by admin | Mar 4, 2016 | Headlines, National News
MANILA, Mar. 04 (PIA)–Agi og pagsaulog sa Women with Disabilities Day sa Marso 28 ning tuig, si Kalihim Mel Senen Sarmiento sa Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) midasig sa tanang Local Chief Executives (LCEs) sa pagpahigayon og haom nga mga kalihokan alang sa aktibong pag-apil sa women with disabilities o mga kababayen-ang adunay kakulian sa panglawas sa nasudnong kalamboan.
Ang tema sa selebrasyon ning tuig mao ang “Kapakanan at Karapatan ni Juanang May Kapansanan, Isama sa Plano ng Bayan.”
“Mahalaga na mahikayat ang mga kababaihan na may espesyal na pangangailangan na maisama ang kanilang mga adhikain sa kabuuang plano ng pamahalaang nasyunal,” matud pa ni Sarmiento.
Sa iyang direktiba, ang Kalihim sa DILG miawhag usab sa LCEs sa pagsuporta sa Women With Disabilities Day pinaagi sa mga mosunod nga kalihokan sa ilang mga lugar:
Pagbitay og advocacy streamers/tarpaulins sa mga estratehikong lugar. Ang design/lay-out sa tarpaulin mahimong ma-download gikan sa National Council of Disability Affairs (NCDA) website ug http://www.ncda/gov.ph.
Pagpahigayon og Orientation-Workshop cum Communication Planning sa Republic Act 10354 nga gitawag usab isip “The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012”.
Pagpahigayon og forum kalabot sa Reproductive Health Law and Action Research on Gender and Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM).
Gi-awhag usab ang mga lokal nga opisyal nga mahimong aktibo sa pagduso sa katungod sa mga kababayen-ang adunay kakulian sa panglawas. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Mar 4, 2016 | National News
The Department of Trade and Industry’s Slingshot MNL 2015, the official event for startups during the APEC Hosting last 2015, won the GOLD Anvil Award last Feb 26.
Slingshot MNL is an initiative led by the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine startup community in partnership with the leading startup institution in the country, IdeaSpace Foundation.
SlingShot is considered one of the pioneering events for the Philippine startup community attended by over 1,300 attendees with over 30 resource speakers and 100 local startups. The Gold Anvil Award serves as recognition of its outstanding public relations program and its tools that meet the highest standards set in its category.
“Supporting and promoting our startup community is just a step forward to developing a national innovation system in the country that would help us prioritize the need to capacitate our local producers including budding micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to be more competitive in the global market through innovation,” said Industry Promotions Group Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado.
The two-day conference gathered entrepreneurs, foreign and local investors, government officials and several industry leaders and influencers. The event also showcased to potential business partners and investors the products and services of local startups. Topics discussed during the six breakout sessions include understanding hubs of innovation and opportunities in startup investments, redefining scale in the global market place, and startup ecosystem support. Pitch competitions also took place during the event.
The event further aims to establish collaborating network among business enablers, industries and entrepreneurs. It also aims to make the country a hub for entrepreneurs seeking support for their business.
“We are happy to put forward the promotion of startups in the country. Through collaborative efforts, we know that the government, private sector and our entrepreneurs will develop cross-industry collaboration to help our growing startup community,” said Michael Ignacio of Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) and one of the heads of SlingShot MNL 2015.
Slingshot MNL 2016 is also set to take place on March 10 and 11 in Manila and Cebu respectively. For the past years, Philippine startups have captured foreign investors as the sector continues to receive support from various stakeholders and business enablers. With the continued efforts of doing business in the country easier, DTI through its programs and initiatives will ensure that startups are encouraged and are taken into the next level for their business development.
Anvil Awards is conducted annually by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines to award outstanding public relations programs and tools designed and implemented during the previous year.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Mar 4, 2016 | Headlines, Major Events, National News
Philippine delegation of companies in food, pharmaceutical, and personal care products successfully concluded a business mission from 9 to 25 of February to the Middle East through the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry – Export Management Bureau (DTI-EMB).
Among the countries that are part of the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) that the business mission visited are Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA-Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam), Bahrain and UAE. The mission aims to fully penetrate the Middle East market.
“The round of business matching activities conducted with the assistance of our Philippine Embassies in Kuwait, KSA, Bahrain and UAE together with the Philippine Trade & Investment Center in Dubai working closely with the full support of the major chambers of commerce in the Middle East has allowed us to conduct this business mission successfully with booked and potential sales amounting to USD49.1 Million as gathered from initial results of the evaluation reports from the participating PH companies,” said EMB Director Senen M. Perlada.
