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PH emphasizes role of MSMEs for economic growth
The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), emphasized the role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as providers of employment and drivers of the country’s economic growth. “The significance of micro small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as major economic drivers is beyond question. Their sheer number is overwhelming, as they account for 98% or more of all enterprises in most countries. Recent empirical studies show that MSMEs contribute to over 55% of GDP and over 65% of total employment in high-income countries,” DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said before World Trade Organization (WTO) members called “Friends of MSMEs” at “The Case of MSMEs in Inclusive Trade For Sustainable Development in Geneva, Switzerland. Maglaya explained that MSMEs are underrepresented in international trade in a globalised world. But as a silverlining, there is a growing number of MSMEs who supply the export market either directly or indirectly by being involved in the production of parts and components for regional and global value chains serving large producers locally or abroad. Maglaya added that when MSMEs do export, they contribute considerably to their country’s total GDP. The DTI official also stressed the need to address the hurdles being faced by MSMEs in the international level. As a solution, the Philippines have pointed out several keys to help MSMEs hurdle these problems. Maglaya pointed out the following steps being done by the Philippines such as providing access to innovation and technology, access to finance, access to skilled workers, and access to markets, particularly to export markets. PH hosting of ASEAN With Philippine chairmanship... read morePTTC holds consultations on Halal Assurance System
The Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) led by its Executive Director Nestor P. Palabyab, met with the Islamic D”wa Council of the Philippines (IDCP), one of the internationally recognized Islamic organizations in the country as well as the academic community, represented by UP Institute of Islamic Studies Dean Macrina Morados, to exchange views on providing support to the capability building interventions towards the development of the Halal industry in the Philippines. With a shared need for awareness on Halal and cultivating cultural sensitivity among Filipinos towards Islamic sensibilities, the PTTC and the UP Institute of Islamic Studies agreed to collaborate, with the participation of IDCP representatives Shajid Linzag and Genie Romarate, on a Certification Program Training on Halal Assurance System (HAS) with emphasis on prioritizing Halal Integrity among the country’s MSMEs. A Halal Training Plan was likewise shared by ED Palabyab which covered the complete value chain from Islamic Finance, Investments, to Halal Eco zones, Logistics, Production, to Processing, Services, Marketing and Promotion to... read more
Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) to Speed up Issuance of Construction-related Permits Signed
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...Ideaspace Foundation Holds Competition Roadshow for Bohol
Ideaspace Foundation held its first Competition Roadshow for the year 2016 in Bohol at Tambahayan Cafe, Palma Street, Tagbilaran City on January 29, 2016. Ideaspace Executive Director Diane Eustaquio and Technical Assistant for Startup Services Brenda Valerio facilitated the event. The participants included local technology and startup advocates, freelancers, members of the Google Educators Group, students, the Fab Lab team and IT professionals from around Bohol. There was also a participant all the way from Siquijor. Ms. Lai Biliran, Bohol ICT Council Chairperson and Ms. Nanette Arbon, DTI-Bohol Provincial Director were also present and showed their support for the tech community in the province. A participant asked, “What should they expect from the program?” Eustaquio answered that they should expect to go through a very tough period in a pressure cooker environment. “It is important to be ready to face the challenges of the life of an entreprenuer. It is not easy. IdeaSpace is there to help with the very difficult period of starting a business, but we will not be around all the time. It’s a life changing event.”, she added. Ideaspace Foundation is looking for teams with synergy, proven track record, and the stamina to bring their startup idea to market. The roadshow allowed the participants to ask more about the details of startup competition and how to increase their chances of being selected into the acceleration phase. Those accepted will have access to up to P1 million funding which will include up to P500,000 in cash, while non-cash benefits such as housing, transportation, incorporation, office space, communication, software support, trainings and classes, as well as mentoring...Local News/ Bohol Balita
