by admin | Nov 10, 2017 | National News
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will conduct a Brand Equity Development Seminar for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on November 15-16, 2017 at Harold’s Hotel, Cebu City.
The two-day activity will be facilitated by Dr. Wilfrido Arcilla, a consultant and the country’s acclaimed Brand Development Specialist
Among the topics to be discussed include key concepts of branding and marketing, new trends and the basic principles of brand development. The rest of the activity will be allotted for the one-on-one cliniquing with MSMEs from Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
According to DTI Region 7 Director Asteria Caberte, the recent developments among ASEAN partner countries formalizing market and intellectual exchanges pose a huge opportunity for producing innovative and unique Philippine brands.
“Our MSMEs need to be sufficiently prepared and armed with competitive strengths that could define their positions in the global market”, Dir. Caberte said. She emphasized that an effective brand statement and strategy will ensure a major edge in sustaining customer interest and preference.
The two-day seminar is one of the components of the Brand Equity Development Program (BrEDP) of the DTI as it seeks to register the brands with the Intellectual Property of the Philippines, improve packaging and labelling and launch the brands for a massive promotion.
For inquiries, interested parties may call Joy Suralta ofDTI 7 Regional Office at telephone numbers (032) 2550036 -37.
“It is important that entrepreneurs are able to appreciate the concept of branding and brand equity to increase their competitiveness, and sustain business growth Dir Caberte underscored, because they contribute to jobs generation and eventually reduce poverty and increase prosperity in the country.” #
by admin | Nov 9, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI demonstrates the massive potential of the grassroots level in Region 7’s food and non-food industries with the mounting of the One Town One Product (OTOP) Premium Product Showcase at the Paseo Solana, Ayala Center Cebu on November 17 – 19 this year.
DTI Central Visayas Regional Director Asteria Caberte says that the event will feature products of local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that have undergone product development workshops conducted by the department under the OTOP Program.
Dir. Caberte adds that MSMEs participating in the OTOP Premium Products Showcase will also supply products for the Go Lokal stores, Tindahang Pinoy, trade fairs and other market access platforms used by the DTI.
The DTI official explains that the OTOP Program is a leveling up process that focuses on new variations, better products that have significant improvement in the areas of quality, design, standards, compliance, marketability and production quality.
Around 100 MSMEs in Central Visayas took part in the recent OTOP Next Gen Screening, Assessment and Triage (SAT) sessions in Cebu City where experts from the Design Center of the Philippines and from the private sector evaluated potential OTOP products.
For queries on the OTOP Premium Product Showcase, interested parties may call any of the following: Victoria Diaz, of DI 7 Regional Office at (032) 255-0036 -37, Vierna Teresa Ligan of DTI Bohol at (038) 5018260, Marivic Aguilar of DTI Cebu at (032) 2556971 / 2553926, Olivet Somido of DTI Negros Oriental at (035) 4222764, and Marlene Patria of DTI Siquijor at (035) 4809065. #
by admin | Nov 8, 2017 | Business, National News
The maiden participation of seven (7) Filipino micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at the 23rd edition of the Salon du Chocolat in Paris, considered the biggest chocolate exhibition in the world, was capped by the selection of Puentespina Farms as one of the Top 50 producers of cacao beans around the world by the International Cocoa Awards last October 30 in Paris, France.
The recognition given to Puentespina Farms is a first for the Philippines in a competition that brought in 166 entries from 40 cacao producing countries. The samples were “evaluated by 41 chocolatiers and sensory evaluation experts from around the world.”
Rex and Jen Puentespina, Farmer/Chocolate Maker, and Managing Director respectively of the same company behind the Malagos brand of chocolates, represented their mother Charita Puentespina during the recognition rites held at the sidelines of the Salon du Chocolat in Paris, France.
Mr. Puentespina, who proudly waved a Philippine flag to honor their hardworking cacao farmers when called on stage said that “the recognition bestowed on our cacao beans grown in Davao, is a testament to the truly world-class quality of products grown and developed in the Philippines by Filipino cacao farmers.”
Joining the Puentespinas during the recognition rites were Philippine Cacao Industry Council Chairman Mr. Valente Turtur, representatives from the Philippine Embassy in Paris, the Department of Agriculture, and the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre in Paris.
Also present during the recognition rites were representatives from Philippine cacao companies including Auro Chocolate, Ginto Chocolates, Hiraya, Kablon Farms, NutraRich, and Theo and Philo.
