Trade and Industry Updates: Bohol

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Department of Trade and Industry - Bohol

posted by dtibohol @ 5:39 PM 0 Comments

New Link for Update


Please see new DTI facebook link at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Department-of-Trade-and-Industry-Bohol/235057746514073 for updates. Thank you.

posted by dtibohol @ 4:53 PM 0 Comments

Abatan River Cluster LGUs conglomerate for economic development

Text by BEGT Zabala/PGMA

The Province of Bohol is renowned as a prime tourist destination with a special brand of tourism which melds culture (to include its people), environment and agriculture. That, being an agriculture economy, and tourism as its main economic drivers. But somehow, much of the province’s areas have yet to directly benefit or even enjoy from the blessings that tourism has endowed to a few municipalities.

Talking about environmental assets in the province that has high tourism potential the Abatan River comes to mind. With it’s richness of resources coming from the top up down to the shorelines. Looking at the town of Loboc which has ridden the tourism bandwagon way ahead of all other towns, Abatan River indeed can possibly compliment, compete if not exceed what Loboc River has attained.

The visionary leaders of the towns (Antequera, Balilihan, Catigbian, Cortes and Maribojoc alphabetically) where the Abatan River traverses has seen this potential a good three or for years back which was spurred by an NGO, unregistered one even at that, to see the “diamond in the rough” and it is only now that the members of this cluster were given the opportunity to have a tool that they can learn to maximize their efforts, initiatives and resources in improving the economic development of not only the respective towns but to the whole cluster. This, primarily redounds, to poverty alleviation or its eradication among of its contituents.

The tool is the participatory approach called Local and Regional Economic Development or LRED wherein which last Friday and Saturday October 17 and 18 had it’s Consolidation Workshop at the Grand Ballroom of the Metro Centre Hotel and Convention Center. Consolidation since there has already been LRED workshops in the respective LGUs in the past few months. The activity was participated in by mot only the LCEs and its policy-making body but also by other respective stakeholders including the private sector.

LRED purposedly intends to build up economic capacity of a local/regional area to improve its economic and the quality of life for all. It is a process by which public and private sector partners work collectively to create better conditions for economic growth and generation of employment.

LRED is an approach crafted through the assistance of the Private Sector Promotion Program SMEDSEP(Small and Medium Enterprises Development for Sustainable Employment Program) or PSP-SMEDCEP, a project of Technical Cooperation, GTZ, between the Republic of the Philippines and the Federal Republic of Germany and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Key participants to the activity were Mayors Cecelia Rebosura of Antequera, Victoria M. Chatto of Balilihan, Capt. Bert Salinas Catigbian, Jas Balistoy of Cortes and Leoncio Evasco of Maribojoc. Other important quests who delivered messages were DTI-7 Regional Director Asteria Caberte, Ma. Elena Arbon of the Provincial DTI, Anja Gorm, Program Manager for PSP-SMEDSEP, Merriam Bacalso, GTZ-SMEDSEP Region-7 Coordinator, Congressman Edgar Chatto, Atty. Tomas Abapo, Jr. in behalf of the Governor. Other observers include GTZ-SMEDSEP Coordinators Rea Ledesma of Region-6 and Racquel Carpio of Region-8. The workshop was facilitated by Linda Paredes and Emilia Roslinda of PROCESS-Bohol and last but definitely not the least Mr. Blair Panong of DTI as moderator and Master of Ceremonies.

posted by dtibohol @ 3:43 PM 0 Comments

LRED Planning Workshops in Bohol: Laying the foundation for competitive local economies

The Department of Trade and Industry – Bohol Provincial Office and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development – Sustainable Employment Program of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) applied the LRED model to support the economic development of the LGUs involve in the Abatan River Development Project. LRED is a process to mobilise stakeholders from the public and private sectors as well as from the civil society, to become partners in a joint effort to improve the economy of a defined territory and thus increase its competitiveness. The approach is being implemented in the Abatan River Development Program, involving towns covered by the Abatan River Tour, namely: Maribojoc, Cortes, Balilihan, Antequera and Catigbian, The five municipalities are planning collectively for the economic growth of their cluster.

