Trade and Industry Updates: Bohol

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DTI BOHOL GEARS FOR INTERNATIONAL FOOD EXHIBITION PHILIPPINES (IFEX)

The Partner Region Program, a component of the Asian Ethnic Food Fest (AEFF) which is now called the International Food Exhibition Philippines (IFEX Philippines) integrates food packaging systems development with CITEM’s promotion efforts, focusing on regional food products that have potential in both domestic and international markets. It harnesses the expertise and resources of various other agencies with CITEM handling the over-all management of the project.

Under the program, select food companies from the identified regions are given assistance in food packaging development/enhancement in order to make their product competitive in both domestic and international markets. Trainings and seminars are given to company owners in production and marketing-related topics to help them improve their production towards safe and quality products and equip them with knowledge in negotiating better with both local and foreign buyers. The products, in their enhanced packaging and labels, are showcased in a special setting during the International Food Exhibition or IFEX.

For this year’s edition, the Central Visayas Region (covering Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor) had been identified as the Partner Region for IFEX 2008 which will be held this coming May 16-18 at the SMEX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. The PRP program will cover nine (9) months preparation to start on September 2007 up to May of 2008. During these periods the selected food companies will have to undergo trainings and seminars on Food Packaging and Labeling, Current Good Manufacturing Practices, Brand Management, Food Process Cost Management, Marketing Management, Visual Merchandising and Negotiation Techniques. One-on-One consultancy and In-plant assessments are likewise provided by the PRP experts to these firms.

Regional Director Asteria Caberte and Provincial Director Maria Elena Arbon were instrumental in choosing Central Visayas as the partner region for this year’s edition of IFEX.

A soft launching was done for the program last September 2007 at the Bohol Tropics Resort, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. A total of 48 food companies from the Central Visayas provinces were subjected to initial screening by the PRP Team compose of experts from Center for International Trade Exposition and Mission (CITEM), Department of Science and Technology-Packaging Research and Development Center (DOST-PRDC), Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) and San Miguel Packaging Products. Of the 48 prospective firms, only 4 from Cebu, 8 for Bohol, 4 from Negros and 2 from Siquijor were selected to participate under the program.

For the Province of Bohol, the following selected food companies and their identified food product are gearing for the first time to participate in the upcoming International Food Exhibition 2008, namely: BUCAREZ Food Processing (Peanut Kisses), BQ Breadbasket (Calamay), Jojie’s Bakeshop (Caycay), Bohol Quality Pastries (Tajada), Bohol Bee Farm (Mango Spread), Candabong RIC Multipurpose Cooperative (Ginger Tea), Tienda Boholana (Mango cookie) and Tessie’s Sweets and Pastries (Broa).

Next week, the Bohol participating food firms will attend another seminar in Dumaguete which is scheduled on April 1-3 in preparation for the May IFEX activity.(ends)

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DTI BOHOL PUSHING CVSCAFT-TCC AS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE (BDS) PROVIDER

A major concern of the Gifts, Toys, and Houseware sector is the growing shortage of product designers due to the exodus of local designers to foreign countries. Considering this growing concern, DTI Bohol is looking into the possibility of developing a business development service (BDS) provider that will develop designers to minimize the shortage.

The Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology Tagbilaran City Campus (CVSCAFT-TCC), one of the extension campuses of CVSCAFT, has been providing a steady supply of skilled workers to industries since 1907. The Department of Trade and Industry sees the potential of the institution as BDS provider. Recently, the Department of Trade and Industry linked the college to the Cebu gifts, toys and houseware sector through the GTH Foundation CVSCAFT-TCC and GTH Foundation. They will work together to design an academic program that will produce good designers who have the passion to concretize new ideas into marketable objects using existing/available materials and skills of workers.

The proposed BS Industrial Design will be a four year program with an on-the-job components that will expose students to actual design work in the industry. It will be offered starting school year 2008-2009 under the Department of Industrial Technology in coordination with the Department of Architecture.

CVSCAFT-TCC foresees that this new industrial design program will become one of its most in demand courses because of the excellent opportunities available to its graduates. Potential markets for new designers are export-oriented industries in the region, such as GTH, furniture and fashion accessories. The 200 manufacturer-exporter firms of the GTH sector in the region will be the initial market for the graduates of the new program. In particular, Cebu GTH Foundation, with a current membership of 90 firms, has committed to hire all qualified graduates of the program.

In coordination with DTI-Bohol and DTI-Region 7, CVSCAFT-TCC and GTHF will conduct a series of meetings for the drafting and signing of the memorandum of agreement to formalize their partnership in the development and implementation of proposed BS Industrial Design Program. The MOA shall incorporate the support of GTHF, which would include the securing commitment of its members to hire all qualified graduates of the program, arranging OJT of students with member firms, facilitating plant visits of students and faculty to GTH workshops and display centers, and providing lecturers on GTH product design and development upon request.

CVSCAFT-TCC will request GTZ to provide financial support and the services of an education specialist (curriculum consultant) for its curriculum development activity. It shall also request GTZ to provide an industrial design or product design expert who will serve as consultant during the initial year of implementation and as trainer of faculty members of the new program and funding support for faculty/staff development.

This week, the CVSCAFT-TCC presented the curriculum in a meeting at the DTI Bohol Conference Room. This will be further referred to experts in Manila as the team will go on a benchmarking activity next month. (ends)

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