Earthquake damages two major bridges linking Tagbilaran to coastal towns
Traveling around Bohol will be very inconvenient for Boholanos as two major bridges cut off access to coastal towns from Tagbilaran City. The Abatan Bridge in Maribojoc is totally unusable as sections of the bridge fell off to the Abatan river. The bridge in Loay, Bohol is also damaged and is not passable by vehicles. Maribojoc sustained a lot of building damage including the St. Vincent Ferrer parish which is in ruins. There was also a landslide in one of the hills in Maribojoc. This view from Cortes town showns the damaged Abatan Bridge and the landslide area on one of the hills in...City Hall Damaged by 7.2 Earthquake
The Tagbilaran City Hall sustained sever damage on its facade after the powerful earthquake that hit Bohol on October 15, 2013. The earthquake was measured at 7.2 magnitude and hit the province at around 8:12AM. Fortunately for the Boholanos, it was a holiday and most of kids and office workers are at...Comelec ngadto sa mga kandidato: Likayi ang sobrang paggasto
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 30 (PIA)–Hugot nga gipahinumdoman sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang mga mokandidato sa Oktubre 28 nga barangay elections nga likayan ang sobrang paggasto sa pagpangampanya aron dili madiskuwalipika sa eleksiyon. Nipasidaan si Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. nga gukdon ug patubagon gayud nila sa balaod ang mga kandidatong mapamatud-ang molapas sa gitakdang galastohan sa pagpangampanya. Agig pagtamod sa balaod, ang usa ka kandidato mahimo lamang mogasto og P3 alang sa matag botante kun opisyal nga kandidato ug P5 usab kun independent candidate ubos sa Republic Act 7166. Ubos usab sa Campaign Finance Law, obligado ang mga kandidato nga moduso sa ilang statement of contribution and expenditures (SOCE) diin gibutang didto nga kinahanglang dili sila molapas sa P5 per registered voter. Kun dili sila mosunod niini, ma-diskuwalipika sila. Kahinumdoman nga una nang gi-diskuwalipika sa Comelec First Division si Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito tungod sa sobrang paggasto sa pagpangampanya niadtong Mayo....Pagpangdawat og aplikasyon alang sa Educ loan sa GSIS, gi-uswag
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 30 (PIA)–Gi-uswag pa sa Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) ang pagpangdawat nila sa aplikasyon alang sa ilang mga miyembro nga wala pa nakakuha sa P4,000 “one time” Educational Assistance Loan hangtud sa Disyembre 27. Base sa taho sa GSIS, mahimong maka-avail sa maong loan ang tanang aktibong miyembro sa GSIS bisan unsa ang estado sa ilang sweldo, gitas-on sa serbisyo, status sa ilang ahensya ug membership accounts. Mahimong ipasa ang ilang aplikasyon sa GSIS counter o sa liaison officer sa ilang ahensya. Giingong dili na usab gikinahanglan pa ang sertipikasyon o endorso sa employers aron makakuha sa maong loan. Bisan sa kagamay sa kantidad, pagabayaran ang maong loan sa mga miyembro sulod sa lima ka tuig nga adunay 6% interest aron dili bug-at bayran. Kini nagpasabot nga P20 lang matag buwan sulod sa 59 ka buwan o P240 lang matag tuig ang ibayad sa mga miyembro nga mokuha sa loan....Gun ban, ipatuman sugod karong Sabado
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 26 (PIA)–Gipahinomdoman sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang publiko sa hugot nilang pagpatuman sa gun ban nga magsugod na sa Setyembre 28, adlaw nga Sabado alang sa gitakdang barangay elections sa Oktubre 28. Ang gun ban matapos sa Nobyembre 12, usa ka buwan human sa adlaw sa piniliay. Matud pa ni Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez, sa maong mga petsa suspendido usab ang permit to carry firearms outside residence ug ang gitugotan lamang nga magdala og pusil kadtong mga nakakuha og COMELEC gun ban exemption. Dugang pa ni Jimenez nga gawas sa gun ban, magsugod na usab sa Setyembre 28 ang appointment ban ug ang pag-promote og posisyon sa trabaho sa bisan kinsang empleyado sa gobyerno. Tungod niini, gipahinomdoman sa Comelec ang katawhan nga sundon gayud ang maong mga patakaran. Ang filing sa certificates of candidacy (COC) magsugod sa Oktubre 11 hangtud Oktubre...National News
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