The implementation of LRED in Bohol started with the LRED training of facilitators (TOF) conducted last September 2 to 5, 2008 at the Metro Centre Hotel graduating thirty (30) facilitators coming from the Department of Trade and Industry, Provincial Planning and Development Office and the local government units of Maribojoc, Cortes, Balilihan, Antequera and Catigbian.

Following the training of facilitators (TOF), Local and Regional Economic Development (LRED) Planning Workshops in the municipalities of Catigbian (Sept. 9-11), Cortes (Sept. 16-18), Maribojoc (Sept. 23-25), Antequera (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) and Balilihan (Oct. 8-10) were conducted.

On October 17-18, 2008, 8:30AM to 5:00PM at the Metro Centre Hotel, Tagbilaran City, the final activity, Abatan River Cluster LRED Workshop was conducted. The activity presented an economic picture of the cluster using the outputs of the municipality workshops as discussion inputs on how the area can leverage its strengths and opportunities as it moves towards greater economic development. ***

posted by dtibohol @ 3:39 PM 0 Comments

A GLIMPSE OF SUCCESS

(A Romance Inspired Business Endeavor)

Loomweaving in the province of Bohol is a century old industry utilizing raffia fibers derived from young buri leaves. Handloomweaving has been handed down from generation to generation by skilled artisans and craftsmen in nine (9) municipalities of Bohol.

This industry has gained considerable acceptance in the world market brought about by the emerging global demand for environment-friendly products. The inherent dexterity and diligence of approximately Five Thousand Sixty Two (5,062) active Boholano loomweaving individuals enabled them to explore new possibilities in designs and colors, which have positioned loomwovens as a seller’s market.

The Taming Loomweavers Multi-Purpose Cooperative is located in Barangay Taming, Danao, Bohol a mountainous barangay some 89 kilometers away from the capital city of Tagbilaran and 3 kilometers from the Poblacion. It is an agricultural barangay with rice, vegetables, peanuts, and coconut as major crops.

Just like any other typical agricultural communities, the primary source of income then came from the harvest of these agricultural crops. Although additional income has been derived from swine, poultry and livestock raising. These activities at least helped the residents in their economic difficulties.

Things started to look bright for the residents when the barangay was identified by the Department of Agrarian Reform as an Agrarian Reform Community (ARC). A variety of interventions came their way one of which is the skills training on loomweaving conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry – Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (DTI-CARP). The activity was conducted at the Taming multi-purpose hall with only 15 participants and 4 handlooms provided by the Philippine-Australia Technical Support for Agrarian Reform for Rural Development (PATSARRD). The trainer then was the former manager of the Pinayagan Sur MPC a cooperative also engaged in the loomweaving business. During our seminar a romantic engagement took place between the trainer and one of our participants and after a month of courtship marriage took place. This is a good sign for the project because the group found a leader with technical expertise to guide them in this business endeavor.

With the assistance of the Jose L. Gonzaga Memorial Foundation and the strong support of the Local Governement Unit of Danao they organized the Taming Loomweavers Association. They started to venture in the loomweaving business and with the marketing assistance of Ms. Natty Gonzaga they started serving small time buyers from Manila most friends of the Gonzaga’s.

During the 2007 Sandugo Regional Product Showcase the Taming Loomweavers Association participated in the fair but their products were hardly noticed by visiting exporters and buyers maybe because their products still need improvements and they had a low production capacity. After the fair they took it as a challenge to improve their products with the dream that someday they will be one of the premier loomwoven producers in the province.

With the continued assistance of the Jose L. Gonzaga Memorial Foundation, the DTI-CARP and the perseverance and sacrifices of the members of the group aimed in improving their skills as well as to train more members they were able to increase the number of their weavers from 10 to 25 capacitated weavers. Through the marketing assistance provided by the Jose L. Gonzaga Memorial Foundation they started serving orders from Manila though these are minimal orders but this serve as an inspiration to the weavers to work and improved their skills because they believe that this will be the stepping stone for more orders from Manila-based buyers.

