by admin | Apr 18, 2018 | Headlines, National News
While the Philippines consumes as much coffee as countries such as the United States, Brazil, Japan, and the European Union, the country is also looking to be one of the top producers of top-grade coffee around the world.
To make this a reality, President Rodrigo Duterte last March 7, 2017 signed the Philippine Coffee Industry Roadmap 2017-2022 to boost the country’s domestic coffee output in the next five years—a huge lift for coffee farmers, producers, and traders.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said that the trade department is working closely with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to ensure that the Philippine Coffee industry would be at par with the world’s top producers such as Brazil, Vietnam, Columbia, Indonesia, and Honduras.
“We have to have a patriotic drive to encourage demand for Philippine coffee. We are encouraging local producers to expand coffee production to create the demand,” said Sec. Lopez.
The Philippine Coffee Industry Roadmap 2017-2022 will guarantee a coffee industry that is cost-competitive, aligned with global quality standards, reliable and environment-friendly, which will provide sustainable benefits to farmers, processors, traders, and exporters, and attain food security and poverty alleviation.
Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world and is grown in 50 countries along the equatorial zone called “The Bean Belt,” which is located between latitudes 25 degrees north and 30 degrees south. Interestingly, the Philippines lies within the Bean Belt.
Due to this advantageous location and favorable, although tropical, climate, the country produces four varities of coffee including Robusta, Arabica, Excelsa, and Liberica.
According to Lopez, the current coffee output of the Philippines is pegged at 37,000 tons a year but with the Philippine Coffee Roadmap, the country is expected to raise the coffee production to 214,626 metric tons by 2022. This will bring the country’s coffee self-sufficiency level to 161% from the current 41.60%.
The Philippine Coffee Roadmap would also make available 213,788 hectares of area planted with coffee nationwide, translating to a huge yield of one ton of coffee beans per hectare—a huge discrepancy from the usual 0.33 ton per hectare. The task of implementing the roadmap falls on the Philippine Coffee Council.
Lopez is optimistic that the country will be able to achieve this feat especially with DTI assisting the coffee industry, which is one of the priority sectors of the agency.
“Through DTI’s 7Ms (Mindset change, Mastery, Mentoring, Money, Machine, and Models), we will continue to provide enabling mechanisms to empower coffee farmers and help in addressing the challenges in the industry,” Sec. Lopez added.
Data shows that Vietnam is the highest exporter of coffee green beans to the Philippines. Filipinos are also fifth among the highest consumers of coffee behind EU, US, Brazil, and Japan. Similarly, the Philippines is the top importer of soluble coffee and fourth total importer in the world.
As far as coffee production is concerned, the gap between coffee demand and production is widely noticed with demand for coffee is at 90% and imports amounting to P12 billion. The demand is still increasing with expanding consumption based among younger generation.
Currently, the top five regions in producing coffee are SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12) with 25,100.77 metric tons, Davao with 11,429.78 metric tons, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with 10,341.59 metric tons, Northern Mindanao with 5,604.95 metric tons, and Western Visayas with 4,356.25 metric tons.
With the Philippine Coffee Roadmap as guide, the trade and agriculture departments together the private sector, and other coffee stakeholders held last March 20-21, 2018, the 3rd Philippine Coffee Conference in Baguio City and presented the coffee industry’s performance on the first year of the implementation of the roadmap.
The conference also discussed among other topics, the strategies to achieve the goals of the Philippine Coffee Roadmap, trends in coffee brewing methods, quality coffee farming of arabica and fine robusta, retailing a coffee business, financing for coffee business, and coffee business models.
by admin | Apr 16, 2018 | National News
The Department of Trade and Industry through its Center for International Trade Exhibitions and Missions (CITEM) is set to showcase high-quality and design-driven home décor and houseware Philippine-made products at the 67th edition of the Manila FAME happening on 19 to 21 April 2018 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.
Highlighting the country’s creative enterprises, Manila FAME continues to project the Philippines’ as a reliable source of premier and world-class home furnishings through the highlights of the international trade show which include Design Commune: Patterns and Palettes, Artisans Village, Great Women Project 2, RIPPLES Plus, and Manila Wear.
“Manila FAME has been a platform where the Philippines showcases our country’s best, from acclaimed artisans to budding young designers. This is among the many platforms provided for local and international buyers to experience Filipino designs and source their next home décor and furnishings in Manila. With our strengthened programs of enhancing Filipino enterprises’ capacity, the Philippines is ready to attract more foreign buyers and assist more Filipino exporters in penetrating the lucrative international market,” said DTI Trade and Investments Promotion Group Undersecretary and CITEM Officer-In-Charge Nora K. Terrado.
