Manila, Philippines — The impact of COVID-19 left many businesses navigating the digital space. Some are caught off guard while others utilize their expertise in technology. Take it from Filipino startups who have been stepping up to help combat COVID-19 in their own ways. To provide tips on how they’re doing it, startup founders gathered for a QLITAN, a bi-weekly networking event hosted by QBO Philippines since 2016.
But this time, QLITAN was held online. In this virtual event, founders shared how they are responding to the crisis. Headlining the session titled “Startup Survival Guide — Adapting to the New Norm” are Moritz Gastl, vice-president of Growth of First Circle, a startup which provides business financing and access to credit; Shahab Shabibi, co-founder of MyKuya, an app that allows on-demand services such as grocery deliveries; Gabby Dizon, CEO and cofounder of mobile and blockchain game studio Altitude Games; Stefano Fazzini, CEO of online grocery delivery service MetroMart; and Bonnie Factor, founder of Leading with Success.
These startups are now using this opportunity to create a lasting difference — banding together and using technology not only to ease people’s burdens but even potentially save lives.
“Startups are called to do what they do best — they are rising up to this challenge by deploying innovative solutions, moving quickly, and showing us how we can harness the power of technology for the greater good. We are seeing startups from different industries working hard at this time, from logistics to ecommerce to fintech and edutech,” said Katrina Chan, director of QBO.
Startups aiding the government on the battle against COVID-19
Now more than ever, the tech capability of startups can help the government in a number of ways. The Department of Science and Technology with Developers Connect helped launch the RapidPass system where frontliners manning checkpoints can easily inspect vehicles and individuals by scanning QR codes.
Senti, a startup specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning, provides the knowledge-base for the chatbots that the Department of Health deploys in different channels to address COVID-19-related inquiries. Local tech company Multisys, on the other hand, developed the online and mobile platform StaySafe.ph which aims to help the government in conducting efficient contact tracing.
To enable faster response from local government units (LGUs) in the fight against COVID-19, Limitless Lab, in partnership with The Asia Foundation, developed LGU vs COVID PH. The platform is an easy-to-use, updated, and reliable dashboard of all COVID-19 related information which LGUs can use and refer to
Startups offering convenience, on-demand services
Unknown to many, some of the essential needs met at this time are also powered by startups. MetroMart enables people who are stuck at home to have their goods delivered right at their doorstep. To further harness its capability, MetroMart launched MetroMart Cares, a special online store for grocery donations in partnership with World Vision and Gawad Kalinga. Another startup, Zagana, helps bridge the gap for local farmers and consumers in need of fresh fruits and vegetables.
MyKuya also provides convenience during the quarantine by helping run errands for those stuck at home and vulnerable to COVID-19. Some of its services include meal delivery, bills payment, and pharmacy and grocery runs. AIDE, a home healthcare platform, connects patients and medical professionals straight from their smartphones.
Even outside the Metro, startups continue to thrive. Pandalivery, an on-demand food delivery service available in Camarines Sur and Albay, expanded its service by including groceries and medicines to help amidst the quarantine. Streetby, an app that allows different merchants to continue to reach households in areas in Mindanao including Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Davao, General Santos, and Iligan
Startups connecting the world, bringing communities together
Aside from providing essentials, startups are also mobilizing their resources and skills to aid in addressing challenges brought about by COVID-19. QBO incubatees Container Living and Kumu are harnessing the power of their community.
Container Living, a startup which converts containers to buildings in its effort to lower carbon footprint and costs, saw the opportunity to pivot their innovation to address the overcrowding of medical facilities brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Container Living CEO Mac Evangelista spearheaded Rapid Deployment (RAD) Hospitals alongside its team of local architects, professionals and engineers to build scalable, easy-to-deploy, isolation and intensive care facilities for COVID-19 patients.
