by admin | Apr 3, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines, National News
Mexico City – The Department of Trade and Industry´s (DTI) Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Mexico, with support from the Philippine Embassy in Mexico, together with COMCE, the Mexican Business Council of Foreign Trade, Investment, and Technology recently discussed Philippine business opportunities in an organized roundtable on Philippine Business Opportunities in Mexico.
Participated in by over 30 Mexican businessmen from the logistics, autoparts manufacturing, business development, and agro-food products sectors, the event highlighted opportunities for trade and investments between the Philippines and Mexico.
Ambassador Eduardo Jose A. De Vega graced the event by highlighting the history of Mexico-Philippine trade relations and the importance of the current activities of the Philippine government to reactivate them.
Meanwhile, the Embassy´s Commercial Counselor and head of PTIC Mexico, DTI´s Vichael Angelo D. Roaring, presented current bilateral trade relation between the two countries and the opportunities, advantages, incentives and the optimum environment that the Philippines has developed to become a competitive destination for foreign investments and a source of exports of quality products.
“The Philippines continues to be a strategic business location in the Asia-Pacific region, being not only a 100 million market but as a gateway for over 500 million market of the ASEAN,” highlighted Roaring.
Juan Pablo Garcia, Director of Corporate Affairs of CEMEX, gave a testimonial and a case study of CEMEX´s experience of setting up and doing business in the Philippines. With CEMEX’ presence in more than 50 countries, Garcia cited the Philippines as one of its best places for doing business for its manpower and enabling business environment. Garcia also pointed out CEMEX´s plans to venture in the low-cost housing sector in the Philippines, a preferred business sector of the DTI’s Board of Investments 2017 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP).
Jorge Barbosa of ProMexico, a trade promotion agency of Mexico, presented opportunities that Mexico offers to the Philippines in terms of investment, as well as the potential of the Philippine market for Mexican companies in the fields of processed food, beverages, frozen fruits and vegetables, auto parts, home appliances and creative industries, and the potential for investments in ports, infrastructure, auto parts, call centers and entertainment industries.
Also present to discuss the strengthening relations between the Philippines and Mexico are Ambassador Enrique Michel Santibáñez, former Ambassador of Mexico in the Philippines, and current COMCE president for the ASEAN; and Alberto Varelo of AMEXCID, a Mexican government agency for International Development Cooperation. On the other hand, Philippine Embassy Vice Consul Mikhail de Dios discussed cultural ties of the two countries.
The event served as an avenue for networking between Mexican businessmen and Philippine officials. PTIC Mexico held one-on-one consultations with the participants to work on their specific business interests with the Philippines.
by admin | Apr 1, 2017 | Headlines
The Department of Trade and Industry through the Negosyo Center – Loboc, recently conducted a training on Peanut Cookies Processing to single parents of the municipality last March 21 and 23, 2017. The training participants are members of the Loboc Association of Single Parents.
The two-day training was conducted in coordination with LGU-Loboc and the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The trainings was aimed at providing the association members with skills on peanut cookies processing, that could be a potential source of income for their families.
Ms. Ritchel Tabel, an NC II TESDA accredited trainer for Bread and Pastry Production was the resource person. The training was facilitated by Ms. Christine Tabanera, NC Loboc Business Counselor.
by admin | Mar 31, 2017 | Headlines
DTI CHIEF SPEAKS AT THE BIENNIAL CONVENTION OF FEDERATION OF FILIPINO-CHINESE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez addressed recently (26 March) hundreds of Filipino-Chinese business leaders representing 150 member organizations across the country, during the 31st Biennial Convention of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) in Pasay City. The same event also saw election of officers and formulation of FFCCCII’s new plans and commitments for the next two years. As keynote speaker, the trade chief emphasized the government’s commitment to cultivate an enabling policy environment that is inclusive, as well as assured continuous improvement in the country’s business climate through President Rodrigo Duterte’s 10-point socio-economic agenda. Sec. Lopez called on the members of the private sector to remain active government partners towards the development of the Philippine economy, especially as it experiences sound macro-economic fundamentals, strong investors’ confidence and good governance. He also hoped that the organization’s future initiatives would complement current nation-building efforts, such as in mentoring micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), in support of spurring economic prosperity though employment and entrepreneurship. In this photo are key members of the FFCCCII, led by its Chairman Emeritus Lucio Tan (5th from L), President Angel Ngu (4th from R) and Honorary President Alfonso Siy (4th from L).
by admin | Mar 31, 2017 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
TAGBILARAN CITY, March 30 (PIA)—“Dili man ni sanga, pague man ni.” (This is not the meat of the banned manta, this is another kind.
By this thin line of excuse, traders of poached manta birostris better known in Bohol as sanga, sell the protected rare giant Atlantic manta ray meat in raw, dried or processed and easily get away with it.
Not anymore.
Starting next week, April 4, the lame excuse of selling manta meat because they are not from the biriostris kind stops as the whole country enforces a full ban on taking, possessing and transporting all big manta rays.
The Convention on International Treaties on Endangered Species (CITES), a 1973 international agreement between governments to protect endangered species of plants and animals from being extinct due to international trade and over harvest, has listed the manta ray as among its rare, endangered and species threatened to extinction.
The classification is also based on the International Union on the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as the manta birostris (Giant Manta Ray) along with the Manta Alfredi (Reef Manta Ray) also found in Bohol are being in the red list as vulnerable to extinction.
