Trade and Industry Updates: Bohol

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2005

A. TRADE/MARKET EXPANSION/MARKET ACCESS

a1. Domestic Sales Generated

From January to December, DTI-Bohol was able to generate domestic sales of P56.593M. Of this figure, trade fair sales accounted for P42.36M, selling missions P.292M while market matching was P13.932M. The bulk of the sales figure came from raffia loomwovens, the model OTOP for Region VII.

The Bohol Product Showcase, an annual trade event which the province celebrates in July of each year, generated sales of P40.26 M, the bulk of which, came from bags made of woven raffia combined with beads made of wood, coco shells and seashells.

In October, DTI facilitated the participation of CBC Fashion, a Bohol-based exporter of fashion accessories, to Wilkinsons Store Show in Manila, which generated P1.0M in booked sales.

a2. Frontline Services

a2.1 Product Development

At least three (3) product development activities were conducted simultaneously during the year. All activities were conducted by the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines and funded by the following agencies;



1. Gearing Up for Domestic Competitiveness Funds of DTI
2. Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP-Port Fair)
3. Philippines-Australia Technical Assistance for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (PATSARRD)

All three activities were in preparation for the 2005 Bohol Product Showcase in July. Twenty two (22) firms participated in the activities and a total of 205 designs were provided. Monitoring of the designs were conducted regularly in preparation for the Bohol Product Showcase, an annual DTI marketing event held every July. One hundred thirty three (133) designs were adapted and were market-tested during the said fair.

a2.2 Trainings

During the year, a total of 14 trainings were conducted to some 332 participants all over the province. These trainings were funded under the Gearing Up and CARP funds.

a2.3 Consultancy Services

Consultancy services rendered were in the areas of enterprise development and small business advisories. A total of 10 firms availed of business advisory services from DTIs SME counselors.

a2.4 Market Matching

A total of 102 market linkages were facilitated between buyers and Bohol producers from January to November. These activities were mostly directed to producers of raffia loomwovens, which accounted for about 90% of market matching sales.

Three (3) trade promo materials have been prepared and disseminated during the year. This included flyers, posters and directories of Bohol producers.

a2.6 Business Info Materials

The Cost of Doing Business was updated quarterly and was likewise disseminated to prospective investors. Six (6) business info materials were updated and distributed/disseminated to at least eighteen (18) firms.


B. INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT/SME DEVELOPMENT FACILITATION AND PROMOTION PROGRAM

b1. Investment Generation

For the year, investments generated from new businesses totaled P 721.49M. Likewise, new jobs created as a result of new businesses reach to 2,446.

During the second half of the year, DTI prepared the Bohol ICT Scorecard in cooperation with stakeholders in the industry. The Bohol ICT Forum was held last November 14, which highlighted Bohol as a potential location for investments in IT and IT-Enabled Services. DTI also facilitated the visit of a potential call center locator last November 10.

The BOI Investment Roadshow was likewise conducted on November 18. The activity highlighted BOI incentives for tourism-related business because the Provincial Government is promoting Bohol as a tourist destination. Total number of participants to the roadshow reached to 36.

b2. Frontline Services

b2.1 Consultancy Services

For the year, consultancy services related to SME development were provided to 27 firms. These were in the areas of production, marketing, financial and organizational management. The same were conducted to SMEs within DTIs priority sectors.

b2.2 Business Information

Business information materials updated included the following: Guide to DTI-SME Services flyer and the How to Start your Own Business brochure. These materials were disseminated and distributed to 40 firms and prospective entrepreneurs in the province.

b3. SMEs Developed/Strengthened

A total of 40 new SMEs have been assisted this year. Assistance were in the form of trainings, consultancies, marketing, product development and endorsement to financial institutions. On the other hand, 14 previously assisted SMEs have been monitored to have increased their asset sizes by at least 10%. Of these, majority belongs to the loomweaving and processed foods sector, the model OTOP for Region VII.

The validation/revalidation of the 140 SMEs was implemented in cooperation with the Holy Name University Research Center. Processing of survey results was done in December.

b4. Productivity and Quality

In coordination with DTI-CIC and the Philippine Quality and Productivity Movement-Visayas, the provincial office conducted a forum on Philippine Quality Award to some 75 interested participants from the tourism, government, manufacturing and service sectors.

C. CONSUMER WELFARE PROGRAM

c1. Fair Trade Laws

During the first quarter of the year, DTI conducted formal investigation and mediation conferences to five (5) business establishments who were served with Formal Charges in December, 2004 for violation of R.A. 4109 and DAO 2, specifically on the standards for Christmas lights. As a result, these business establishments executed an undertaking to comply with the provisions of the abovementioned trade and industry laws and to refrain from committing said violation again.