Livestreaming app Kumu launched Kumu Lives Streaming Service which conducts private live streams for free in an effort to enable Filipino communities, here and around the world, to hold events and gatherings online amid the quarantine, and Social DistanSING, a livestreaming initiative for a cause which brought together artists and celebrities online to share their talents and help raise funds for families affected by COVID-19. To date, Kumu’s cause has raised an estimate of Php1.2 million pesos for charity.
“At a time when most of us are relying on technology to stay connected and keep working, these startups are showing us how it can be done. They are, in a way, frontliners in their own rights, taking initiative to tackle this crisis by leveraging their strengths in technology to help our country move forward despite the challenges brought by this pandemic,” added Chan. “Our mantra at QBO is ‘Filipino Startups Changing the World’. We have always believed that our homegrown ventures and innovators can make a meaningful contribution to solving critical challenges and create impact. Now, our startups are showing what they’re capable of, and we hope that everyone will take notice, and recognize the crucial role that Filipino startups can play in bringing fresh ideas into action and will continue to support them in future.”
For its part, QBO also harnesses the power of tech by continuously providing support and learning opportunities to Filipino startups, making sure they are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to push forward despite the threat of COVID-19. For more information, visit facebook.com/QBOphilippines/ and qbo.com.ph/
About QBO
QBO (‘ku-bo’) is an innovation hub or a platform for the startup community to collaborate, develop talent, and grow. It provides startups with support and resources through events and capacity building programs as well as focused interventions designed to improve access to markets, knowledge, capital, and talent. QBO is the country’s first public-private initiative for startups, created through a partnership between IdeaSpace, J.P. Morgan, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Trade and Industry.
Spurred on by the vision of Filipinos startups changing the world, QBO’s mission is to create a globally competitive startup ecosystem in the Philippines.
Manila - During the press conference updating the public on the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez lauded the “game-changing” measure for bringing down retail prices of regular milled rice and well-milled rice to a seven-year low since the start of its implementation last March 5, 2019.
“From the DTI perspective, we are always after the impact on the consumers. We’ve been watching closely and helping temper prices of rice. We are glad to report that with the Rice Tariffication Law, we really see a huge difference from the record-high average price of regular milled rice at Php41/kg and well-milled rice at Php49/kg in September 2018,” said Sec. Lopez.
Based on data by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the average price of regular milled rice was recorded at Php36.32/kg while the average price of well-milled rice was at Php41.23/kg during the first three weeks of February. The retail price of regular milled rice was at the lowest since December 2013 when it stood at Php36.18/kg, while the retail price of well-milled rice was at the lowest since May 2016 when it hit Php41.19/kg.
Sec. Lopez even shared that during their price monitoring rounds in groceries and wet markets, he and his team saw well-milled rice prices ranging from Php36 to Php38 per kilo with some selling at Php34/kg when purchasing 10 kilos
The trade secretary expressed optimism that the Law would see the “best to come” in the coming years given the biggest Php10billion fund that will support farmers in improving their productivity and lowering their production cost; thus, increasing their income.
Among the provisions of the Rice Tariffication Law is the Php10-billion Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which provides programs to improve agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and profitability.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar explained that the funds will be used to help mechanize operations, distribute certified seeds, provide trainings, and assist in financing.
According to the Department of Finance (DOF), during the first seven months of implementation until December 2018, the revenues from the imposed tariffs reached Php12.3 billion. Agriculture Secretary Dar reported that the additional Php2.3 billion will be used for crop diversification and insurance that will help farmers increase profits.
“Aside from the direct benefit to consumers and farmers, RTL was instrumental at curbing inflation from the record-high 6.7 percent in October 2018, which was outside the government’s target rate of 2.0-4.0 percent, to 0.8 percent in October 2019, the slowest pace in over three years,” explained Sec. Lopez.
Meanwhile, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Assistant Secretary Mercedita Sombilla highlighted the impact of rice prices in the overall inflation, reporting that in October 2018, rice inflation was at 10.7 percent while rice inflation in October 2019 was posted at -9.7 percent. In January 2020, headline inflation was recorded at 2.9 percent, well within the government’s target, while rice inflation was posted at -6.5 percent.