The weavers did not expect that the skills they learn would become their main livelihood. The skill has since helped their respective husbands bring food to the family table and send their children to school.

In May 2008, the Department of Trade and Industry- Bohol Provincial Office conducted a product development clinic funded by the OTOP funds. Soliven Designs and Consultancy Services, a Manila-based company was tapped to do the product clinic with Mr. Rey Soliven as the design consultant. Two design collections were introduced - the African Collection and the Elm Collection with 14 designs in the collections. Prototypes were made out of the designs given in different color combinations.

During the 2008 Regional Product and Raw Material Showcase their product caught the eye of visiting exporters like 33point3 Exports, Island Accents International and Manila Economic & Cultural Office and most of local buyers and tourist. They have generated a total cash sales of Php 25,000.00 and Booked order of Php 504,000.00 and a number of sampling orders for development from big time exporters and resort owners.

Such exposures encouraged the cooperative and its members to go beyond production level so as to hone their rural entrepreneurial capabilities, build up the confidence of the cooperative in promoting its products, and provide a venue for the cooperative to go into marketing and networking.

Marilou Cosare, the manager of the cooperative, admits that never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that the project would go this far. She vows that such exposures to these exhibits and fairs have transformed their perspectives from passive to more progressive outlook, which she hopes to be emulated by other organizations. Moreover, she claimed that they have now acquired a higher level of confidence to manage their economic activities.

With one foot now inside the international market, there’s no stopping the Taming MPC to continue weaving its way to a brighter tomorrow. ***

posted by dtibohol @ 1:23 PM 0 Comments

Sandugo 2008 emphasized the role of SMEs in the economy

Laying the foundation for globally-competitive SMEs

The Sandugo Regional Product and Raw Material Showcase devoted a day celebrating the role of micro, small and medium enterprises in nation-building and economic development. July 24, 2008 marked the SME DAY for the province of Bohol starting off with a motorcade from DTI Bohol office to ICM – Activity Center. The day highlighted the initiatives of the Bohol SMED Council, launching of DTI-SMEDSEP Programs along with the launching of SPIN Program and the ICT Council which are all geared to support the SME community.

Partners from the private sector, national government agencies, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) came to support the activities. Focusing on SMEDSEP, DTI 7 RD Asteria Caberte presented about SMEDSEP, Mr. Volker Steigerwald, GTZ gave a message on Partnerships, Dr. Elpidio Magante, President, CVSCAFT talked about the SMEDSEP-CVSCAFT Project, Engr. Ramir Bonghanoy, President, Cebu GTH Foundation presented about the SMEDSEP-CVSCAFT-Cebu GTH Foundation Partnership, and Ms. Emilia Roslinda, PROCESS-Bohol presented the SMEDSEP-LRED Project. Signing of Memorandum of Agreements of the following SMEDSEP-CVSCAFT –DTI, SMEDSEP-CVSCAFT-GTH-DTI, SMEDSEP-Abatan River Council-Cong. Chatto –DTI and SMEDSEP-Abatan River LGUs-DTI ensued.

Looking at the Philippine scenario, over 99 percent of business establishments, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in the Philippine economy. SME potential for creating jobs is large, yet its growth is hampered by a weak business and investment climate --- low product quality, low productivity and low production technology.

With an improved business and investment climate, SMEs can help in the country’s economic growth by: generating jobs, increasing income and reducing poverty while maintaining an ecologically sound development in all levels.

The Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (SMEDSEP) is conceived to help improve the business and investment climate for SMEs. This is a project of Technical Cooperation between the Republic of the Philippines & the Federal Republic of Germany implemented by the Department of Trade & Industry & the German Technical Cooperation. The program aims to support an SME sector that is globally- competitive by raising the efficiency and product quality of domestic industries. The SMEDSEP has the vision to make Visayas as the location of choice for competitive SMEs

Although focusing on the Visayas, SMEDSEP ensures that experiences are communicated to the national level, so that these models for improving the business and investment climate may be promoted and replicated in other regions. Among others, the SMEDSEP program focuses on the harmonization of the National SME Development (SMED) Plan and the Promotion and Replication of Good Practices for Improving the Local Business and Investment.