In the Philippines, Section 97 of the RA 8550 of the Fisheries Code of the Philippines states that it is unlawful to fish or take rare, threatened or endangered species as listed in the CITES and as determined by the Department.
Meanwhile, section 2 of Fisheries Administrative Order No 193 issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) prohibits the taking, catching, selling, purchasing, possessing, transporting or exporting manta rays, be they dead or alive, whether raw of processed state.
In addition, the same order prohibits wounding or killing manta rays in the course of catching fish, any manta ray caught in nets shall be immediately released unharmed, dead mantas washed in shore shall be surrendered to the BFAR for proper disposition.
Incidentally, the CITES recently includes the manta rays other than the manta birostris on the Appendix 2.
Mobulids (pagi or pantihan) have been classified similarly, announces Fisheries Regulatory Officer Pedro Milana at the recent Provincial Oeace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting
As FAO 193 took effect in 1998 focusing its protection on the manta birostris, by April 4, already included in the ban are manta alfredi (Giant reef manta), the mobula eregoodootenke (Pygmy Devil Ray) commonly known in Bohol as “pilong, mobula japanica (Japanese devil ray) or binsulan, mobula tarapacana (sicklefin devil ray), mobula thurstuni (Bentfin Devil Ray) or masinaw and mobula Khuli (lesser devil ray).
This development is expected to stir anew the already troubled fisheries waters in the region.
It may be recalled that last month, elements of the Philippine Coast Guard in Panglao, on a routine patrol in Baclayon chanced upon 2 tons of manta birostris meat for transport to Pamilacan Island.
The carrier said she bought the meat from a fisherman in Jagna, which still has an unregulated manta trading industry.
According to the BFAR, violation of section 2 of RA 8550 like catching, selling, transporting and possessing aquatic species listed in the Appendix 2 and 3 of the CITES, will both have administrative and criminal liabilities.
For the Administrative liability, the culprits would be fined three times the value of the species transported or possessed or P3 million, whichever is higher.
And the government forfeits the traded or possessed specie.
For the criminal liability, a culprit can be imprisoned for 5 to 8 years, a fine twice that of the administrative fine and forfeiture of species, Milana stressed.
As the news about the capture of the illegal meat spread across social media, locals in Bohol who have been hooked to the exotic manta ray meat pointed out more issues needing resolve.
Reports also came out that there is a bustling manta ray meat trading in Jagna, and that Boholanos continue to buy the dried meat for its accordingly delectable taste.
Boholanos love to cook the manta ray meat into linabug: a coconut milk cooked spicy meat, or manta skin cooked in coconut milk and green jackfruit or humbang banggis, or coal grilled sanga.
Other Boholanos said sanga sashimi is a superb delicacy.
In several areas, sanga gills commend a high price for pharmacological use, sources said.
The ban and enforcement however is expected to force Boholanos to shirk off the exotic food offer for the steep penalties.
BFAR said while they are undermanned to implement the law, very few people know which is manta ray meat of that from simple mobulas.
The while ban now makes it easy for enforcers to apprehend, since traders will now have no more excuse to sell sanga as pague and get away with it. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Mar 31, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced to the companies operating in the country that it will strictly enforce the 30-day submission of application for a sales promotion permit prior to implementation.
The Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau’s Sales Promotion Division (FTEB-SPD) of the DTI conducted a forum for Philippine businesses on the strict implementation of securing a sales promotion permit 30 days prior to the start of their promotional programs and activities last 14 March 2017 at the Berjaya Hotel in Makati City.
According to Article 116 of the Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, “No person shall conduct any sales campaign, including beauty contest, national in character, sponsored and promoted by manufacturing enterprises without first securing a permit from the concerned department at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the commencement thereof.”
Two hundred forty-eight representatives from small, medium and large companies in the country participated in the discussions on issues that they are experiencing in securing a sales promotion permit, particularly on concerns on the digital market environment.
During the forum, DTI-Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua emphasized, “It is crucial for the private sector to adhere to the said mandatory provision. The DTI will ensure that all companies with sales promotional activities will comply by its conduct of regular enforcement activities”.
The DTI-FTEB advised its stakeholders to plan and file their applications for sales promotion permit with the Department with enough lead time to meet their implementation date target.
For more information on securing a Sales Promotion Permit from the Department, call DTI Direct 751.3330 or send an email message tofteb@dti.gov.ph or cpg@dti.gov.ph
by admin | Mar 28, 2017 | Announcements, Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Media Forum
M E D I A A D V I S O R Y
TO : ALL STATION MANAGERS/ REPORTERS
Radio Stations
ALL EDITORS/ WRITERS
News papers
RE : MEDIA FORUM / SITE VISIT TO BDJ
In line with good governance and transparency, a MEDIA FORUM and SITE VISIT will be conducted at the Bohol District Jail, Cabawan District, this city, on March 30, 2017, Thursday.
This is also an offshoot of a recent concern / query by media to BDJ as well as showcase the best practices, programs, projects of the Bohol District Jail.
The activity will start with a Forum and Interaction with Warden JCINSP Felilde Aroa Montejo, DDM at 10:00 in the morning. Site visit and tour of the facilities, projects, among others will follow then lunch at the cafeteria.
Transportation will depart at 9:15am at the governor’s mansion grounds to ferry to participants to Cabawan and back at around 2:30 in the afternoon.
We hope that with your presence, we can inform more on the programs of BDJ and support of the Provincial Government.
Thank you so much and let us work together in promoting a better Bohol.