“We can see that the benefits of the Rice Tariffication Law are not just felt by consumers, but also by farmers, producers, and the overall economy. Tunay ngang sa Rice Tariffication Law, ang bayan ang panalo,” said Sec. Lopez.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) finally inked deal with Google Philippines in upgrading the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the power of digitalization, creating a strong online presence and training them on digital skills to grow their businesses globally.
Through Google’s MSME Caravan, the goal is to conduct training sessions among MSMEs nationwide so they can be well-informed of the digital landscape, latest consumer insights and tools such as Google My Business, a free online listing on Google maps and Search to help MSMEs connect with more consumers in the digital space.
Google will train MSMEs build their online presence, control their business information, and create a free website and posts.
The series of workshops have already started, training more than 2,780 MSMEs in over 20 cities across eight regions nationwide.
“DTI shares same vision of Google on enhancing the skills of our entrepreneurs to become digital-savvy. That’s why we want to thank Google for this program that lets MSMEs maximize Google My Business to manage their online presence in Google Search and Google Maps. We laud them for their program goal of trying to reach 500,000 businesses by 2020 from the current 125,000 businesses registered in Google My Business,” expressed Trade Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona, speaking on behalf of Secretary Ramon Lopez during the launch of MSME Caravan at the Google Philippines Office, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig last February 26, 2020.
DTI and Google target to reach more throughout 2020 as empowering MSMEs plays a vital role in driving the economy forward.
“Filipino MSMEs have the drive, the passion and the dedication to succeed. Combine that with the new tools and opportunities of the internet, and there is no limit on what’s possible for them! We hope that the MSME Caravan will help bring on board more trainees, visit more communities, and give more business owners the digital skills they need,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director of Google Philippines.
The Small Business Corporation (SB Corporation) expressed continued support to the Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CPMPC) as its Credit Delivery Partner (CDP) for the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) Program. CPMPC reported a total P2.56 million loans released to 124 microenterprise beneficiaries in just three months (November 2019 to January 2020). SB Corporation through CPMPC aims to generate P2 million P3 loan portfolio per month for each of the cooperative’s 16 satellite offices.
Present during the update meeting are (seated L-R) SB Corporation South Luzon Group Head Ronald Inciong, Financing Sector Head Ma. Lourdes Baula, SB Corporation President and CEO Ma. Luna Cacanando, CPMPC CEO Macario Quevedo, CPMPC COO Brian Yap, SB Corporation MIS Department Manager Marc Quincy Talagtag and SB Corporation Corporate Support Sector Head Rowena Betia (Standing L-R) SB Corporation Information Technology Group Head Evelyn Felias, CPMPC Financial Officer Eric Abistado, Training Dept Manager Jacob Layan, Credit Dept Manager Melanie Baclayon, Manila Branch Operator Ulysses Mar Josef, and Executive Secretary Nelson Rabaja.
Under the P3 Program, a micro enterprise can borrow between P5,000 up to P200,000 depending on its business need and repayment capacity with no collateral requirement with an effective interest rate of not more than 2.5% per month (based on diminishing balance). The P3 Program serves as an alternative to the P30 billion “5-6” money lending industry that charges 20% interest rate to microenterprises.
As of January 2020 the P3 program has extended a total of P5.1 billion in loans to 124,374 micro enterprises and has partnered with 418 partner financial institutions nationwide.
The DTI Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) in partnership with the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices will conduct the 2020 National Food Fair on March 12-15 at SM Megatrade Halls 1-3, 5th level, Building B, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. Fair hours are from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily. Admission is free.
Billed as the Philippine Cuisine and Ingredients Show, the four-day retail and order-taking event will showcase over 280 food entrepreneurs from the regions featuring processed food, beverages, halal products, cooking ingredients, health and wellness products, as well as the best cuisines across the country.