Towards improving the business climate for SMEs, SMEDSEP promotes: 1. Simplifying Business Registration of LGUs, 2. Local and Regional Economic Development (LRED), 3. Business Development Services(BDS), and 4. SME Access to Credit.

The SMEDSEP in Bohol. DTI-Bohol works in partnership with SMEDSEP in the harmonization of the National SME Development Plan. The following is being initiated to improve the business and investment climate in the province:

1. The use of the value chain approach in developing Bohol’s priority sectors.

The value chain approach is a key instrument to foster the competitiveness of SMEs.

DTI – BOHOL, in partnership with the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) conducted value chain workshops to help producers assess the value chain links in their business and concerned industries.

The priority sectors are: food, craft, and eco-tourism

2. The use of the LRED model to support the LGUs involve in the Abatan River Development Project

Economic Growth Through LRED for the Abatan River Cluster

LRED stands for Local and Regional Economic Development. It is a process for economic growth and employment generation in which the government, non-governmental sector, private, and business partners work collectively to create better conditions and improve the quality of life for all.

The approach is being implemented in the Abatan River Development Program, involving the towns covered by the Abatan River Tour, namely: Maribojoc, Cortes, Balilihan, Antequera and Catigbian, The five municipalities are now planning collectively for the economic growth of their cluster.

3. The use of BDS model in the Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Trade (CVSCAFT), and

• BDS stands for Business Development Services. A demand-driven approach, it involves identifying and developing business services that meet the needs of the market. SMEs, for example, face common difficulties of finding adequately-trained skilled workers from the local labor market.

• In the region, there is a growing need for product designers, especially in the GTH or Gifts, Toys and Houseware sector.

• DTI-Bohol seeks to strengthen the local creative industries and taps the ingenuity of Boholanos, having seen the potentials of CVSCAFT graduates in the design industry.

This school year, CVSCAFT Tagbilaran City campus offers a maiden run of its B.S. Industrial Design, A 4-course that aims to produce good designers who have the passion to concretize new ideas into marketable products. It has an on-the-job component that will expose students to actual design work in the industry as DTI-BOHOL has linked the CVSCAFT to the Cebu GTH Foundation.

CVSCAFT & DTI Bohol officials validated the curriculum of the new course offering at the School of Design and Arts of De la Salle-College of St. Benilde.

4. Support in the upcoming streamlining of Business Permits and Licensing system in LGUs

Streamlining of Business Permits and licensing system of local government units

Investors interested to put up their business establishments in Bohol may look forward to a reduced processing time with more business-friendly procedures and processes as SMEDSEP supports the upcoming streamlining of Business Permits and licensing system of local government units.

In a nutshell, that’s how DTI with SMEDSEP helps lay the foundation for a globally-competitive Philippines.

*****

posted by dtibohol @ 1:10 PM 0 Comments

posted by dtibohol @ 4:16 PM 0 Comments

GMA arriving Tues. to kick of airport

ALL SET. The time capsule laying ceremony for the proposed P4.2 billion Panglao Bohol International Airport will be on this site in Tawala, Panglao where Pres. Arroyo (inset) will be the guest of honor on Tuesday, 10 a.m.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will lead the capsule-laying rites Tuesday to break ground for the P4.2-billion Panglao Bohol International Airport Development Project (PBIADP).

The President Management Staff (PMS) confirmed the President’s attendance in the activity after she decline the May 8 schedule set earlier because of other equally pressing commitments.

Ms. Arroyo was supposed to be the guest of honor and speaker during the Bohol-Jiangxi Friendship Day celebration. The day commemorates the singing of a friendly province relations agreement on May 8, 2006 in Nanchang, the capital city of Jiangxi. Aumentado and then Gov. Huang Zhiquan signed the document.

