by admin | Mar 21, 2018 | Business, Headlines, National News
THE Australia-Philippines Business Council (APBC) welcomed the Philippine delegation to Australia led by Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez and Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano through a welcome reception participated in by Australian and Philippine business leaders on 16 March 2018 in Barangaroo, Sydney, Australia.
Secretary Cayetano and Secretary Lopez witnessed the signing of Letters of Intent (LOIs) to invest in the Philippines from different private sector leaders/firms planning to maximize the Philippines’ growing economy. Investment includes setting up of an assembly plant for GPS tracking devices, development of a US$10 million biomass power plant, and construction of a US$30 million hotel and residential place in Cebu.
Australia’s Macquarie Bank Chairman Peter Warne, Chairman of TMIP Holdings David King, ANZ Philippines CEO Anna Green, AUSTAL CEO David Singleton were among the Australian business executives present. Philippine business leaders like Mr. Jose Concepcion III and SM Investment’s Ms. Teresita Sy-Coson were among the Filipino executives in attendance.
In his address to the business community, Secretary Lopez highlighted government’s support programs for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and its initiatives that ensure the growth, development, and competitiveness of these enterprises. He shared DTI’s Negosyo Centers, Pondo Para sa Pagbabago (P3), Shared Service Facility (SSF), market access initiatives that provide permanent space for MSME products, and online digital space programs, which are summed up in the DTI’s 7M strategy on MSMEs.
Secretary Lopez shared that increasing the trade base between Australia and the Philippines should be based on complementarity of industries and sectors where growth will be highly recorded. Some examples he gave were on agri-based commodities, ship-building, construction (Build, Build, Build), and IT and Business Process Management Services (IT-BPM).
In his closing remarks, Secretary Lopez shared the Philippines’ economic breakout, supported by growth in GDP, manufacturing, consumer confidence, among others. He also emphasized the enhancement of domestic policies, with new regulations adopted to ensure competitiveness of businesses and industries.
Secretary Lopez also cited the recently issued tax law (TRAIN), where individuals are expected to have bigger take-home pay. With its implementation, it is expected to build a wider consumer base with higher buying capacity leading to greater opportunities for businesses. Secretary Lopez reiterated that the Philippines is open for business, with DTI’s core task of bringing more job-generating opportunities for all Filipinos.
During the event, APBC President Ed Alcordo expressed APBC’s gratitude for the Philippine government’s commitment in strengthening bilateral ties between Australia and the Philippines where foreign and economic relations have grown through 70 years of friendship, with a comprehensive partnership agreement signed in 2015.
At the end of the welcome reception, a meeting attended by Secretary Lopez, DFA Secretary Cayetano and AUSTAL CEO David Singleton was held. Mr. Singleton shared AUSTAL’s shipyard operations in Cebu and its plan to expand its operations in the Philippines. AUSTAL makes fast, lightweight aluminum boats for civilian and military use. They are the sole foreign company supplying Aluminum-hulled ships to the United States Navy. Mr. Singleton shared that they make ships in the Philippines for export to customers in Germany, Australia and many other overseas clients who require high quality shipbuilding.
The business reception was organized by the Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Sydney.
Participants during the welcome reception hosted by APBC on 16 March 2018.
DFA Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano (standing, 5th from left) with DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez (standing, 4th from right) witnessing the signing of Letter of Intent (LOI) of the technology company Fleet Logic declaring the company’s plan to assemble Global Positioning System (GPS) Devices in the Philippines for export.
by admin | Mar 21, 2018 | National News
Sydney – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez shared how the Philippines (PH) is preparing for the “future of work” during the CEO Forum held at the sidelines of ASEAN-Australia Special Summit last 17 March.
The CEO Forum gathered ASEAN and Australian business leaders to discuss six main topics vital to deepening economic integration. The topics, discussed in separate CEO Forum Roundtables, were (1) tourism destination development and aviation; (2) digital transformation in services; (3) advanced manufacturing and industry 4.0; (4) agri-food supply chain logistics; (5) future energy supply chains; and (6) infrastructure.
“The Philippines is developing inclusive innovation hubs to prepare our workforce, and allow them to adapt to technological advancements,” said the Trade Secretary.
The Department’s Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy (i3S), that tightens the synergy between the industry and academe, would require a future-ready workforce. Government policies and projects on education, internship, training must be aligned and pushed. Industry links with the academe should accelerate their R and D innovation efforts while academe’s interaction with the industry will ensure that their research works will be relevant and market driven.
