by admin | May 2, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will conduct a public consultation/ hearing on the “Draft Department Administrative Order (DAO) on the “Implementing Guidelines on the grant of BAGWIS AWARD to business establishments that uphold consumers’ rights and interests and practice business ethics” on May 9, 2017 at the Bayfront Hotel, Kaoshiung Street, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City.
The public consultation for the “Draft Department Administrative Order (DAO) on the Guidelines on the Recognition of Consumer Organizations “ will be held in Iloilo City on the same day.
Both public hearings have been scheduled for residents of the Visayas (Regions 6, 7, 8 and 9).
All those interested in the said activities are encouraged by the DTI to attend. The draft DAOs can be downloaded at the DTI website, www.dti.gov.ph.
Written endorsement/ position/ comments may be submitted to the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) c/o Assistant Director Lilian G. Salonga, Officer-in-charge, at the Trade and Industry Building, 361 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, 1200 Makati City or through email address CPAB@dti.gov.ph at any time before the date of hearing indicated.
For further queries and/or concerns, please coordinate with Ms. Anna Virgilia Rodriguez or Ms. Cerlina Josue at telephone number (+632) 7510384 locals 2223/ 2222.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Apr 29, 2017 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
TAGBILARAN CITY, April 27, (PIA)–A fishery resource management program implemented among the municipalities sharing the Danajon Double Barrier Reef (DBR) in Bohol closes its project but not after making milestones in community empowerment for fisheries management towards poverty alleviation.
Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (EcoFISH), with Department of Agriculture Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the representatives of the United States Agency for international Development (USAID) received statement of commitments from people’s organizations in their assisted sites.
The statements of commitment from eight people’s organizations of fishermen declare that a sustainable protection and conservation of their marine resources is important in maintaining the well being of their communities.
Mocaboc Island Fishers Association, Entrepreneurs Association for Sustainable Economic Development (EASED) of Alumar Island in Getafe (seaweeds production and marketing enterprise), EASED in Asinan, Buenavista (seaweeds pickle production and marketing enterprise), EASED in Jandayan Getafe (seaweeds nursery, production and marketing enterprise), Bansan Islands Seaweed Farmers and Fisherman’s Association, Bagacay Seaweeds Farmers Association of Sag, Talibon, Bagacay Seaweeds Farmers Association of Bagacay Talibon, Bilang-bilangan Daku Women’s Association (BIDAWA) of Bilangbilangan island, Bien Unido, Union Farmers and Fisherfolks Organization all said they would implement the EcoFISH concept of ecosystems approaches to fisheries management (EAFM).
Fully understanding the need to decrease the tension in fisheries to allow the degraded resource to recover, the groups said any income derived from their economic enterprises, they would not use to buy more fishing gear that would contribute to the overfishing issue in their area.
EcoFISH is a government project implemented by the DA-BFAR with assistance from the USAid addressed the complex problem of fast dying marine ecosystems, diminishing fish catch and the pervading poverty that may have caused this vicious cycle of problems.
Implemented in the coastal towns sharing the Danajon DBR from Tubigon to Carlos P. Garcia in Bohol, project implementers have completed the zonification of the area to avoid more inter-local government unit conflicts in resource utilization, did multiple research activities on economic profiles, fisheries profiles which form the base of the enhanced ecosystems approaches to fisheries management (EAFM) as well as innovations in law enforcement, said Anecita Gulayan, project executive officer.
At the beginning of the project, EcoFISH intended to attain a 10% increase in fisheries biomass in the Danajon, an increase in employment caused by sustainable management of its fisheries, establish at least 8 public-private partnerships supportive of EcoFISH objectives and a large portion of Danajon marine environment placed under improved management.
We may have not done as much as those people want to see, after all, the earthquake that hit Bohol in 2013 also affected so much of Bohol’s underwater ecosystems, but, Gulayan reported a slight increase in fisheries biomass.
Danajon, is among the very few double barrier reefs in the world, and is stretching as a natural protection barrier for coastal towns of Tubigon, Clarin, Inabanga, Buenavista, Getafe, Talibon, Trinidad, Bien Unido, Ubay and Carlos P. Garcia.