Among the companies in the said business mission are Fresh Consumer Trade and Logistics, Magic Melt Foods Inc., Market Reach International, Monde Nu Agri Corporation, Philippine Grocers Food Inc., Pixcel Transglobal Inc., Profood International, Psalmstre Enterprises Inc., Willion International Trading and United Laboratories Inc.
One of the key priorities of DTI included in the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) is to identify and develop export capabilities in products where global market demand is fast growing. With the increase in the consumption of PHL products in Middle East, this business mission among GCC member countries is an opportunity for the country to put forward our goal to achieve our stretch target of 8-9% this year.
“This is where our Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) strategy transcends into reality. We will work together with relevant stakeholders to boost our efforts of becoming major players in the Middle East market,” said Perlada.
Also part of the action plan is the assessment of available remedies to determine sustainable solutions to common trade barriers which include rejection of cargo containers due to mislabeling and parallel shipments.
“With the new rules being observed in the Middle East market, this calls for a deliberate approach and we will work closely together with the private sector, major associations and other government agencies such as the DA, FDA, PTTC, CITEM and FTSC to further our objectives” added Perlada.
The PEDP has recently been signed by Pres. Benigno C. Aquino IlI through Memorandum Circular No. 91 which employs DTI to carry out strategies based on empirical studies that identify key priorities and emerging products from the Philippines with high growth potentials for export to various markets around the world.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Mar 3, 2016 | National News
MANILA, Mar. 03 (PIA)–Sugod na karong adlawa ang pagpatuman sa Graphic Health Warning Law ug obligado na ang mga kompaniya sa sigarilyo nga magbutang og mga larawan nga magpakita sa hulga sa panglawas sa pagpanigarilyo sa ilang mga produkto.
Matud pa ni Department of Health (DOH) Kalihim Janette Garin, ubos sa balaod, angay adunay printed nga napulog-duha ka graphic health warning ang mga kompaniya sa sigarilyo.
Ang larawan nga magpakita og mga sakit nga mahimong makuha tungod sa pagpanigarilyo angay ibutang sa mga pakete sa sigarilyo.
Samtang tugtan sa DOH ang mga tobacco companies nga hutdon ang mga daang supply sa sigarilyo nga wala pay graphic health warnings, apan sa tanang bag-ong suplay, angay may mga larawan na.
Sa pagsugod sa implementasyon sa maong balaod, magbaton ang DOH og assessment aron matumbok kun unsa kadaku ang mahimong epekto sa mga nanigarilyo o kun makuhaan ba ang gidaghanon sa mga tigpanigarilyo tungod sa pagbutang og graphic health warnings. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Mar 3, 2016 | National News
The Board of Investments and retirement industry stakeholders envision the Philippines as a viable retirement destination for foreign and Filipino retirees. DTI Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo described the Philippines as an “emerging” retirement destination. “With our compassionate and competent pool of healthcare professionals and world class wellness facilities, the Philippines is fast becoming an attractive country for foreign and Filipino retirees from around the world,” he said.
The Board of Investments said that the Retirement Industry Roadmap will be finalized within the first half of 2016. The roadmap was crafted by stakeholders in the retirement industry in collaboration with BOI and other government agencies.
The Retirement Industry Roadmap outlines the course of action needed for the industry to be globally-competitive. The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), current chair of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Retirement Sector’s Roadmapping Activity, is currently reviewing the draft roadmap.
In the Annual Global Retirement Index 2016, the International Living Magazine ranked the Philippines as 17th out of the 23 best countries to retire in. The Annual Global Retirement Index bases its rating on a number of composite factors, namely, real estate costs, special benefits for retirees, cost of living, leisure amenities, healthcare services, infrastructure, and climate.
The retirement industry has made considerable contributions to the economy, reflected largely in revenues from visa deposits of Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) holders. Introduced by PRA in 1987 to entice foreign nationals and former Filipino citizens to retire in the country, retirees can either apply for multiple entry privileges and rights to stay permanently or indefinitely in the country by way of visa deposits ranging from US$10,000.00 to US$50,000.00 and US$1,500.00 for former diplomatic corps workers. In 2014, PRA enrolled 4,781 new retirees. Total visa deposits of SRRV holders as of December 31, 2014 amounted to US$452 million or about PhP19 billion.