Together with Malagos Chocolates, and with funding support provided by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) and Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the group showcased their products at the country’s first business-to-business booth ever set up at the Salon du Chocolat which ran in Paris from 28 October to 1 November.
According to DTI Undersecretary for Trade and Investment Promotion Group Nora Terrado, “the Philippine participation at the Salon du Chocolat is in line with the DTI’s goal of providing relevant global platforms for Filipino enterprises to have access to, and learn from the international market.”
”The business world is changing rapidly, and it is important for government, in collaboration with the private sector, to constantly identify and be part of truly global avenues where new opportunities for emerging niche sectors such as the cacao industry may be tapped or tested,” added Terrado.
Almost 120,000 attendees including traders, chocolate makers, chocolatiers and aficionados and more than 230 exhibitors flocked to Hall 5 of the Porte des Versailles for the five-day Salon du Chocolat.
The cacao industry in the Philippines currently produces around 12,000 metric tons of beans annually. It has doubled since the revival of the cacao industry in the early 2000s. The goal of the industry is to produce about 100,000 metric tons of quality beans by 2022.
Apart from merely targeting increasing production, cacao industry players are also taking an active role in helping improve its standards.
In photo: The official delegation to the Salon du Chocolat pose before the Philippine booth along with PTIC-Paris Commercial Attache Froilan Pamintuan (third from left) and Eduardo Francisco of PTIC Paris (leftmost). The delegation includes (from left to right): Harleen Jao of NutraRich; Rex Puentespina of Puentespina Farms/Malagos; Pamintuan; Philo Chua of Theo and Philo; Estela Duque of Kablon Farms; Val Turtur of the Philippine Cacao Industry Council; Regional Technical Director Marina Hermoso of the Department of Agriculture Region VII; Joy Angeli Uy of Ginto Chocolates/Bohol; Dalereich Polot of Ginto Chocolates; Laurianne Amacin, stand assistant; Mark Ocampo of Auro Chocolate; Kelly Go of Auro Chocolate; and Francisco.
by admin | Nov 7, 2017 | Business, Major Events, Negosyo Center Updates
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently opened the 11th Negosyo Center in National Capital Region (NCR) at the Plaza Central in Poblacion, Muntinlupa City to promote local entrepreneurship and provide one-stop shop assistance to micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in the city. DTI-Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya acknowledged the efforts of the Muntinlupa Local Government in providing assistance to MSMEs, which facilitate local job creation, production and trade in the city.
On the other hand, Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Frenesdi said that Muntinlupa is always a willing partner of DTI as he encouraged entrepreneurs to maximize the services offered in the Negosyo Center, which will equip them with the know-how and how-tos of entrepreneurship needed to upscale their businesses.
The launching of these Negosyo Centers are in line with the Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act which aims to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); promote ease of doing business; facilitate access to grants and other forms of financial assistance to MSMEs; provide access to Shared Service Facilities (SSF) and other equipment; and other support for MSMEs through national government agencies (NGAs); business registration assistance; ensure management guidance; assistance and improvement of the working conditions of MSMEs; and facilitate market access and linkaging services for entrepreneurs.
Opening the Negosyo Center in Muntinlupa City are (from L-R) Local Economic Investment and Promotions Office (LEIPO) Officer Garry Llamas, Muntinlupa City Representative Ruffy Biazon, Muntinlupa Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry Officer Elvie Sanchez-Quizon, Undersecretary Maglaya, Muntinlupa City Mayor Frenesdi, Muntinlupa Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry Officer Chito Borromeo, City Administrator Eng. Allan Canchuela, DTI-NCRO Area II Head Rowena San Jose, and Muntinlupa City Councilor Dhes Arevalo
by admin | Nov 7, 2017 | National News, Photo Story
SEC. LOPEZ SWAYS PHILBAKING TO AID MARAWI RESTORATION. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (leftmost) recently (23, October) met with the Philippine Baking Industry Group Inc. (Philbaking) to lead the induction ceremony of new officers in Makati. Trade Secretary Lopez urged baking industry players to take part of the restoration of the newly liberated Marawi City by exploring possible opportunities providing livelihood to the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) of Marawi. Members of the association, on the other has given positive feedback with the advocacy of the Trade Secretary, and promised to further look on possible areas of collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), helping the Maranao community rebuild again. Also in the picture (from L to R) were Philbaking President Paolo Victor Valderrama with other officers Jerry Lao, Walter Co, Gemenni Monton, Johnlu Koa and Edwin Cua, Jay Ferolino, Jon Chua and DTI Undersecretary Ms. Zenaida Cuison Maglaya
