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 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.
by admin | Sep 27, 2017 | Headlines, National News
Brussels – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez and Special Envoy to the European Union (EU) and former Senate President Edgardo Angara urged the EU Parliament to further engage the Philippines (PH) through the expansion of the General System of Preferences plus (GSP+) in a presentation at the EU Parliament and meetings with various trade institutions and parliament ministers.
“We want to follow thru the dialogue on the expansion of the GSP+ and move to a long lasting trade concession via a Free Trade Agreement,” Secretary Lopez said.
The trade chief highlighted the good economic relationship between the PH and EU, and the need to continue the mutually beneficial trade concession. EU is the 4th largest export market of PH, with over 6 billion Euros worth of exports and 36% growth in the first two quarters of 2017.
In the meeting, Secretary Lopez and Special Envoy Angara assured the parliament and business institutions that Philippines is a strong economic partner and there will be a continuing dialogue to ensure that they get the real and more objective situation in the country.
PH is their ally in the ASEAN region and is a gateway through its FTAs with ASEAN and other Asian partners such as Japan, China, and Korea.
The special trade preference will benefit many Philippine product exporters, particularly those for processed foods such as canned tuna and sardines. This would help the farmers and fisherfolks especially in the Mindanao region. GSP+ gives zero tariff to 6,247 product lines entering the EU market.
EU ministers laud the invitation extended by the Philippines to the EU Council President Donald Dusk, who also confirmed his attendance in the forthcoming ASEAN Summit in November. This is seen as a good sign in the improving Philippines-EU relationship.
Philippine delegation also assured the EU that the Philippines continues to adhere to protecting human rights and the President’s zero tolerance for abusive enforcers. There is clear rule of law and strong democracy in the country.
The meetings highlighted also the President’s role in championing the concerns of the poor and oppressed, thus the Philippine delegation cited many programs such as on drug rehabilitation, Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development, social development, universal healthcare, free education and free irrigation.
EU appreciated the high level representation towards a closer dialogue to address ongoing concerns. Real facts and numbers are presented and views directly from the administration. Closer dialogue will strengthen further the trade and investment ties between the two economies.
by admin | Sep 27, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
DTI Bohol Celebrates 2017 Consumer Welfare Month
The Department of Trade and Industry Bohol Provincial Office celebrates consumer month in October, in partnership with the Consumer Watch-Bohol, Inc. (CWBI) and the Bohol Youth Consumer Movement (BYCM). This year’s celebration carries the theme “Consumer Rights in the Digital Age”.
As a kick-off activity of the month-long celebration, DTI Bohol organizes a Consumer 5k Fun Run 2017 on October 1 which is simultaneous with other provinces and regions in the country. This activity aims to provide an avenue to advocate consumer rights and responsibilities while promoting health and wellness at the same time. Consumers, students, government and private employees are encouraged to join the consumer fun run, which is open for both male and female categories. Cash prizes of P 2,000.00, P 1,500.00, and P 1,000.00, will be given to the top three runners. Registration is free and the first two hundred (200) participants will be given free singlet. Official fun run registration forms are available at DTI Bohol Provincial Office.
On the other hand, the 5th Consumer Youth Summit will also be held on October 5, 2017,at JJ’s Seafood Village. The summit is open to students from the universities and colleges in Tagbilaran City. Resource speakers are invited to talk about eCommerce and Anti-phishing and anti-scam laws.
A Seminar on Product Standards Regulation and Conformance will also be held on October 13, 2017. This activity aims to update local business hardware and construction companies and establishments on the latest product standards department administrative orders and importation laws and regulations.
A culminating activity of this year’s Consumer Month celebration is the Consumer Quiz Bowl which will be held on October 25, 2017 at the ICM Activity Center. The contest is open to all secondary students from public high schools in the province. Winners shall receive cash prizes of P 2,000.00, P 1,500.00, and P 1,000.00, respectively.
For more information about the Consumer Welfare Month events and activities, please call or text us at DTI Bohol Provincial Office at our contact numbers through telephone numbers 501-8260, 412-3533, or 09173088859.
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by admin | Sep 21, 2017 | Headlines, Malakanyang Updates, National News
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez convened a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Commerce Minister Zhong Shan at the sidelines of the Philippine hosting of the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings.
CHINA TO GRADUALLY INCREASE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO PH. Seeing the assuring growth in the economic relations with the Philippines (PH), China (CN) conveyed that it will increase development assistance to the Philippines.
At the sidelines of the PH hosting of the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting and Related Meetings, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, who serves as the 2017 AEM chair, convened a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Commerce Minister Zhong Shan.
PH and CN discussed various measures to enhance trade and investment relations arising from the PH-CN Six-Year Development Program (SYDP) for Trade and Economic Cooperation 2017-2022 (SYDP) and the Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation (JCETC).
As part of the realization of the priority activities under the SYDP, the ministers endorsed the finalization of the Memorandum of Understanding on Industrial Parks Development between the Philippine Board of Investments (BOI) and China’s Ministry of Commerce.
“This initiative to develop industrial parks in the Philippines will help enhance the country’s manufacturing base and increase domestic production,” said Sec. Lopez.
A ground-breaking activity for some of the infrastructure projects under the SYDP was also proposed to be initiated within 2017. Said activity will be led by the respective infrastructure groups of both sides.
PH, meanwhile, mentioned potential areas for further cooperation including infrastructure, manufacturing (e.g. aircrafts parts, bicycles, e-vehicles, iron and steel, shipbuilding and irradiation facilities), cross-border e-commerce, big data analytics, and creative industries.
Both sides positively noted the improved trade and economic relations between PH and CN resulting from the Presidential Visit to China in October 2016, as well as from the successful convening of the JCETC in March 2017. PH exports to China increased to almost US$2.17 billion in January-April 2017, from US$1.69 billion in 2016. Further, PH exports of tropical fruits to China has increased remarkably in the 4th quarter of 2016 (compared to previous years), following the State Visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to China. In 2016, PH exports of bananas to China increased to US$144.77 million against US$109.15 million in 2015. During the same period, PH exports of pineapples more than doubled from US$16.26 million in 2015 to US$44.27 million.
Minister Zhong reiterated CN’s commitment to help PH rebalance trade by importing more from the country. He also invited PH to the China International Import Expo, which will be held in 2018. The Expo is part of CN’s move to further open its market and increase imports from other countries.
Minister Zhong also expressed his support for the growing interest of Chinese enterprises to invest and explore business opportunities in PH as demonstrated through the various letters of intent (LOIs) presented to the Board of Investments last March 2017.
In conclusion, the ministers agreed to work closely together to implement the consensus reached by their Leaders on pursuing practical and cooperative relations between both countries. PH also thanked CN for its support to ASEAN in driving the negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.
