by admin | Oct 5, 2017 | Photo Story
GO LOKAL! OPENS IN GLORIETTA. Following the success of Go Lokal! stores in partner malls and shopping centers, the newest Go Lokal! officially opened at Glorietta 2, Makati City on 4 October. Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez (2nd from L), Ayala Land Chairman Mr. Fernando de Zobel de Ayala (3rd from L) with Philippine Chamber of Handicraft Exporters and Artisans Inc. (PCHEAI) President Mila Lacson (4th from L) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a Go Lokal! pop-up store in the one of the leading shopping malls in Makati. The store features unique products from the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). “MSMEs can now reach the mainstream market and not worry about listing fees and advance rent on spaces,” said Secretary Ramon Lopez. “Go Lokal! serves as an incubation venue for MSMEs before expanding to the mainstream market,” he added. Also at the ribbon cutting were Undersecretary Nora Terrado (leftmost), Ayala Malls Group Head Rowena Tomeldan (2nd from R), PCHEAI Board Member Raymond Maron (3rd from R), and Ayala Land Senior Division Manager Joseph Reyes (rightmost).
by admin | Oct 4, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Deparment of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to showcase an annual display of micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) excellence by bringing the best and finest products from Eastern Visayas and Bicol Regions for the Bahandi Eastern Visayas and OKB-Gayon Bicol Regional Trade Fairs on October 4 and 5, respectively, at the SM Mega Trade Halls 1 and 2, SM Megamall.
As part of Marketing, one of the seven-point strategy (7Ms strategy) advocated by the Department, DTI is helping MSMEs penetrate the mainstream marketing through trade fairs.
“With MSMEs being the backbone of the Philippine economy, it is important that we find ways to integrate the sector to bigger value chains, either in the public or the private sectors. Empowering MSMEs can only mean significant growth that is powered by ever smarter Filipino entrepreneurs, ready to participate in local, regional and global marketplace,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.
DTI-Regional Operations Group Supervising Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya explained that providing platforms for MSMEs to market their products in events such as trade fairs will test its marketability for bigger markets.
“Participation in Trade Fairs provide MSMEs an opportunity to test their products for bigger markets and beyond,” Maglaya said.
These MSMEs, according to Maglaya, have been assisted by DTI through Negosyo Centers, Shared Service Facilities (SSF), One Town, One Product, Kapatid Mentor ME Project, SME Roving Academy, among others.
“By enhancing MSME products through DTI assistance, we are confident that their products would be market-acceptable, and supported locally and globally,” she said.
The Bahandi Trade Fair, through the DTI-Region 8, will be celebrating its 20th year and will open the annual 5-day exhibit and selling fair of the best products from the six provinces of Eastern Visayas on October 4-8, 2017 at the Megatrade Hall 1, Mega B, SM Megamall.
Under the theme, “Breaking Grounds for Borderless Markets,” the trade fair is aligned line with the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN Summit, promoting participation of MSMEs in the global value chain.
The Eastern Visayas trade fair will also feature products of MSMEs who were victims of Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013. MSMEs were assisted by the Department to get back in operation, supporting them through learning, marketing assistance, product designs and innovations.
A total of 132 MSMEs—48 are from Leyte, 18 from Southern Leyte, 8 from Biliran, 28 from Samar, 10 from Eastern Samar, 20 from Northern Samar—from the processed food, and homestyle and wearables sector, and other products are expected to join the fair.
The trade fair is in coordination with Regional Development Council – Region 8, Department of Tourism, Tacloban Entrepreneurs Associated Marketing Cooperative (TEAM-COOP), GREAT Women Project 2, and Negosyo Center.
On the other hand, OKB-Gayon Bicol, now on its 21st year, is expected to banner Bicol Region’s fine products and tourism potentials ranging from wearables and homestyle products, processed foods, ceramics, furniture/ furnishing, fine jewelry, and other products. The trade fair will run on October 5-8, 2017 at the Megatrade Hall 2, SM Megamall.
Joining this year’s OKB-Gayon Bicol fair are 141 MSME exhibitors from all over the region – forty (40) from Albay, 15 from Camarines Norte, 22 from Camarines Sur, 25 from Catanduanes, 11 from Masbate, and 28 from Sorsogon. It will feature 32 new entrepreneurs that are provided full marketing assistance and 255 new products resulting from DTI-Region 5’s product development activities.
The longest running DTI-organized regional trade fair is a convergence activity of OKB Association, Inc. in partnership with DTI-Region 5, DOT-Region 5, Air 21 and Bicol Harvest/Bicol Artist.
by admin | Oct 2, 2017 | Business, Headlines
Small Business Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ma. Luna E. Cacanando
State-owned Small Business Corporation (SB Corp), the micro financing-arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), recently welcomed its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ma. Luna E. Cacanando.
Cacanando’s appointment came amid the government’s step to battle loan sharks through affordable and easy access micro-financing program, the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso or P3 program of the administration.
Cacanando expressed strong belief in the MSME finance advocacy as an affirmative action in levelling the playing field for young enterprises that have yet to hurdle the age of maturity and for small enterprises that lack sufficient capital to get to expand into a formal business undertaking.
“We will push for MSME financing further to help create more entrepreneurs, spur economic growth that will provide jobs to Filipinos,” Cacanando said.