Covering over 271 square kilometers, the Danajon, according to experts can have a yield of between $30K to $110 per square kilometer if properly managed.
This could already feed as well as adequately supply for the protein needs of the community as well as make sustainable fisheries a viable option for fishermen in the region, BFAR 7 Regional Director Dr. Allan Poquita said.
Considered a very valuable marine resource and the source of food of communities in 17 municipalities and cities in four provinces, experts including Danajon scientist Dr. Allan White have said that an effective collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders is needed to properly rehabilitate and manage the Danajon bank.
We may have not done as much as those people want to see, but after five years, we have significantly reduced boundary conflicts in the coastal towns sharing Danajon, Gulayan added.
The project has also set up a marine protected area network that collaborates with government that are supporting EAFM, Gulayan who has been a sector regular worker said.
Even without livelihood component, much of the work that EcoFISH leaves behind is one quantifiable only by the way of life coastal communities along Danajon are having and having a future to look forward to. This would be worth much more than the five years of empowering communities gives to people who now see their resource as finite and must be taken cared of. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Apr 28, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will conduct a public consultation/ hearing on the following:
- Draft Department Administrative Order (DAO) on the “Implementing Guidelines on the grant of BAGWIS AWARD to business establishments that uphold consumers’ rights and interests and practice business ethics”;
- Draft Department Administrative Order (DAO) on the “Guidelines on the Recognition of Consumer Organizations”,
The consultation / hearing scheduled for the Visayas (Regions 6, 7, 8 and 9) is on May 9, 2017 at the Bayfront Hotel, Kaoshiung Street, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City.
All those interested in the said activity are encouraged by the DTI to attend. The draft DAOs can be downloaded at the DTI website, www.dti.gov.ph.
Written endorsement/ position/ comments may be submitted to the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) c/o Assistant Director Lilian G. Salonga, Officer-in-charge, at the Trade and Industry Building, 361 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, 1200 Makati City or through email addressCPAB@dti.gov.ph at any time before the date of hearing indicated.
For further queries and/or concerns, please coordinate with Ms. Anna Virgilia Rodriguez or Ms. Cerlina Josue at telephone number (+632) 7510384 locals 2223/ 2222.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Apr 25, 2017 | Features, Headlines, Kita ug ang Gobernador, Photo Story
Gov. Edgar Chatto meets with USAID/B leaders and other development partners, who are working together hand-in-glove with the Department of Defense (DoD) Pacific Command, to discuss possibilities to enhance the capacity of the Philippine Government and its key partners to plan, design and implement low emission development strategies (LEDS) contributing to the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) in the power, transport and land use sectors.
Key activities include (a) Strengthening Capacity in Low Emission Development through greenhouse gas (GHG) Inventory and Preparation of GHG Management Plans; (b) Increased Investments into Clean Energy Projects. This will sustain USAID’s mentoring program, which will enable project developers and investors to package and finance viable clean energy projects.
Also present are DOE Chief Investment Specialist Lisa S. Go and Lily Gutierrez, Energy Policy Specialist from the Environment Office of USAID Philippines.
by admin | Apr 25, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
Acudeen Technologies, a startup that helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) overcome financial constraints, recently bagged equity investments of up to $500,000 after besting other participants from over 66 countries in the SeedStars World Summit in Switzerland.
Founded by a Filipino startup entrepreneur Mario Jordan “Magellan” Fetalino III, Acudeen Technologies is a financial-technology company that provides support for Philippine small businesses coping to make ends meet as they await payments from their clients.
Financial stability is one of the top problems faced by most micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. While MSMEs acquire big contracts with larger companies, they find themselves financially disabled while they wait for their invoices to be paid that are usually in 30-60 day cycles. This scheme forces most MSMEs out of business. With this prevailing problem, Acudeen Technologies provides an innovative solution. It transforms SMEs’ invoices into cash through discounting of their receivables providing them with necessary working capital which they fail to get from banks.