According to Lopez, PH education system now is encouraged to create a value system that promotes creativity and innovation. Likewise, students are now taught to understand the how-to’s and the why’s.
The goal of these initiatives is to prepare the Filipino workforce for future jobs that include artificial intelligence (AI). “We need to create an AI workforce that is more inclusive and will give a chance to much more Filipinos to be employed,” Lopez said. Advancing these skills will also provide job security for current roles that are endangered by technology.
Meanwhile, Sec. Lopez cited President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s call for inclusive globalization, developing a symbiotic relation between big countries and small countries. This aims to encourage major economies to help developing countries, providing enabling programs that will build capacities in the developing nations and then ensuring as well that they open more market access for their products and services. This will certainly lead to a more shared prosperity in a globalizing world.
The event was opened by Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison MP who emphasized the importance of establishing greater linkages between both regions. Economic ministers were asked questions on trade, tourism, employment, and other cooperation initiatives between ASEAN and Australia.
by admin | Mar 21, 2018 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Department of Trade and Industry emphasized the role played by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as providers of employment and drivers of the country’s economic growth that will alleviate poverty in the country.
DTI-Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said so important the role of MSMEs that they ensure the promotion of equitable and inclusive growth, especially throughout the countryside.
“MSMEs are substantial contributors to our country’s economic growth, trade, employment, innovation, and poverty alleviation,” Maglaya explained during the first MSME Conference organized by the University of the Philippines – Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP ISSI) at the UP – Bonifacio Global City (UP-BGC) Campus in Taguig.
Philippine MSMEs account for 99.5% of the total number of established businesses and employ 62.8% of the country’s workforce, contributing substantially to the country’s manufacturing output and total employment, making it critical engines of economic growth and development.
To ensure the growth and advancement of the MSME sector, the MSME Development Council approved the MSME Development Plan 2017-2022, which presents improved and innovative development strategies to achieve the target outcomes called Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan, in the next five years. The Plan envisions for “more globally competitive MSMEs that are regionally integrated, resilient, sustainable, and innovative thereby performing as key drivers of inclusive Philippine economic growth.”
Maglaya said the MSMED Plan “envisions more globally competitive MSMEs that are regionally integrated, resilient, sustainable, and innovative—thereby performing as key drivers of inclusive Philippine economic growth.”
The trade executive explained that there are five (5) strategic goals under the MSMED Plan 2017-2022, namely, improved business climate, improved access to finance, enhanced management and labor capacities, improved access to technology and innovation, and improve access to market.
Currently, according to Maglaya, the Department has been actively advocating the seven-point strategy called “7Ms of Successful Entrepreneurship” as guide for MSME growth. The 7Ms are Mindset Change, Mastery, Mentoring, Money, Machine, Market Access, and Models of Negosyo.
The 7Ms will provide MSMEs with assistance ranging from infusing aspiring entrepreneurs with the proper entrepreneurial mindset; helping MSMEs master the know-how and how-tos of entrepreneurship; business guidance from DTI and the business sector; access to funding; acquisition of the right tools and equipment; access to market; and suggestions of different business ideas.
Maglaya also stressed the importance of 7Ms in the “Manila Call to Action for MSME Development” (MCA) which was the synthesized outcomes of the ASEAN 2017 MSME Development Summit last July 2017 that called for region-wide affirmative action to foster MSME development.
The Department calls for the support from the private sector, academe and non-government organizations, corporations, and business associations to put forward the MCA recommendations into actions.
“Making growth felt by everyone can only happen if we are successful in empowering the bottom of the pyramid. By effectively tapping our MSMEs, we can ensure that we can attain our goal of creating inclusive growth and shared prosperity for all,” Maglaya said.
by admin | Mar 20, 2018 | Local News / Bohol Balita, Major Events
DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu would want Panglao, Bohol to keep treasuring its beaches and not follow world-famous resort island Boracay’s ways to serious environmental indecency.
The secretary grieved over what he calls “overdevelopment” on Boracay island “without thinking of the (negative) consequences.”
Numerous resorts and other tourist establishments on Panglao island have also been issued notices of violations (NOVs) of environmental and sanitation laws, regulations and policies.
