philippines not only to keep up with more advanced nations, but also solve urgent problems plaguing the country. This revolution is the fusion of electrical and digital systems with physical and biological systems and is made possible by the proliferation of the Internet and mobile devices.
In various panels during the summit, the topic of the startup ecosystem in the Philippines was discussed. The issues on connectivity and access to funding was also tackled. Winston Damarillo, chief organizer of the event, said that the Philippines should not try to become the next Silicon Valley but instead tackle the unique issues in the country and create businesses that solve these issues.
The event kicked off with a discussion on “Understanding the Future of Cybersecurity” and a Sunset Welcome Cocktail Event on November 24. On the second day, November 25, Damarillo delivered the opening keynote and facilitated teh opening plenary session with the moderators of the various panels. There were two tracks of the panels and the topics include “Sustainability at the Heart of Business”, “Powering Small Businesses”, “The Future of Talent”, “The Disruption of Industries”, “Innovation for All” and “Data is the New Oil”. The second day closed with the panel on Collaborative Governance and the Next Economic Power which covers the ASEAN and the state of collaboration between nations, between the government and private sector. A case study for collaboration in Bohol where multi-sectoral participation in various initiatives is common and has reaped important results in prioritization of infrastructure investment and in the relief effort immediately after the October 2013 earthquake and in the rehabilitation programs.
The participants were entertained during the gala dinner hosted by the province of Bohol. Gov. Edgar Chatto and the First Lady of the province, Mayor Maria Pureza Chatto graced the event. Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap and the First Lady of the City, Ms. Jane Yap also graced the event.
The last day of the event included a plenary session on “Preparing for the Digital Future”. This was followed by a Closing Plenary with the Summit Co-Chairs Winston Damarillo, Karen Davilla, Sen. Bam Aquino, Richard Dacalos and Analisa Balares. In the afternoon, a workshop about the “Deep Globality” and the Youth was held. This was followed by a public filming of the new TV show for Indiepreneurs called “I’m In”. The show features entrepreneurs pitching in front of angel investors with the goal of getting investment commitments from the investors.
The plenary session on Collaborative Governance and the Next Economic Power. L-R: Jerome Auza, Auza.Net and BCCI, Yeen Seen Ng, COO of ASLI, Iim Fahima Jachja of QueenRides.com, Sen. Bam Aquino, Former Sec. Bon Moya
Dep. of Budget & Management, Bohol Provincial Administrator Alfonso A. Damalerio.
The OCEAN 16 Summit Co-chairs after the closing plenary: Analisa Balares
CEO, Womensphere, Richard Dacalos
Creator & Co-Founder, Upstart, Bam Aquino
Senator, Republic of the Philippines, Winston Damarillo
Founder & CEO – Amihan, Exist Software, Karen Davila
Journalist, ABS-CBN
One of the products featured in the I’m In TV Show for Indiepreneurs. The shoe craftsman who made the shoe is a retired shoemaker and after his pitch to the angel investors, he got an offer to have a gallery of his designs to be presented to a VIP audience.
Some members of the Boholano delegation that joined the summit led by Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Engr. Al Uy (center). The group is composed of the representatives of the provincial government, young entrepreneurs, BCCI board of trustees and BICTC officers.
Fablab featured various examples of products that were fabricated by various makers and maker organizations. Some of these products are already commercially sold.
by admin | Nov 24, 2016 | DTI Updates, Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
TAGUIG CITY—DTI’s shared service facilities (SSF) beneficiaries on coffee processing, native bag making, and fiber marketing were the recipients of the first-ever Kapatid Awards at PLDT’s MVP Bossing Awards 2016 on 23 November.
SSFs on coffee processing from Mountain Province, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), on pandan and bariw bag making from Leyte, Region VIII and on fiber marketing expansion from Agusan del Norte, CARAGA received awards for exhibiting sustainable and inclusive growth models that contribute to the improvement of the quality of lives in said communities.
Receiving the awards were representatives from SSF cooperators Dangdang-ay di Ibila Cooperative from CAR, Sto. Niño de Plaridel Parish Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Region VIII and San Isidro Upland Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative from CARAGA.
The SSF Project is a key component of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s initiative to capacitate micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by providing them appropriate machinery, equipment, tools, systems, skills and knowledge under a shared system.
As backbone of the Philippine economic growth, composed of 99.6% of locally registered businesses, generating over one million job a year, MSMEs have become the government’s current priority, with the DTI placing MSME development at the forefront of regional development and at the front and center of the trade agenda.
“Aside from keeping the country moving towards a more strategic direction at the backdrop of regional development, the government, through the DTI, vows to pursue meaningful growth that is truly inclusive, the one that reaches the bottom of the pyramid,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, who was also one of the recipient of the MVP Bossing Awards in government service.
DTI’s thrust towards MSME development is anchored on President Rodrigo Duterte’s 10-point socio-economic agenda to attain a quality of growth that will result in shared prosperity among Filipinos, according to the trade chief.
As of October 2016, a total of 2,099 SSFs have already been established across the country.
