by admin | Aug 30, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is set to send a trade mission to Jakarta and Manado on 4 to 8 September in a bid to sustain the Davao-General Santos-Bitung Roll-On, Roll-Off (RORO) operations and expand trade with Indonesia.
The DTI said it is lending support to the Davao Chamber of Commerce and the Indonesian Consulate in Davao in organizing the upcoming trade mission to Jakarta and Manado.
“Sustaining the RO-RO operations, launched in April this year by President Rodrigo Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, is high on the agenda of DTI,” Trade and Investments Promotion Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado said.
“We want to see the sustained operations of the shipping service so our local entrepreneurs, particularly our small and medium enterprises in Mindanao, could begin to reap the gains from enhanced connectivity between Mindanao and Sulawesi, and the greater BIMP-EAGA region,” Undersecretary Terrado added.
The Philippine business delegation composed of government representatives and local entrepreneurs in Davao will focus on building networks and partnerships with Indonesian companies in the areas of trading, joint venture agreements, joint production schemes, and other forms of strategic partnerships.
Among the companies that are part of the delegation are Eagle Multi Purpose Cooperative, Mindanao Agriplus Corporation, Certuso Structural Speacialists Corporation, Halal Business Council, Aleson Shipping Lines, Inc. and Fastcargo Logistics Corp.
Business-to-business (B to B) meetings and networking sessions, site visits in Bitung Port as well as market and company visits are included in the mission’s itinerary.
DTI Regional Director Belenda Ambi noted that DTI expects targeted, high-quality meetings during the B2B and networking sessions. Meanwhile, market visits aim to help the business delegation to understand the Indonesian market in terms of product offerings, pricing, packaging, and competition.
“We enjoin the full cooperation of all stakeholders of both countries to maximize the opportunities being offered by the sustained operations of the route. This is a great opportunity that has been made available to local entrepreneurs to ensure that they could participate more in international business,” Ambi said.
by admin | Aug 30, 2017 | National News
MAKATI—Following the double-digit expansion in Philippine (PH) export as reported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the country also sustained its leading position in terms of Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector at 53.9, the highest among ASEAN Member States.
“The 14% expansion in export was on the back of a robust PMI for manufacturing at 53.9, the highest among ASEAN countries,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, who also serves as chair of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meetings.
Viet Nam’s PMI is at 52.5, Thailand at 50.4, Singapore at 50.3, Indonesia at 49.5, Myanmar at 49.4 and Malaysia at 46.9.
“The PMI is an indicator of the manufacturing sector’s health, with indices above 50 signaling improvement in business conditions while those below 50 show deterioration,” explained Sec. Lopez.
“This favorable PMI is driven by robust domestic consumption and resurgent exports,” he added.
DTI earlier reported that PH exports withstood a slowdown in external demand in June and finished a strong first semester performance, ensuring that exports are both resilient and diversified in terms of products and markets.
Total merchandise exports for the period January to June 2017 stood at USD 31.04 billion, expanding by 14% over the USD 27.33 billion posted during the same period in 2016.
Said expansion was mainly due to high growth rates of exports to newly revived markets of the People’s Republic of China (including Hongkong SAR), as well as the European Union (EU), which gives the Philippines a Generalized Scheme of Preference Plus (GSP+) status, wherein more than 6,000 product lines enjoy duty free entry into the EU market.
Meanwhile, the depreciation of the peso against a backdrop of low inflation rate has also made PH export products more competitive in prices, thus contributing favorably to this surge in exports, according to DTI.
DTI continues to implement programs and projects to sustain robust exports growth. A centerpiece program is the revitalization of the manufacturing industry through the Manufacturing Resurgence Program (MRP) and, in partnership with the private sector, the crafting of currently 36 industry roadmaps geared to enhance the capacity and productivity of domestic industries to produce high value added commodities for both domestic and export markets.
“We remain committed to easing the cost of doing business in the country. We have been collaborating with other government agencies and the private sector in initiatives that will simplify doing business,” the trade chief said.
DTI’s presence can be felt nationwide through 17 Regional Offices that are ready to assist exporters all over the country, to facilitate a conducive environment for businesses and to ensure provision of technical assistance and the needed shared service facilities.
DTI is also assisting exporters with enhanced market intelligence through its 27 international posts
by admin | Aug 30, 2017 | Local News / Bohol Balita
SINANDIGAN UBAY, August 30, 2017 (PIA) –Aiming to sustainably replenish the stocks of swimming blue crabs (lambay) in Bohol, the government and a private sector group signed an agreement to formally establish a hatchery for the crustaceans popularly imported for their meat here at the local Multi Species Hatchery.
The government through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional Director Dr. Allan L. Poquita and Robert G. Eduardo chairman of the Philippine Association of Crab Processors Inc. ( PACPI) formally signed the agreement to mutually cooperate in the production of blue swimming crab August 30, here at the Multi species hatchery right in the middle of Danajon Double Barrier Reef.
Dr. Poquita said the historic event marks the rebirth of the blue crab meat industry through sustaining stocks in the region severely depleted by over harvesting in the past.
He said the project is consistent with BFAR mandate to promote the replenishment and propagation of crabs and achieve food security.
Here, the project intends to acquire suitable berried female crabs from fishers, but them at premium prices and bring them to the hatchery for spawning, according to Chairman Eduardo.