But Cimatu cited the serious effort of the Boholano stakeholders in coordination with the appropriate agencies like the DENR in correcting the mistakes.
The DENR secretary attended the Panglao-Dauis and Tagbilaran Executive Council (PADTEC) Board Meeting led by Gov. Edgar Chatto at the Bohol Tropics yesterday.
Panglao Mayor Pedro Fuertes, Dauis Mayor Miriam Sumaylo and Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap were also present.
SURGE City Coordinator Linda Paredes gave an overview of the PADTEC, originally known as PITEC for Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Council.
Cimatu asked today’s leaders to quantify this early Panglao island’s carrying capacity and visualize what can obtain in the prime island tourist destination three decades or more from now.
The new Bohol Panglao Airport, which is set for commercial operation starting this year, is intended for international tourists, Cimatu said.
Taking into account the Boracay experience, Panglao has to have a sewage masterplan that considers the island’s condition 30 years from now and beyond.
In Boracay, Cimatu said, the decades-old small sewage pipes have blown out, so that the waste water spread to the drainage and all the way to the sea without reaching any treatment facilities.
“Nagkaloko-loko na dun,” the secretary said.
The plan for waste water treatment facilities in the Alona beach area in Panglao and in Bingag, Dauis was presented to Cimatu during the PADTEC meeting.
Panglao island consists of the towns of Panglao and Dauis.
The secretary was also apprised of the waste water treatment component of the airport project.
Further, timberlands, forests and wetlands have been invaded by concrete structures in another uncontrolled Boracay development, Cimatu said, aggravating the environmental rape.
Owners would even show real property tax declarations over the areas which are otherwise inalienable and non-disposable.
“We don’t like all these to happen in Panglao, in Siargao (Davao),” The DENR secretary said.
Cimatu said he is “positive of tourism in Bohol to prosper.”
“Governor, you’re in the right direction,” Cimatu told Chatto at the PADTEC meeting. (Ven rebo Arigo)
by admin | Mar 20, 2018 | Business, National News, Negosyo Center Updates
20 March 2018 – The Go Lokal!’s Buyers’ Day 2018 held on March 08, 2017 was a huge success. The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) East Wing Showroom in Makati City was overflowing with guests who came to witness the momentous event celebrating the accomplishments of Go Lokal!’s noble initiative that supports our country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME). Indeed, 2017 was a great year for MSMEs, as seen from everyone’s warm reception in the well-attended event.
From a few hundreds when it began, Go Lokal! now hosts more than 300 accredited suppliers of food and non-food merchandises. For this year’s Buyers’ Day, Go Lokal! introduced the season’s newest collection of 510 different products, which features 260 new products from new and existing suppliers.
“The beauty of this project is that we’re making a change in the lives of these Micro SMEs. We are giving them hope, and to us, that’s the most important thing in this program,” said DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez. He invited the public to continue this advocacy with limitless possibilities that promote the welfare of MSMEs, and therefore, the entire economy.
The event’s highlight was the awarding ceremony for Go Lokal!’s Top Brand Discoveries of 2017. Four MSMEs (two food product manufacturers and two non-food producers) were recognized for garnering the best sales performance. They are Gifts and Graces Fair Trade Foundation, Inc., Green Life Coconut Products Philippines, Inc., Lipi Enterprises, and Vicky’s Pili and Food Products.
With the success of Go Lokal!’s Buyers’ Day 2018, DTI closes the gap between MSMEs and the local and international market. With the help of eager retail partners, these underserved yet worthy talents got the chance to stand in the spotlight and be exposed to gainful trade platforms. Moreover, Go Lokal! provided these MSMEs the big break they truly deserve. Without a doubt, through genuine Public-Private Partnership (PPP), everlasting progress is within reach for Filipino MSMEs.
DTI invites us all to take part in the government’s initiative by patronizing the country’s locally made goods. It’s now up to us, the buyers, to give the MSMEs the chance by supporting Philippine products – and ultimately, the country’s economy.
(From L-R) OTOP consultant Leon Flores (accepting the award for Lipi Shoes’ Joseph Lucero), TIPG Asst. Sec. Rosvi Gaetos, Gifts and Graces’ Victoria Jalandoni, Vicky’s Pili and Food Products’ Myra Zandra Gestiada, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Greenlife Coconut Products’ Ma. Frances Rubio, and BDTP Director Rhodora Leaño (extreme right).