Although not yet comprehensively documented, significant economic contributions are known to also come from local retirees and pensioners from the Government Service Insurance System and Social Security System (of about 1.3 million individuals combined), Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), and the Retirement and Separation Benefits System (AFP-RSBS) for the uniformed services.
Meanwhile, Retirement & Healthcare Coalition, International, a non-profit, non-stock private organization affiliated with the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines, is doing its share in making the country more viable as a retirement destination. The organization recently conducted a certification and training program for a Quality Management System based on DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 to participating nursing homes under the Public Private Partnership Project “Human Touch.” The activities under the program were tailor-made for the institutional framework of the Philippines.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Mar 3, 2016 | Headlines, National News
Reforms and amendments on existing regulatory laws that facilitate the free flow of traded goods will benefit PH exporters.
“High transaction cost of moving trade goods remains to be a major drag factor in the competitiveness of PH exports,” said Department of Trade and Industry Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) Director Senen M. Perlada.
With the recent adoption of RA 10668 known as the Foreign Co-Loading Law and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), DTI-EMB expects that reduction of obstacles to free movement of goods and services is expected to greatly contribute to the 9% growth of exports in 2016.
“Many of these factors are related to moving and clearing of cargoes at the ports; and cumbersome and costly requirements of regulatory agencies on traded goods. It is thus necessary to remove or at least reduce unnecessary regulatory obstacles to the movement of goods and delivery of services”, added Director Perlada.
The RA 10668 otherwise known as the Foreign Co-Loading Law amended last July 2015 practically adopts the Cabotage rule which allows foreign vessels to dock at any Philippine port for loading and unloading of foreign cargoes. Foreign cargo refers to import and export cargo carried by a foreign vessel. The law will pave way to the reduction of costs for logistics and will provide transshipment services needed by exporters and importers.
The amended Cabotage Law is also expected to increase port revenues and provide price-competitive shipping service that will help exporters to compete effectively in the international market. It will further help decongest Manila ports as most shipments normally have to unload first in Manila before shipping directly to other domestic ports around the country.
On the other hand, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) has been approved in the Bicameral Conference after both Houses have reconciled the Senate and House Bills of the CMTA. The bill now awaits the signature of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The bill (S.B. No. 2986), sponsored by Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, amends the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) in compliance with the Revised Kyoto Convention which is a blueprint for “modern and efficient customs procedures” of the World Customs Organization. The bill aims to significantly reduce human intervention in Bureau of Custom’s (BOC) process and promotes transparency and accountability of the BOC.
Aside from the CMTA, The BOC has also implemented other measures that will benefit exporters and importers. Both exporters and importers favored the move of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) under Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 29-2015 last September to discard two (2) import forms such as the Import Entry and Internal Revenue Declaration (IEIRD) and the Supplemental Declaration on Valuation (SDV). This will reduce their transaction costs with the BOC in the release of their imported items.
Under CMO 29-2015, the use of IEIRD or BOC Form 236 will be discontinued in favor of the Single Administrative Document (SAD) which will now serve as the entry declaration. The SAD is secured through the E2M Customs system and printed in two (2) copies.
The information in the SDV will be indicated in Box 39 of the SAD which is considered a mandatory field in the entry declaration.
The CMO implements the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) entered into by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Tariff Commission and other government agencies on the electronic information interchange between the BOC and other agencies.
Another BOC policy that would be beneficial to exporters is the non-requirement of Certificate of Exemption for importation of lithium Ion batteries provided that these are imported as finished product. This was reiterated in Customs Memorandum Circular No. 96 -2015 pursuant to Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation 1-2014.
Reforms on the policies being implemented are results of consultations among Export Development Council, Dangerous Drugs Board, other government agencies and affected industries to avoid delay in the release of imported lithium ion batteries utilized by the electronics sector.
The BOC also revised its port operation manual, thereby abolishing the requirements of Notice of Stuffing and the presence of Stuffing Inspector during the stuffing/loading of export cargo container (CMO 4- 2015).
Removing domestic regulations and other unnecessary costs of production and market delivery enhances the capacity of our local producers to focus on the improvement of their product and participate and explore opportunities given to them by the government. Through these efforts, the export sector is expecting greater participation from the local sector and a positive return in achieving the country’s stretch target growth of 8-9% for exports this year.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
