by admin | Jan 19, 2018 | DTI Updates, Headlines
DTI Region 5 – The Department of Trade and Industry in Albay imposed a Price Freeze on basic commodities in the whole Province of Albay as lava continues to flow from the Mayon Volcano.
As of Tuesday, Albay Province has been declared under a state calamity by the Provincial Council of Albay through Resolution No. 670-2018.
The DTI-Albay Provincial Office is closely monitoring the price and supply of basic necessities in establishments throughout Albay. DTI will ensure there are sufficient and reasonably-priced basic necessities such as canned sardines, evaporated and condensed milk, coffee refill, laundry bar, detergent powder, candles, bread (Pinoy tasty and Pinoy pandesal), salt, bottled water, and instant noodles.
A Memorandum Circular was also issued to all wetmarkets, supermarkets, groceries, bakeries, and water refilling stations, reminding establishments to comply with the provision of the Price Act. It will also serve as a warning that any violation of the Price Act shall be dealt with accordingly.
The DTI enjoins the retailers to comply with the price freeze while consumers are advised to be guided by the price freeze list in their respective areas in making their purchases.
Penalties for violation against the price freeze include at least the imposition of fine of P5,000.00 up to P1 million and/or imprisonment of one (1) year up to ten (10) years.
by admin | Jan 18, 2018 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) looks to create more smarter entrepreneurs through mentoring and coaching programs with the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) Program.
Under the 7Ms initiative of the Department, the Kapatid Mentor ME aims to strengthen the strategy for Philippine Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development, which are mindset, mastery, mentoring, market, money, machines, models, propelling MSMEs to make headway in increasing the competitive market.
DTI Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said the agency will expand the KMME Program after a successful pilot run in 2017 with 2,663 MSMEs, finishing the 10-week mentoring program.
“When we launched KMME nationwide last year. We were able to generate 28,202 attendees. As of end of 2017, we have at least a total of 2,663 [MSME] graduates or mentees. These are the ones who have undergone 10-week session of intensive training and mentoring by MSMEs themselves,” Maglaya said, adding that the agency targets to hike the number of MSMEs assisted by 5,000 this year or 20% increase of the total attendees.
The Kapatid Mentor ME Program aims to assist MSMEs scale up and sustain their businesses through weekly coaching and mentoring by business owners and practitioners on different functional areas of entrepreneurship.
The 11-week program will have weekly modules such as Marketing, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Operations Management among others.
For 2018, Maglaya said the agency will expand the initiative and will add coaching as part of the program.
“We will have a new program on coaching. This year, because we have more mentors, we will have the coaching program,” she explained.
“The coaching program will allow our local mentors to be in Negosyo Centers and spend two to three hours of coaching with MSMEs,” she added.
by admin | Jan 15, 2018 | Business, DTI Updates
The Government’s Inter-agency Task Force on Ease of Doing Business (EODB) is speeding up reforms to improve the country’s competitiveness.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez reported that the strategy is to pursue a whole of government approach where all instrumentalities of government involved in business regulations are taking unified action in simplifying government processes and making them more business-friendly.
“Remember that Competitiveness and Ease of doing business is number 3 in the President’s socio-economic agenda. The executive branch, both National government agencies, and Local Government Units, and the legislative branch are working double time so that businesses could benefit from these reform initiatives.” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
The DTI Secretary reported on the latest reforms initiated by the Executive Branch
- In November 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission implemented the Company Registration System (CRS) which significantly reduced the processing time and procedures in company verification and registration. The system also integrates the issuance of Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and employer numbers from Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, and Philhealth.
- In December 2017, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista issued an order establishing One-Stop Shops (OSS) for business permits which will facilitate registration of new businesses. The OSS is now operational at the QC Hall.
- To speed up the issuance of construction permits, the Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and the DTI issued a joint circular which prescribed standards and procedures in the issuance of building permits, certificates of occupancy and other construction-related permits.
A unified employee enrollment form and system will soon be implemented by the Social Security System, Pag-IBIG and Philhealth for new corporations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission that will consolidate enrollment of new employees at a single portal or at any one of the social security agencies.
The DTI Secretary expressed confidence that Congress will soon pass the Expanded ARTA/EODB bill which will significantly address red tape, and expedite business related transactions in the country. Secretary Lopez mentioned other important legislation such as the amendment of the Corporation Code, the passage of the Secured Transactions Act, which will improve Philippines ranking in Starting a business and Getting Credit indicators in the Doing Business Survey, respectively.
DTI also noted reforms in the judicial branch. The full implementation of the e-Court system by the Supreme Court is seen to enhance the Philippines’ Enforcing Contracts scores. We are looking forward to the issuance by the Supreme Court of the guidelines on e-notarization also expected to create positive results in the competitiveness ranking.
Last year, the Philippines slipped 14 notches to 113th rank in the Doing Business report published by World Bank-International Finance Corporation. It measures the ease of doing business across ten processes which a firm must undertake over its typical life cycle.
“Reforms must happen across government to achieve our goal to become top 20% in world rankings by 2020”, according to Secretary Lopez, Chair of the Doing Business Task Force.
by admin | Jan 15, 2018 | DTI Updates, National News
The Department of Trade and Industry sees improvement in the ease of doing business in the country, with the implementation of the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) directing local government units (LGUs) to streamline the issuance of building permits and certificates of occupancy.
For the first time, the JMC 2018-01, which was issued by the Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and DTI, sets service standards for processing simple applications for construction-related permits. This is in response to President Duterte’s call to simplify the issuance of permits by LGUs in support of the Build Build Build! Program of the government. The JMC covers single dwelling residential buildings of not more than three floors, commercial buildings of not more than two storeys, renovation within a mall with issued building permits and warehouses storing non-hazardous substances.