This agreement “sealed” the memorandum of friendly exchange and cooperation between the two provinces that Aumentado and Meng Jian Zhu, then chair of the Standing Committee of the Jiangxi Provincial People’s Congress on September 6, 2005 at Metro Center Hotel in Tagbilaran City. Meng is now the PROC minister of public security.

Aumentado and a delegation returned to Nanchang City where, on October 28, 2006, he and Huang signed the framework agreement on further enhancing friendly exchange and cooperation between the two provinces, this time witnessed by President Arroyo and Meng.

He said the framework defines in clear terms the areas of cooperation in tourism including the establishment of a sister-mountain relationship between Bohol’s Chocolate Hills and Jiangxi’s Mt. Lushan, agriculture, mining, education, culture and sports.

At the capsule-laying ceremony, Ms. Arroyo will be assisted by Transportation and Communications Secretary Leonardo Mendoza, Aumentado, General Manager Alfonso Cusi of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Panglao Mayor Benedicto Alcala.

Cusi has committed that the P3 billion payables of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) to MIAA will form part of its corporate funds to be spent for the Panglao Airport. During the last meeting of the Panglao Island Tourism Estate Inter-Agency Task Force at the Panglao Island Nature Resort (PINR) in Bingag, Dauis, Bohol, DOTC committed to shoulder the balance of P1.2 billion.

As the major funder, MIAA sought to be the lead agency in the implementation of the project and subsequent operation – a request that the President approved – thereby ironing out what was perceived to be a kink before.

Most Rev. Leonardo Medroso, bishop of Tagbilaran has been invited to deliver the invocation while Alcala will give the welcome remarks.

MIAA Assistant General Manager for Airport Development and Corporate Affairs Tirso Serrano will give the project brief while General Manager Alfonso Cusi and Aumentado will deliver messages.

Mendoza will introduce the President who will deliver her keynote speech. A joint press conference will follow.

Cabinet meeting not only Mendoza is expected on Tuesday. As in her April 29 visit, Ms. Arroyo will also hold a Cabinet meeting.

But contrary to last month’s venue, which was the ferry that brought the President party to Camiguin, the PMS is now finalizing the meeting place, which is gravitating towards the PINR.

Preparations indicate that the Cabinet meeting will be in the afternoon, capped with a luau in the evening.

Barring changes, the President will rest overnight (RON) in Bohol, and participate in a private diving activity at the Balicasag Island Dive Resort – one of the Top 3 dive sites in the world, Aumentado quoted her as saying.

She is slated to leave for Mindanao at lunchtime or in the afternoon.

posted by dtibohol @ 2:29 PM 0 Comments

DTI BOHOL PURSUES VALUE CHAIN APPROACH IN DEVELOPING PRIORITY SECTORS: PROCESSED FOOD (PASALUBONG), RAFFIA-BASED PRODUCTS AND FASHION ACCESSORIES

The Department of Trade and Industry – Bohol in partnership with the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and local stakeholders/partners organized and conducted a value chain workshop (second level) to three priority sectors in the province namely processed food (pasalubong), raffia-based products and fashion accessories sectors last May 5 and 6, 2008 at the Soledad Suites Function Room, 4^th Floor of the Soledad Suites Building.

The main purpose of the value chain workshops is to help partner public and private agencies and concerned producers in the sectors assess the value chain links of their respective businesses and sectors that will be the basis in formulating the development plans of the sectors. The value chain maps that were developed during the first workshop conducted last February 2008 at the Metro Centre Hotel were given deeper analyses and treatment as to value adding, and cost and revenue efficiency along the value chain links of the industries. Findings of which will be the basis of the program interventions for the sectors.

Twenty (20) micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMES) attended the workshop with lead facilitators from the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Ms. Rita Pilarca, Senior Adviser GTZ and Ms. Miriam Bacalso, Regional Coordinator GTZ. The GTZ facilitators were assisted by sector facilitators from DTI Bohol, Blair Panong, Jerome Gabin, Jess Bernasor, Sungsoo Jin and Lucille Autentico.