In the second quarter, the provincial office facilitated the conduct of a Consumer Empowerment Seminar spearheaded by the National Consumer Affairs Council in Tagbilaran City.on June 2, 2005. A total of 120 participants from the various sectors of the community attended the seminar. Seven (7) resource speakers from Manila provided inputs concerning medicines, food fortification, energy and environmental matters and the means of redress and grievances of consumers.

In addition, DTI conducted massive monitoring of business establishments including hardware and construction supply dealers for compliance of Fair Trade Laws specifically Business Name Law and Mandatory Standards Laws. Areas monitored include the municipalities of Tubigon, Talibon and Tagbilaran City. Likewise, regular conduct of consumerism and fair trade laws seminars are being conducted to business name registrants every Friday at the DTI office. A total of 32 seminars have been conducted and 294 new business registrants attended the same.

DTI also reactivated the Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) in the growth center municipalities of Tubigon and Talibon. As of date, the office coordinates with the respective point persons at the municipal level regarding the progress of this program.
A major highlight of DTIs monitoring of fair trade laws was the constructive confiscation of substandard items from various establishments selling mandatory products. The move, which drew special attention on

c2. Business Name Registration

During the year, a total of 1,157 new businesses have been registered with the local office while 312 businesses renewed their registrations. As early as the third quarter, accomplishments in business name registration exceeded the targets because of the intensification of DTIs campaign on the BN registration which led the provincial office to conduct mobile BN registrations in the growth center municipalities of Ubay, Talibon, Tubigon and Jagna.

c3. Permits and Licenses

For the year, business licenses issued totaled to 22 broken down as follows: real estate broker 17; fire extinguisher, 5 and ship broker, 2.

On the other hand, permits issued to sales promo reached to 145.

c4. Private Emission Testing Center

For the first quarter, DTI attended to the request of the Bohol Association of Private Emission Testing Centers in checking with the Office Land Transportation Office LTO), Tagbilaran City Office, on the compliance of Emission Tests by prospective applicants for Vehicle registration with LTO. This was purposely made to deter non-compliance of emission tests by some registrants which have successfully secured their vehicle registration papers without passing anymore the required emission tests by accredited emission testing centers.

During the second quarter, the provincial office assisted the PETC Regional Task Force in monitoring Private Emission Testing Centers (PETC) in Bohol to check on their compliance to license, reporting and other mandatory requirements. Likewise, inspection was conducted to check on the status and accuracy of their equipment.





E. SPECIAL PROGRAMS

e1. One Town, One Product

For this year, DTI highlights the inauguration of the Inabanga OTOP Center, which houses a marketing and display center, production center and dyeing facility, a raw material preparation and waste water treatment facility for raffia. The Inabanga OTOP center showcases the raffia loomwovens from Bohol, the model OTOP for Region VII. The center was funded under the President’s “Isang Bayan, Isang Produkto, Isang Milyong Piso” program, which was coursed through the Office of the Governor. A counterpart funding from the municipality of Inabanga in the amount of P1.0 formed part of the cost of constructing the center.

The implementation of the OTOP program led us to give priority to 12 municipalities, whose products can be easily identified as distinctly from the area. This includes: Tagbilaran City for processed food, Inabanga, Tubigon, Calape and Panglao for raffia loomwovens, Maribojoc for pandan-based products, Catigbian for bamboo-based products, Guindulman for bamboo furniture, Loboc and Sevilla for handicrafts, Cortes for handmade paper and Jagna for calamay. The municipality of Danao, which prioritizes on agricultural products, has been considered as a support to the loomweaving anchor municipality of Inabanga because of its loomweaving industry.

e2. Gearing Up for Domestic Competitiveness

A total of 7 trainings have been conducted under the program. These trainings were in support to One Town, One Product (OTOP).

Other activities that were conducted under the program include: Bohol Product Showcase, Product Development Program, Bohol Business Development and Regulation Program, Institutionalization of LPCCs.



e3. Bohol Convergence Support Initiative

DTI commitments to the Bohol Convergence Support Initiative (BoCSI) were partially delivered especially for trainings when Gearing Up funds were released to the provincial office. It is also worthwhile to note that four (4) out of the six (6) convergence municipalities are priority OTOP municipalities.

At least 4 skills trainings have been conducted in the municipalities of Maribojoc, Catigbian, Loboc and Sevilla. These trainings are part of DTIs commitment to support the identified flagpole projects in these areas.

posted by dtibohol @ 11:22 AM