As prescribed in the circular, LGUs are enjoined to set up a processing system that will ensure that applicants follow a four-step procedure in securing building permits – submission of application with complete documentation, receipt of the order of payment, payment of fees and claiming of the permits. Processing time by LGUs is reduced to five (5) working days maximum, while that for BFP permits is limited to not more than three (3) days for building permit applications. The same number of steps and processing time are prescribed for applications for certificates of occupancy. The JMC also recommended a pre-formatted form and a uniform set of documentary requirements, and a one-time assessment and one-time payment of fees, with the latter eliminating the current practice of separately paying for different construction-related documentary clearances in different LGU offices and the BFP.
To be able to comply with the service standards, the government is mandating LGUs to establish one-stop shops that will consolidate the processing of clearances issued by LGUs related to construction permits, such as building permits, certificates of occupancy, locational clearances, tax declaration, tax clearances, certificates of final electrical inspection as well as those required by the Bureau of Fire protection – the Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance and the Fire Safety Inspection Certificate. To be able to do this, representatives from the Office of the Building Official (OBO), Treasury Office, Zoning Office, Assessor’s Office of the LGU, and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will be co-located in one area at the LGU. Joint inspection teams will also be organized to ease the burden of applicants in accommodating multiple inspections by different offices before their certificates of occupancy are released.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, who chairs the National Competitiveness Council and Doing Business Task Force, is confident that the recently signed circular will bring significant results in the Philippines’ ranking in Doing Business Report.
“We fervently support the implementation of this circular, as it strengthens our previous efforts to eliminate red tape. Now that JMC 2018-01 is in place, we look forward to improved ease of doing business and better performance in Doing Business rankings.” Secretary Lopez said.
Last year, Philippines dropped 14 notches to No. 113 in Doing Business Report published by World Bank-International Finance Corp. Particularly, the country ranked No. 101 in Dealing with Construction Permits.
Following the drastic process re-engineering that LGUs will be undertaking as a result of the JMC, the Secretary is also persuading the cities, especially those in highly urbanized areas, to start developing a web-based system for online submission and processing of construction-permits similar to the processes already being implemented by some ASEAN countries. This is also in line with the JMC which enjoins LGUs to automate procedures, including the mode of payment, with the support of DICT.
by admin | Dec 11, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
Makati – The government of New South Wales (NSW) expressed its confidence in the Philippine (PH) economy and wants to explore strengthened trade and investment cooperation ties between PH and NSW.
In a meeting with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez on 7 December 2017, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian conveyed their government’s intention to enhance their relationship with PH.
A state located on the east coast of Australia, NSW imports telecommunication equipment and parts, passenger motor vehicles, medicaments, refined petroleum, and computers.
“We welcome Australian investors and businesses that will help us uplift the lives of those at bottom of the pyramid and enable the Philippines to contribute in the global value chain. New South Wales has expressed strong confidence in our economy and the business environment stability under the Duterte Administration and wish to partner with us,” said Sec. Lopez.
The trade chief highlighted the growing manufacturing sector and encouraged NSW to partner with PH in research and development. The trade chief also shared the PH government’s initiatives in streamlining and automating services to improve doing business in the country.
“We will continue to work on opening areas of investment and increase employment and business opportunities for all Filipinos,” Sec. Lopez added.
Meanwhile, Premier Berejiklian shared that many Australian businesses, especially in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, are attracted to PH’s encouraging economic state and enormous potential. Apart from the impressive 6.9% GDP growth, the NSW premier highlighted the good traits of Filipino workforce and the work culture they have.
With infrastructure-related construction as one of the priority areas for expansion of NSW, Premier Berejiklian also opened the discussion on a possible partnership through the sharing of expertise and technological know-how in the industry
by admin | Dec 8, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
Mandaluyong – At the sidelines of the opening of Sikat Pinoy National Trade Fair on 6 December 2017, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Markprof Foundation headed by Mr. Josiah Go to create marketing tutorial videos for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“We are bringing marketing seminars of the experts in the field of marketing and branding closer to our MSMEs. The videos will be accessible and available in all Negosyo Centers in municipalities and provinces nationwide,” said Sec. Lopez.
The 22 marketing videos to be produced by Markprof Foundation will be distributed to all 716 Negosyo Centers in the country. The videos will contain different principles as well as strategies in marketing and brand-building to help local MSMEs overcome challenges and grow their respective businesses.
The trade chief also shared that online mentoring will be available soon to make learning and mentoring more accessible to all MSMEs anytime and anywhere.
DTI, the government agency champion promoting MSMEs, takes a holistic and strategic approach in supporting the sector through its 7Ms strategy (Mindset change, Mastery, Mentoring, Money, Machine, Market access, and Models of business).
The National Trade Fair, which is ongoing until 10 December 2017, is one of the initiatives of DTI to provide market access for the products of MSMEs and features One Town, One Product (OTOP) offerings from all regions in the country. The fair also showcases the output of DTI’s Shared Service Facilities (SSF) beneficiaries including select machineries and equipment that helps in increasing the productivity and improving competitiveness of MSMEs.
With the support of the Duterte Administration in enabling and providing opportunities to MSMEs, DTI’s Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) microfinancing program has benefitted 30,000 MSME borrowers.
“We will continue to innovate and come up with more programs to help, support, and empower our MSMEs, and encourage more Filipinos to take part in our growth story,” said Sec. Lopez.
In the photo are (L to R): DTI Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga, Sec. Ramon Lopez, Markprof Foundation’s Mr. Josiah Go, and Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya.