DTI Bohol Provincial Director Nannette Arbon emphasized the importance of employing the value chain approach in the development of the three priority sectors.

Next steps will be the focused sectoral workshops for the three sectors. ***

posted by dtibohol @ 2:27 PM 0 Comments

DTI assures price watch to boost money power

Will the reported pay hikes be enough to boost the purchasing power of consumers in an economic crunch?

If not, then the local Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said no unreasonable price increases of basic goods should happen, to allow consumers to mount the rising tide of prices in basic commodities.

Concordia Erano of the local DTI price monitoring team claimed that assuring people of fair prices [in basic goods] is the best thing they can do, so a tight price watch is in order.

DTI is now warning unscrupulous businessmen who overprice basic commodities.

An overprice which is essentially profiteering is pricing goods more than 10% of its average price in the preceding month, states Republic Act 7581.

Consumers have been wary about price increases following weekly price adjustments in fuel and petroleum products.

“This should not be enough reason for entrepreneurs to get opportunistic,” DTI said. To keep the tags in these things, Erano reported that the DTI is poised for another round of price monitoring activities, in an effort to implement the law so that prices will remain stable and good available to the consuming public.

Opportunists could get between a month to 5 months in jail or a penalty of P1T to a million when caught profiteering. The law also provides tougher penalties for overpricing basic goods.

The country has noted weekly adjustments of 50 centavos on petroleum prices recently. The DTI monitoring activities will put price coordinating council members in markets to make sure that any movement [in price] is justified.

This, following reports that daily wage earners are expected to get pay hikes starting June 1. State workers on the other hand are reported to get 10% salary increases by the following month.

On this, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque assured the June wage hike for daily wage earners, as regional wage boards are expected to decide how much, by mid-May.

Roque also cited the mandatory 15-day publication of rates before the wage hike is implemented.

Every last week, Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) instructed Rgional Wage Boards to work overtime to finally set the rates of increase in the respective regions.

By law, the government set up the tripartite wage boards to determine the cost of living in areas so as not to kill investors who choose to put up country side businesses for cheaper costs. This also happens just as the President urged companies to package non-wage benefits for workers while the government was yet to decide on the raise by May 1, Labor Day.

“Non-wage benefits are non-taxable, so workers tend to enjoy it to the hilt,” Malacanang was once quoted as saying

For state workers, PGMA has recently okayed the 10% basic raise when she signed an executive order to that effect lately.

The fund has been incorporated in the 2008 national budget, which legislators passed. The allocation also included P41B share for state workers’ miscellaneous benefits.

As to the executive order, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said it would be similar to last year’s issuance which granted civilian employees of the national government a 10% increase in their basic salary.

Last year’s EO granted a P1,200 increase in the monthly subsistence and other allowances of policemen, soldiers and other uniformed personnel.

As to the June raise in daily wage earners’ pay, the National wage Productivity Board believes it should not cause layoffs or businesses to close.

“The basic pay hike is expected to have minimal effects on inflation rate and business since there are only 2.7 million minimum wage earners,” it said.

Much earlier still, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), in a study bared that a big across-the-board wage increase would have a devastating effect on businesses.

The same study revealed that some 800, 000 to 900,000 workers might be laid of if a significant across-the-board wage increase is implemented.

posted by dtibohol @ 2:25 PM 0 Comments

Realtors tighten anti-colorum drive

The days of people brokering and selling real estate without a license are maybe over.

The Philippine Association of Realtors Boards (PAREB), Inc., the country’s oldest and largest realty service group, is strengthening its national campaign against colorum realty practitioners.

During the 12^th Visayas-Mindano Regional Conference held at the Betel House in Dumaguete City last month, PAREB re-affirmed its trust to go after persons engage in real estate brokering without even passing the real estate brokerage exam or acting as realty brokers and salesmen without a license from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).

The drive is spearheaded by PAREB national president, Daisy J. Kokseng, and chairman of the board, Pilar Torres-Banaag.