“This is an outstanding work of a Filipino entrepreneur which does not just boast of the innovative capacity of Filipino startups to provide solutions to existing problems, but also reflects the bayanihan spirit among Filipinos that continue to help our small businesses in the country to thrive,” said Department of Trade and Industry’s Trade and Investment Promotion Group Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado.
“We hope to encourage more startups like this in furthering our innovative economy. We encourage them to avail various initiatives of the public and private sector such as the QBO Innovation Hub,” added Terrado.
The Philippines, with increasing collaboration between the public and private sector, continues to urge more local entrepreneurs to explore various opportunities that technology offers for businesses. Through DTI, the Philippine government forwards the development of the startup ecosystem in the Philippines through the Startup Ecosystem Development Program (SEDP).
Recently, DTI together with Departments of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Information and Communication Technology (DICT) with Ideaspace Foundation and JP Morgan launched the QBO Startup Enablement Programs that aim to cater to the needs of the growing startup ecosystem in the Philippines.
by admin | Apr 21, 2017 | ASEAN agenda, Features, Headlines
TAGBILARAN CITY, April 21 (PIA)–In response to the regional task group managing the security for the meetings of the Association of South East Asian Nations 2017 (ASEAN 2017) in Bohol, marine task groups in Bohol are implementing a 500 meter no sail zone in front of the Alona stretch of beach.
The policy is in effect until the end of the ASEAN 2017 meetings in Panglao.
Seaman (SN1) Ralph Barajan, deputy chief of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Detachment in Panglao bared this as Bohol Task Group Commander PCSupt Noli Taliño earlier issued the “no sail, no flight” policy over Alona Beach.
This is to add up to the implemented security measures to protect the international and local delegates to the ASEAN trade meetings held at the Hennan Resort and some top level meetings at the Amorita Resort on the southeast end of the 1.5 kilometer stretch of beach.
“We are implementing a 500 meter from the coastline demarcation line for sail boats from the Amorita to Kalipayan Beach on the south west end, SN Barajan revealed.
The PCG elements are not the only ones making sure that navigation by any craft in the area is restricted.
Also there to help secure the sea area fronting the famed Alona stretch are the floating assets of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine National Police Maritime Group.
The Philippine Air Force is also tasked to insure that the airspace over Alona is cleared, PNP regional sources reported.
This too as the local government of Panglao implements the ordinance finally designating a one-stop area for tourist boats ferrying guests to dolphin and whale watching as well as island hopping tours.
Panglao mayor Leonila Montero said they have designated a unified pick up and drop off for tourists in a bid to streamline policies in implementing marine safety and safety of beach fronts.
The municipal docking facility at the back of the church in Panglao has been picked as a station wile local officials are reportedly eyeing to put up more in areas where resorts congregate, if only to allow faster tracking of boats and PCG safety inspections before embarking on marine tours, PCG said.
Earlier, PCG Bohol District Commander Lieutenant Junior Grade Jimmy Berbo, who has a long record of experience in maritime safety, has also suggested a streamlined docking policy just as the Maritime Industry Authority of the Philippines has campaigned for registration of all boats used for public conveyance.
This also helps assure tourists that the boat they contracted to serve is registered, insured and tracked by the maritime authorities for protection and safety assurances.
Tour guides said the policy of a designated station could help control the operation of illegal fly by night colorum bancas.
Panglao, along with the PCG Panglao detachment has finally implemented Philippine Coast Guard Memorandum Circular 03-14 dated April 2014, as the government asserts safety of beaches in front of resorts, and in Bohol especially at its prime 1.5 kilometer fine white sand beach showcase of the Alona stretch.
A turn-off for tourists owing to the uncontrolled boat parking and dropping of anchors massively ruining its snorkel areas, Alona has also been widely criticized for allowing access to boats with propellers dangerously within the swimming and snorkel areas, practically accidents waiting to happen.
The boat parking is also blocking the sea view and the gorgeous sunsets.
Recently however, authorities have started to see the logic in keeping Alona and its prime beaches cleared of these hazards.
As this developed, Boholanos have praised the Panglao local officials and the PCG and openly hoped that the safety policy is sustained even beyond the ASEAN. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
