Trade and Industry Updates: Bohol

Consultants for the proposed common packaging facility project will visit the province soon for the technical meeting and onsite assessment of the project site.

The common packaging facility project will build a food safety and packaging center at the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Compound in Dao District, Tagbilaran City.

The Provincial Government will implement the project through the Bohol Poverty Reduction and Management Office and Bohol Investment Promotion Center, with the active "legworking" of the Department of Trade and Industry-Bohol Provincial Office.

The project costs Fifteen Million One Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand Pesos in the three-year period.

For this, the Provincial Government will chip in 33 percent equivalent to Four Million Nine Hundred Forty-One Pesos as counterpart while the Philippine Australian Community Assistance Program or PACAP approved Five Million Pesos for the project for the 33 percent. The City Government will give 1.5 million pesos or ten percent of the cost and CIDA, Two Million pesos or 13 percent of the project cost.

The Bohol Chamber of Commerce, Inc. , which is the project proponant, will give the 11 percent equity equivalent to one million seven hundred twenty-five pesos.

The food safety and packaging center will cater to local companies in an effort to come up with better packaging and better processing of lcoal food products to compete in global market.

One Million pesos of the project budget will be allocated for capability building whierein one thousand local food handlers in the province will be trained on food hygiene and food manudacturing practices.

Meanwhile, 2.5 million pesos will be for the working capital to purchase packaging materials. 5.1 million pesos will be set aside for the purchase of machinery and equipment and 1.1 million pesos for the commissary equipment. The rest of the budget will be for the operating expenses.

A BOOST TO MARIBOJOC’S BAG MAKING INDUSTRY


Recently, the Department of Trade and Industry-Bohol Provincial Office in coordination with the Local Government Unit of Maribojoc, PROCESS Bohol, Inc. and the Bohol Product Showroom conducted a training to 35 weavers/ members of the Maribojoc Handicraft Weavers Association (MAHAWAS) and Pagnitoan-San Isidro-Candavid Weavers Association (PAGSACA) to upgrade their skills on bag-making. The training was funded by the Cottage Industry Technology Center (CITC) as a component of the bigger bag-making industry development program of the province.


The training was conducted 12-16 February 2007 by trainers Ms. Lucila Sacil and Ms. Julieta Largoso from the Balaunong Nagkahiusang Igsoon sa Kalamboan (BANIKA) of Barili, Cebu at the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center in Maribojoc.


Among the products weaved are handbags, tote bags, throw pillows and placemats made of baliw or pandanus copelandii, a kind of fiber that grows abundantly in the area.


The “Banig Baliw Weaving” is the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) of Maribojoc.

With this, Mayor Gabino Redulla hopes to save diminishing centuries old tradition of “banig” baliw weaving and generate more jobs in the locality. (ends)

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP) recently released the results of the Real Estate Broker Licensure Examination conducted in Cebu City on November 26, 2006.

One Hundred Thirty Eight (138) examinees successfully passed out of 190 who took the exams, representing 73% thereof. Among those who passed were five (5) Boholanos, namely: BELDEROL, Ma. Asuncion Jessamyn B.; BLASQUEZ, Albee Marie C.; ESTRERA, Ferdinand Ponciano E.; LAMBOJON, Jose Lito F.; and TEJIDO, Restituta R. The new Real Estate Brokers may now proceed with their application for a Real Estate Broker’s License with the local DTI office so that they can officially practice their profession.

The requirements for new application are as follows: a) 3 pcs. 1”x1” ID picture; b) License Fee of P1,050.00 (for 3 years coverage); c) Registration Fee with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board of P510.00 per year (thru a postal money order payable to HLURB); d) Clearance either from NBI, RTC or City Municipal Clerk of Court where applicant resided or held office within one year prior to date of application; e) Proof of educational attainment, at least 144 units college education or 72 units provided applicant is a licensed Real Estate Salesman for 4 years; f) Report of Rating – REB Examination; g) Surety Bond of P5,000.00 payable to the Republic of the Philippines; and h) a CEP Attendance Certificate equivalent to 20 credit hours (if applicant applied for a license after 2 years from the date of passing the qualifying examination.

Meanwhile, REB Licensees whose licenses expired as of December 31, 2006 and have not renewed yet are required to renew immediately their licenses to avoid any legal problems which they may encounter in their business transactions. The requirements for renewal applications include the following: a) One (1) 1”x1” ID picture; b) License fee of P1,050.00 (for 3 years) plus a surcharge of 50% if renewed after the 90-day grace period; c) Registration Fee with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board of P510.00 per year; d) Renewed Surety Bond

For further details, please call DTI Provincial Office at telephone nos. 411-3302, 411-3533, 501-8828 or 501-8260.