The ultimate goal is to be able to produce at least 20,000 to 30,000 hatchlings every month which would be dispersed to BFAR identified areas along the beneficiary towns and islands along the Danajon Bank, Dir Poquita added.
One of the projects goal is to enhance the Spawning Potential Ratio for blue crabs to a sustainable levels of at least 30%, according to PACPI Executive Director Josette Emlen Genio.
This means that of a female crabs average of 80,000 eggs, only 27% survive and mature enough to spawn, Genio cites recent blue crab studies by BFAR, PACFI and ECOFish.
Common at the Danajon and elsewhere in the Visayas, swimming blue crab (portunus pelagicus) is the country’s 4th in production volume for fishery commodity and 3rd in value production, BFAR emphasized.
However, swimming blue crabs which fetch a P180 to 200 a kilo in wet markets need to go past a gauntlet of obstacles including predation, undersized harvesting and a local culture running counter to sustainable harvest practices to make it past reproduction age.
Visayans prefer to harvest and eat berried or gravid crabs; the eggs indicate good meat.
The Memorandum of Agreement allows BFAR to allocate space, equipment and facilities for lambay production, advance mechanisms to curb the harvest of undersized and egg-bearing females, provide technical supervision in the hatchery production, identify future dispersal activities and monitor stocks, documenting the entire production progress process.
The agreement also makes PACPI provide technical and non technical staff and honorarium who will partner with the hatchery manager, give financial support to the project operation including acquisition of broodstock, feeds, fertilizers for natural food culture and facilities maintenance, provide additional equipment and supplies if needed and help BRAF document the processes.
For the one year project duration, PACPI dedicates P742,200.00 for the operation expenses and wages plus additional supplies and equipment if needed and a separate budget of P354,200.oo for post project assessment to determine the impacts of the hatchery reared-crablets to the wild stocks. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
PACPI Chairman Robert G. Eduardo and BFAR 7 Regional Director Allan L. Poquita along with Sinandigan Ubay BFAR Multi-Species Hatchery Chief Conrado Toston sign the MOA formally establishing the blue swimming crab hatchery here. (rahc/PI-7/Bohol)
by admin | Aug 27, 2017 | Local News / Bohol Balita
By JUNE S. BLANCO
REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) takes seriously the “teaching a man to fish” part of the saying rather than the “giving a man a fish” part.
He says “teaching” gives a man independence through skills he learns from training – and empowers him to provide for his family.
On the other hand, “giving” merely turns such a man into a mendicant, and in the process, robs him of dignity.
His efforts at teaching skills have earned Aumentado the National Kabalikat Award from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
TESDA recently celebrated its 23rd anniversary during which it conferred awards to partners in attaining its goals.
Aumentado had tapped the rich pool of TESDA trainors in different fields to train his constituents, hence the award given at the TESDA Auditorium, at the TESDA Complex, in Taguig City, Metro Manila.
The solon said TESDA cited him as legislative partner in promoting manpower and skills development for his constituents, especially those who cannot afford to pay for higher education.
Through these years, Aumentado’s office has been, and continuously is being a partner in the development of the Boholano workforce.
TESDA Central Office statistics show that Aumentado’s office – always ready to be of service to the public – had benefitted 8,168 Boholanos who availed of the trainings and scholarship programs from 2014-2016.
He has 5,173 assessed and 5,597 graduates employed. His office also invested P 25,473,141.41 for Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
TVET is the education or training process that, in addition to general education, involves the study of technologies and related sciences and acquisition of practical skills relating to occupations in various sectors of economic life and social life. It comprises of formal (organized programs as part of the school system) and non-formal (organized classes outside the school system) approaches.
by admin | Aug 26, 2017 | Tech Talk
A Startup Weekend Tourism Edition is a 3-day event where, on Friday night, participants pitch or pick ideas that benefit the tourism sector, form teams, work on their idea, and present their final product vision and business viability on Sunday night. With this format, four things can happen:
Connect. Wanted to work on a project or new business to help better the tourism situation in Bohol but haven’t yet found the right people to help you? Startup Weekend Tourism Edition brings together designers, developers, business professionals, and tourism industry experts to help you go on the right track. You might find your future team members, mentors, and stakeholders at this event!
Discover. Startup Weekend Tourism Edition helps you discover the playing field; you will be introduced to new resources available near you and will leave the event knowing the next steps you need to take on your road to success.
Learn. Participants will learn what it really takes to create a company. No book, panel, speaker, or blog post will teach you what you need to know about business; you just have to experience it and Startup Weekend Tourism Edition will help you do just that by putting you in an environment where you don’t have to worry about anything else (food, internet, resources) other than learning how to create a company.
Start. Startup Weekend Tourism Edition as a platform is designed to get you going FAST. The organizers will ready mentors, and material for you to get the learning process going and will help you make the most out of the weekend.
The event is in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Provincial Government of Bohol, and the Bohol Investment Promotion Center. It is sponsored by PrintBit, Gwion, and Sea Drake Island Cruises (we are still open for sponsorships!) . The participants at the event will also be mentored by Michael de Vincent Edwards, Aimee Lim, Tina Amper, Ben Skelton, and Peter Watkins. With them are judges Mark Phillips, Vicky Wallace, and many more startup ecosystem supporters.