In partnership with Go Negosyo and DTI, the Kapatid Awards is an offshoot of the Kapatid Program, which has advocated MSME development through training and partnering with big businesses to mainstream and integrate MSMEs and their products and services into the bigger value chains.
“Across the country, there are already successful micro, small and medium scale players who, even in advance of the Government’s call, have created sustainable growth models that bring employment to the sectors of society that need it,” PLDT Vice President Mitch Locsin was quoted in a statement. (END)
by admin | Nov 24, 2016 | Editorial
Bohol schools are rotting and the kids are in danger, and yet the Department of Education has the gall to defend those who have been remiss of their jobs, if only to present a false idea that Boholanos are lucky.
On this issue, we want to be truly schooled.
No less than Board Member Victor Dionisio Balite, himself a school administrator who has to break that myth that Bohol is that well managed, and its school projects are prime proofs of cover-up, and the slips are slowly showing.
Recently, BM Balite believed that the noble Sangguniang Panlalawigan, in a possible political vendetta to cover up something ominously big, has unduly stretched a bit to demonize a media man who has made it a commitment to tell the people about Capitol’s indiscretion.
In a move to possibly shut down a lawyer for his brutal allegations, the bullies at the SP did, just what their political patrons would do, shake, rattle and roll the whistle blower into submission.
When the sneaky SP ruled out a persona non grata charge against a lawyer, it dipped its hands into politics and disregarded a job it was supposed to prioritize: public services especially rebuilding public schools.
Three years past the great earthquake that brought Bohol to its knees and crumbled or rendered several school building unfit for human stay, many school children still use the cracked structures as their class rooms.
This while the SP swirled and twirled and tangoed to earn the continued patronage of Capitol and its tenants.
Exposed and now rendered inutile for choosing politics over public service, the Department of Education came in to the rescue.
Coming in with a crisp rebuttal of the Balite allegations that several schools have remained at a sorry state even after the government downloaded repair and rebuilding funds, the DepED presented a 92.7% school repair accomplishment.
We should have accepted that at face value, if only we did not know that aside from the DepED, the Department of Public Works and Highways has also its share of school building projects to do.
And then we also know that Capitol, through the Provincial Engineers Office have similar engagements with LGUS to put up and restore classrooms.
As to why the DepED did a knee-jerk reaction came from DepEd when it did a heroic rescue, many have wondered.
First, we know that the education department especially in the Division of Bohol, is not a cloister of saints, nor technically a pit of snakes.
For one, leaks as to the sub-contractors for DepED school projects are slowly getting raised eyebrows: why are these familiarly sounding names like those in the government signatories; government caterings services or why are these food businesses using buses and waiters on government payroll?
Well, it is a jungle of prey and predators when it comes to money for school projects, and DepED should have learned that.
Now, the SP, upon the scraped pride of a Balite, will have to see for themselves the extent of the lies that Bohols schools are into.
And as to how officials at the education department acquired million peso condominiums, money for foreign travels and shopping splurges, and blooming businesses, then your guess would be as good as ours.
This week, the SP will visit another unfinished school building and only the PEO can pull a miracle.
We will never know when these site visits will stop. What we know of is that, the DepED may not survive salvaging its tattered reputation.
For dipping its hands into the mess that its government patrons are getting embroiled, for DepEd, it would be a huge price to pay.
by admin | Nov 22, 2016 | Major Events, National News
MANILA, November 22 (PIA)–Angay bayaran sa mga pribadong employer ang 13th month pay sa ilang mga kawani nga dili molapas sa Disyembre 24, matud pa sa pahayag kagahapon ni Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Kalihim Silvestre H. Bello III.
“Kailangang bayaran ng lahat ng employer ang mga rank-and-file employee ng kanilang 13th month pay, anuman ang uri ng kanilang empleo at pamamaraan ng pagbabayad ng kanilang sahod, basta sila ay nakapagtrabaho ng hindi bababa sa isang buwan ng kasalukuyang taon,” matud pa ni Bello.
Matud pa sa Kalihim nga ang pagbayad sa 13th month pay agi og pagsunod sa Labor Code of the Philippines ug mga patakaran ug regulasyon sa pagpatuman niini.
Ubos sa Labor Code, ang tanang nasakop nga employer angay mosumiter og taho sa pagpatuman sa balaod sa pinakaduol nga DOLE regional office nga dili molapas sa Enero 15 matag tuig.
Ang 13th month pay kapareho sa 1/12 sa basic salary sa mga empleyado sa usa ka tuig.
Kauban sa basic salary ang tanang bayad o kita nga gibayad sa employer sa empleyado alang sa serbisyong gihatag, apan mahimong dili apil ang cost-of-living allowances (COLA), profit-sharing payments, cash equivalents sa wala nagamit nga vacation ug sick leave credits, overtime pay, premium pay, night shift differential pay, holiday pay, ug tanang allowance ug monetary benefits nga gikonsiderar nga dili na parte o kauban sa regular o basic salary sa empleyado.
Matud pa ni Bello nga mahimong mosumiter sa bisan asang DOLE regional office sa money claim case ang mga na-agrabyadong empleyado kun dili ihatag sa employer ang ilang 13th month pay. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