Continuing the success of its maiden edition during the 66th edition, Design Commune: Patterns and Palletes will be returning to the 67th edition to present a curated display of Philippine aesthetics and materials proudly produced by 70 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) who worked with designers Tes Pasola, Detleft Klatt, Reine Shih, and Josef Crisanto under the thematic guidance of world-renowned designer, Tony Gonzales.
Design Commune is framed in five unique themes inspired by design trends of 2018: Ethnic Nomad Spring and Autumn, Neutral Metals, Neutral Blues, and Tints of Green.
Meawhile, Artisans Village will showcase regional crafts from featured Philippine destinations such as Zamboanga City, South Cotabato and Ifugao.
Manila FAME also supports the country’s initiative of assisting women entrepreneurs through the showcase of the Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation (GREAT) of Women Project 2. As part of the highlights of this edition, DTI-Design Center of the Philippines provided product development and management mentoring to 30 women-led enterprises under the GREAT Women Project 2 initiative. Products under this category range from handwoven bags to handcrafted home decors.
Sixteen (16) of the leading enrollees of the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau’s (DTI-EMB) Regional Interactive Platform for Philippine Exporters Plus (RIPPLES Plus) will also join the said trade show highlighting artisanal accent pieces and wearable products. RIPPLES Plus is a signature program of DTI that aims to increase the number of internationally competitive local product and services through capacity building and trainings.
“True to DTI’s mandate of assisting Filipino enterprises, the heart of our initiatives is the goal of increasing the number of MSMEs in the Philippines exporting their products to key markets and buyers. We are not just supporting them through platform provision in accessing markets; we are also assisting them in product development, capacity building, marketing and enterprise development as a whole,” explained Undersecretary Terrado.
Manila FAME also caters to the fast-growing fashion industry through Manila WEAR. The trade show will host a collective of the country’s fashion designers with their innovative and trendy designs. Manila WEAR aims to advance the country’s fashion industry by advocating ingenious designs that combine artisanal crafts with contemporary and trendy sensibilities.
According to DTI-CITEM, in its effort to encourage and inspire Philippine exporters and designers to continue to provide excellent and competitive product offerings and elevate the Philippine brand to the world market through innovation, Manila FAME serves host to the awarding of best products exhibited at the said trade show through Katha Awards. “Above all these highlights, we aim to recognize outstanding products and designers that continue to innovate and redefine the Philippine design imprint,” said Undersecretary Terrado.
Products displayed under the Design Commune: Patterns and Palettes directed by Creative Director Tony Gonzales during the 66th edition of Manila FAME.
by admin | Apr 14, 2018 | DOST Updates, Headlines
DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña and DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez sign the MOA in the presence of (from L to R): DTI Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga, DTI Undersecretary Zenaida C. Maglaya, and DOST Undersecretary Brenda Nazareth-Manzano.
TAGUIG—Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña signed an MOU to promote Filipino innovation, or “Filipinovation,” for entrepreneurs.
“Innovation is when you fix something, even if it’s not broken. In entrepreneurship, continuous innovation in products, processes, business model, is the only way to survive,” said Secretary Lopez.
“Through the MOU, DTI and DOST will merge One Town One Product (OTOP) and Go Lokal entrepreneurs with DOST’s oneSTore.PH hubs. ‘OTOPrepreneurs’ may now also use DOST’s online store, oneSTore.PH, to sell their products”, Sec. de la Peña said.
Meanwhile, DOST will also provide selected Negosyo Centers with S&T Nooks for those who want to access DOST’s resources but don’t have internet connection.
MSMEs comprise 99.6% of enterprises and 70% of employment in the country, but only account for 35% – 40% of Gross Value Added contribution to the economy. Sec. Lopez said innovation can bridge this gap because when MSMEs transform raw materials into quality products, they can sell at premium prices and reach international markets.
“President Duterte wants to make the MSMEs smarter and bigger, not just in number, but also in terms of contribution to the economy. It’s easy to become an entrepreneur—but to have high quality, differentiated products is the real challenge, but it is their ticket to greater success and better quality life,” added Sec. Lopez.
DTI and DOST previously signed an MOU in 2017 to formulate and implement the Inclusive Filipinovation & Entrepreneurship Roadmap. To implement this, DTI has the following programs to help entrepreneurs, among others:
- Shared Service Facilities (SSF), a machine-lending service to cooperatives;
- Pondo para sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3), a low-interest collateral-free loan program to MSMEs;
- Kapatid Mentor Me and SME Roving Academy training programs; and,
- Go Lokal!, a project that discovers and improves MSME products and helps them reach mainstream markets.
DTI also developed the Inclusive, Innovation-led, Industrial strategy (i3s)—wherein the academe, industry, and government sectors collaborate to solve business innovation challenges.