Cacanando brings with her more than three decades of MSME development finance experience and industry expertise, mostly as a government executive. She went on an early retirement from government service in February 2016 as Senior Vice President of Small Business Corporation and Head of the agency’s Financing and Capacity Building Sector.
Prior to joining SB Corp, Cacanando was Credit Manager of Guarantee Fund for MSMEs (GFSME) until its merger with Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation (SBGFC or SB Corp) as the surviving entity in November 2001.
Fresh from the University of the Philippines, Los Banos with a degree in Bachelor Science in Agricultural Economics, Cacanando joined the then KKK-Livelihood Corporation in August 1983. Ten years later, she joined GFSME in April 1993.
Prior to her appointment as SB Corp Director and election as SB Corp President and CEO last September 6, 2017, Cacanando had the chance to work with the private sector for over a year in the field of MSME finance.
Cacanando was also consultant to Country Builders Bank and of ADA Inclusive Finance, a Luxemburg development organization and was Director of Negosyong Pinoy (Venture South) Finance Corporation.
Cacanando is an alumnus of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) where she obtained a Masters degree in Development Management in 1996.
She was conferred Career Executive Service Office (CESO) by the Office of the President in 2001 and by the Career Executive Service Board in 1999, at the same time as Career Service Executive Eligible (CSEE) by the Civil Service Commission.
Cacanando takes over the helm of SB Corp, enthusiastic that the agency will accomplish its mandate in MSME finance, especially the P3, and its unique role in the national development landscape as defined by the Magna Carta for MSMEs.
by admin | Oct 2, 2017 | DTI Updates, Negosyo Center Updates
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched the Bangon Marawi Product Store today (29 September) at the Ground Floor of the DTI Bldg. along Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. in Makati to introduce Maranao products to the public as well as provide livelihood assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi City.
This follows Administrative Order No. 03 of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte mandating the creation of an inter-agency task force that would implement the recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of Marawi City and other affected localities.
“While our government is working tirelessly to give them respite in the wake of the tragedy afflicting their city, DTI has come up with its own way to help our Mindanao countrymen” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (3rd from L) said.
“Given that the Maranaos are inherently traders, we thought it appropriate to find a way to help them showcase their products and bring them to the mainstream market,” Lopez added.
Products on sale include brasswares, wooden furniture, wearables, Maranao woven products, jewelry, fashion accessories, and Maranao native delicacies. The sales and proceeds of the Bangon Marawi products will go to help the Maranaos and others displaced by the conflict in Marawi.
This project is done in partnership with the Bangsa Moro Federal Business Council, the Tugaya Local Government, the Muntinlupa Local Government, and Magsaysay Shipping and Logistics.
Also at the launch were Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (leftmost) with wife Edith Lorenzana (2nd from L), Undersecretary Rowel Barba (rightmost), Undersecretary Nora Terrado (3rd from R) with other DTI and other officials.
DTI will carry the Bangon Marawi products in all Go Lokal! stores nationwide.
by admin | Oct 1, 2017 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
By JUNE S. BLANCO
THE Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital (DEDVMH) in Ubay town stands to increase its bed capacity from 50 to 300.
This after the House of Representatives approved on final reading the Committee on Health-endorsed bill of Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol’s 2ndDistrict.
The move aims to decongest the hospital that already serves as many as 70 confined patients each day – on top of those attended to in the Out-Patient Department.
Aumentado noted that the DEDVMH now also caters to patients from even Bohol’s 3rd and 1st Districts.
Parallel to the increase in bed capacity, the hospital is also gearing up for the arrival, installation and operationalization in the next two weeks of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine that is part of the P45-million allocation from the surplus budget of the Department of Health (DoH) that Aumentado bagged during last year’s budget hearing.
The machine will be the first to be installed in a national government hospital in the province.
A Computed Tomography (CT) scan and five more dialysis machines round up the equipment procured with the P45 million.
“There can be no development under a sick constituency,” Aumentado said, hence he is pushing for the upgrading and modernization of the health industry especially in Bohol’s northeastern part.
“And the only way to start off and fast track the recovery of patients is to ensure that the hospital has ready and excellent medical services,” he added.
Modern equipment, he added, augur well for accurate diagnoses – with no need for referrals to hospitals in Tagbilaran City or even Cebu City. Transfers would entail more expenses for the patients and their families.
Meanwhile, Aumentado said, the dialysis machines are expected to arrive next year to beef up the capacity of the DEDVMH Dialysis Center – to be upgraded from merely a hospital unit.
The CT scan and MRI are machines that take pictures of the organs and structures inside the body and are used in diagnosis. The dialysis machine cleanses the blood of toxins for patients whose kidneys are no longer functioning.
Capacitating the DEDVMH will also cut the cost on the part of patients and their watchers. On top of the hospital expenses, some patients’ watchers who have no relatives in the city and with no money to spare for lodging houses have to make do with resting or even sleeping in the parking area. They also have to stretch their budget for food.
Whereas when all their patients’ needs can already be attended to in the DEDVMH, their watchers can be comfortable as their homes are just nearby. They can have reliever watchers as well.
The pinch will especially be felt by islanders because more often than not, the motorized boat trip from the island in the morning will be the only return trip in the afternoon.
If the patients and watchers miss the return trip, they will have to pay more for a special trip, or stay for the night – which spells even more expense.
Aumentado said this gave rise to the concept of a sea ambulance. He observed that for each two-way trip, the sea ambulance ferries around 200 patients – mostly children.