In the different PAREB boards or chapters around the country, cases have been filed against violators which resulted to conviction and subsequent imposition of the penalties.

Presidential Decree No. 957, which complements R.A. No. 2728, 3715 and 3969, penalizes any person who engages in real estate transactions without securing the proper license.

The DTI through Administrative Order No. 6 has recently increased the files on unlicensed dealer, broker and salesman. The minimum penalty pegged at P40,000, medium at P80,000 and maximum at P120,000.

In addition to paying the fine, anybody caught selling or leasing real estate without the proper license may, upon convection, be punished by imprisonment of not more than ten (10) years, according to PD No. 957.

A person can only secure a license as a real estate broker if he has passed a rigid real estate brokerage licensure examinations conducted twice a year by the DTI.

Meanwhile, a person may also get a license as a real estate agent or salesman if he works directly under the supervision of a licensed real estate broker.

posted by dtibohol @ 2:22 PM 0 Comments

BOHOLANO DELICACIES FOR IFEX

by: Jess Bernasor

The Province of Bohol will be carving its name as a new source of ethnic food delicacies in the upcoming International Food Exhibition (IFEX) on May 16-18, 2008 to be held at the new SMEX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Philippines. This was made possible thru the Partner Region Program (PRP) which was developed by the Center for International Trade, Expositions and Missions (CITEM), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, to assist promising food enterprises gain wider access to domestic and international markets. Aside from the IFEX participation, the Boholano community in Manila and other parts of Luzon will now have the chance to savor the best of Boholano food products as these will soon be made available in some leading department stores and supermarkets. The establishment of potential market outlets will be spearheaded by the Boholano Processed Foods Business Association, Inc. or BOHOL ProFoods.

Under the program, select food companies from the identified region were given assistance in food packaging development/enhancement in order to make their product more competitive in both domestic and international markets. Trainings and seminars were likewise given to company owners in Good Manufacturing Practices, Brand Management, Process Cost Management, Package Design and Labeling, Marketing, Visual Merchandising and Negotiation Techniques to help them improve their production to meet quality standards and equip them with knowledge in negotiating better with both local and foreign buyers. The products, in their enhanced packaging and labels, will be showcased in a special setting during the exhibition.

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. The PRP program consisted of nine (9) months of preparation which started last September 2007 to May of 2008. One-on-One Consultancies and In-Plant Assessments were likewise provided by the PRP experts to these firms.

The PRP Team is composed of experts from the Center for International Trade, Expositions and Missions (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 3 from Cebu, 8 from Bohol, 4 from Negros and 3 from Siquijor were selected to participate under the program.

For the Province of Bohol, the following food enterprises were selected to join the IFEX 2008 with their identified best food product namely: BUCAREZ Food Processing Corp. (Peanut Kisses), BQ Breadbasket (Calamay and Ube Jam-retort pack), Jojie’s Bakeshop (Caycay), Bohol Quality Pastries (Tajada), Bohol Bee Farm (Mango Spread, Pesto, Tea ), Candabong RIC Multipurpose Cooperative (Ginger Powder), Tienda Boholana (Oatmeal Cookie w/ Mango Tidbits) and Tessie’s Sweets and Pastries (Broas).

Bohol DTI Provincial Director Maria Elena C. Arbon is confident that the Boholano food products would make it very well in the exhibition as all participating firms are well prepared and gearing up for the activity not to mention the support and patronage of the Boholanos who are now residing in that part of the archipelago. (ends)

posted by dtibohol @ 2:18 PM 0 Comments

APEC confab starts on Tuesday

The four-day 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Human REsources Development working group (HRDWG) meeting takes off on Tuesday at the Bohol Beach Club. (Bohol Chronicle, 4/13/08)

posted by dtibohol @ 1:34 PM 0 Comments

PANGLAO AIRPORT STARTS WORK JULY 2008

The proposed P4.2-billion Panglao Bohol International Airport will finally commence its civil works between July and December this year, according to General Manager Alfonso Cusi, Jr. of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