DOST on the other hand, provides the following services to MSMEs:
- Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET UP), that provides machines and technology training to individuals or companies;
- Science and Technology Expert Volunteers’ Program (STEVPP), where S&T experts provide free consultations and assistance to communities and cooperatives;
- Testing and Calibration services to ensure that products reach health and quality standards; and
- Packaging and Labeling assistance.
by admin | Apr 12, 2018 | Business, National News, Negosyo Center Updates
Micro and small entrepreneurs from the towns of Consolacion and Carcar attended a seminar recently conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Negosyo Centers (NC). entitled ”Marketing Your Business”.
According to NC Carcar business counselors Jessa Joyce Apas and Karen Ann Sayson, the topics discussed during the activity included the concept of marketing and how it can be applied into the MSMEs’ perspective.
DTI believes that a business doesn’t end with a product development. It is equally important to know how to penetrate the market thus the introduction of marketing seminars.
In line with Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act, the DTI Negosyo Center continues to assist MSMEs in all aspects of business, from finance, marketing, branding, labeling, among others.
Since DTI wants to cater nor just to existing MSMEs but to would be entrepreneurs as well, the department, through its Negosyo Centers, also offers How to Start a Business seminar which can be complemented by a Simple Business Plan Preparation.
A Financial Management seminar is also prepared for would be entrepreneurs in order to help them manage well their finances.
For more information on seminars and trainings conducted by DTI, interested parties can visit the nearest Negosyo Center in their area.
Negosyo Centers have been set up by the DTI to promote ease of doing business, facilitate business registration, provides business advisory services and business information, particularly in the countryside., Other support for MSMEs ensure management guidance, assistance and improvement of the working conditions of MSMEs; and facilitate market access and linkaging services for entrepreneurs.
by admin | Apr 11, 2018 | DOH Updates, Headlines
TAGBILARAN CITY, Abril 11 (PIA)–Gipahinumdoman sa Department of Health (DOH) ang publiko batok sa mga sakit nga kasagarang makuha matag panahon sa ting-init, human pormal nang gi-deklarar sa Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) ang panahon sa ting-init sa nasod.
Sa abiso sa DOH, miingon kini nga usa sa mga sakit nga angay likayan karon nga inanay nga pag-init sa panahon mao ang heat stroke nga mahimong makamatay.
Aron malikayan ang heat stroke, giingong likayan ang pagbuwad sa init gikan alas 10:00 sa buntag hangdtod alas 3:00 sa hapon.
Apan kun dili malikayan ang paggawas sa balay, giingong mas makaayo nga mogamit og ‘protective gears’ sama sa payong ug kalo ug batasanon usab ang pagdala ug pag-inom og daghang tubig aron malikayan ang dehydration nga mahimong maule sa heat stroke.
Gawas sa heat stroke, angay usab nga molikay sa sore eyes o piskat nga dala sa bakterya o virus nga daling makatakod kun ang mata mapahiran og kamot o gamit nga may bakterya o virus.
Pasidaan pa sa DOH, kun pasagdan ang sore eyes o piskat, mahimo kining maule sa pagkabuta.
Aron malikayan kining sakit, angay batasanon ang kanunay nga paghugas sa kamot ug gitambagan ang publiko nga magpakonsulta una sa doktor sa dili pa mogamit og mga eye drops.
Dali ra usab magka-sunburn kun panahon sa ting-init mao nga dili angay nga magbuwad sa init kun kanus-a taas ang lebel sa makadaot nga UVA ug UVB rays.
Mahimong mogamit og sunblock nga dili mo-ubos sa SPF-30, 30 minutos sa dili pa mogawas ug magbutang na usab og sunblock human sa duha ka oras ug dili kalimtang pahiran ang dalunggan, tangkugo ug tiil.
Dali ra usab makuha ang sip-on ug ubo matag panahon sa ting-init tungod sa init ug pabag-o bag-ong panahon.
Gitambagan usab ang publiko nga susihon ang mga kaonon ug imnon tungod kay ang pagkaon ug ilimnon nga kontaminado maoy hinungdan sa pagkalibanga ug pagsuka.
Matud pa nga angay mag-andam og magbalon og Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) aron imnon kun magkalibanga. Batasanon usab nga moadto sa pinakaduol nga Health Centers aron mokunsulta ug malikayan ang ‘severe dehydration’.
Ang sakit sa panit sama sa boils o pigsa kasagarang makuha sa mga lugar diin may kakulang sa tubig, huot nga lugar ug dili regular nga maligo ang mga tawo sama sa mga prisohan.
Mahimo usab makuha ang mga sakit sa panit sa mga ligoanan o swimming pools nga hugaw mao nga batasanon unang maghunawnaw sa dili pa og human maligo sa mga swimming pools.
Samtang gitambagan sa DOH ang publiko nga kun mapaakan og iro, hugasan dayon ug sabonan ang samad ug moadto sa mga animal bite centers aron mahatagan og bakuna batok sa rabies. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol).