The MIAA chief executive briefed Gov. Erico Aumentado yesterday on the latest directive issued by Malacañang regarding the move to fast track the airport.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed last week Memo Order No. 282 which mandates that MIAA, being the principal fund source of the airport should assume full control in the construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed airport. (Bohol Chronicle, 4/13/08)

posted by dtibohol @ 1:24 PM 0 Comments

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)

posted by dtibohol @ 1:11 PM 0 Comments

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)

posted by dtibohol @ 11:52 AM 0 Comments

OTOP FAMILIARIZATION W/ TOUR OPERATORS, GUIDES

As a way of promoting the One-Town-Product Program (OTOP) of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Department of Trade and Industry REgion 7 in coordination with the Department of Tourism also fo Region 7 organized an OTOP Familiarization Tour to DOT accredited tour operators and guides of Bohol last February 19.

The familiarization tour was done after the group was given an OTOP orientation in January at the Bohol Divers' Resort in Panglao.

DTI has seen the potential of our local guides in helping promote OTOP to their guests by including it in their tour shops, in the storylines that they relate to their guests and by being OTOP mobile billboards during their tours.
(Bohol Chronicle, 2/24/2008)

posted by dtibohol @ 11:44 AM 1 Comments

GOVERNOR WANTS CALL CENTERS HERE

(Bohol Chronicle, 2/24/08)

posted by dtibohol @ 11:38 AM 0 Comments

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST TRAINING FOR BOHOLANOS

posted by dtibohol @ 11:11 AM 0 Comments

CONSUMER WEEK CELEBRATION

The Department of Trade and Industry in cooperation with the Department of Education, Bureau of Food and Drugs of the Department of Health, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, City Government of Tagbilaran and the Provincial Government of Bohol celebrates once again the Consumer Welfare Month this October, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1098 declaring October of each year as Consumer Welfare Month.

This year’s commemoration carries the theme “CONSUMER EDUCATION AND INFORMATION, KEY TO CONSUMER EMPOWERMENT” with the Department of Education (DepEd) as chair of the celebration. It highlights DepEd’s role in the implementation of R.A. 7394 otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines and other consumer-related laws which have great impact on consumers.

Activities to be undertaken to drum-up the occasion include the following: hanging of streamers by major business establishments, lecture/fora on Consumer Education, talk-show, Consumer Quiz Bowl and a Debate.

The series of lectures/fora, which will emphasize on consumer rights and responsibilities, consumer complaints handling and the appropriate remedies available, shall be conducted to students of all private and government recognized high-schools in the City of Tagbilaran. The activity is designed to reach out students and create in them the awareness to become responsible consumers that will help propel our economy and to determine the impact of consumer education among students in value formation and social consciousness.

As a culminating endeavor of the series of lectures/fora a Consumer Quiz Bowl shall be pursued to determine the level of awareness and understanding of the students on the different Fair Trade Laws imparted to them. A total of twenty high-school students from the ten high-schools will prove their mental prowess in the above-cited quiz which will be held on October 17, 2007.

To provide our students an avenue to develop their analytical minds and reasoning power and the ability to publicly speak out their opinion on issues that affect their day to day lives, a debate will be conducted. College students from the two leading universities in the province namely, University of Bohol and Holy Name University will act on stage as debaters on the proposition “Resolved that Consumers shall not patronize products that violate Intellectual Property Rights”.

Heads of Offices of the different implementing agency, which will act as panelists for a Talk Show, will share their insights and opinions as they discuss themselves relevant issues and concerns that evolves on the above-mentioned theme that have direct impact on consumers.

On the other-hand, the 2007 Consumer’s Fair will once again be organized and mounted to give consumers an opportunity to purchase consumer products at company prices or discounted price. Consumers can likewise avail of cheaper rice from by the National Food Authority at a minimum availment of 5 kls/person. The fair proper is scheduled on October 16 – 19, 2007.

All of the above activities will be conducted at the activity center and at the Sky High, Island City Mall, Dampas District, Tagbilaran City.

posted by dtibohol @ 1:29 PM 0 Comments