Special settings and pavilions include the Rural Agro-Industrial Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth focusing on cocoa, coffee, processed fruits and nuts, and coconut industries; fresh produce from the Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project (INREMP); and the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
In addition to the KAPEtirya Coffee Pavilion, the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) will showcase a halal kitchen in conjunction with the Halal Food Plaza, while the Philippine Island Bar will feature local wines. There will also be booths promoting farm tourism and culinary tour packages, as well as on-site cooking demonstrations by featured chefs in the Kusinang Filipino.
The Department of Trade and Industry is setting up a one-stop Negosyo Center to provide assistance with business requirements and start-up concerns for aspiring entrepreneurs. There will be representatives from various DTI bureaus and attached agencies such as the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED), Bureau of Import Services (BIS), Export Management Bureau (EMB), One Town, One Product (OTOP), Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), Design Center of the Philippines (DCP), and Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhil).
Other related government offices will also have a presence, including the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Department of Health (DOH), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) under the Department of Agriculture (DA).
To support the sustainability initiative, fair-goers are strongly encouraged to bring their own reusable shopping bags. For more information, please contact DTI-BDTP at telephone numbers (02) 7751-3223 and (02) 7791- 3102, or email bdtp@dti.gov.ph. Follow DTI-BDTP on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to get the latest news and updates.
QUEZON CITY – The Departments of Trade (DTI), Agriculture (DA), Local Government (DILG), and the Quezon City Local Government conducted a joint price monitoring last 24 February at Mega Q Mart to enforce the Suggested Retail Prices (SRPs) of ten agriculture products for all Metro Manila markets.
Letters of inquiry were issued to two market vendors of chicken for overpricing and one sugar vendor for the lack of price tags/signages. Vendors have 48 hours to answer these letters or else, they will be given penalties which can range from PHP5,000 to PHP1,000,000, according to the Price Act.
“The effectiveness of the SRP implementation is dependent first on good information campaign and the cooperation among DA, DTI and the DILG with the local government units concerned, since they are the ones who supervise to the market masters in the public markets. For the retailers to comply with the SRP, the market masters must check if the traders entering their markets as well as the retailers are overpricing,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.
“In chicken for instance, if the retail price is PHP 130, the wholesale price from the trader should not be higher than PHP 110 to give the market vendors enough margins to sell at SRP of PHP 130,” he added.
DA Secretary Dar added that the price change from farmgate to retail should not be more than 60%.
Under the DA Administrative Circular 01 issued on 20 February 2020, all Metro Manila markets should follow the SRPs for selected food items, namely: pork (pigue/kasim) – PHP 190; chicken (whole, dressed) – PHP 130; sugar (raw, brown) – PHP 45; sugar (refined) – PHP 50; bangus (cage-cultured) – PHP 162; tilapia (pond-cultured) – PHP 120; galunggong (imported) – PHP 130; garlic (imported) – PHP 70; garlic (local) – PHP 120; and red onion (imported) – PHP 95.
“This is a call to all traders and retailers in all Metro Manila markets. We now have the suggested retail prices for [these] food commodities. The monitoring and surveillance are a multi-government department approach, to include the local government unit concerned. Please, let’s strictly observe the SRP,” said Secretary Dar.
Consumers can report violating retailers to DTI through the 1-DTI (1-384) hotline. Otherwise, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said they can also approach the police or the local action centers of their cities or municipalities.
Aside from the retail price, the three agencies are now looking into enforcing a suggested wholesale price to monitor the traders.
We just learned today the announcement from Honda. We were told that they had to optimize the allocation and distribution of their resources in the region, which led them to decide to close the assembly of Honda City and BR-V models in Sta Rosa Laguna.
In other words, they may be facing challenges in keeping the cost competitiveness of their local assembly operations. We are meeting them on Monday to consider other alternative options so as to minimize the impact of any final decision they will make.
The cost structure of their local car assembly, which has about 380 workers, is basically challenged and there’s no tariff protection, thus making imports of vehicles as a cheaper alternative. Vehicle imports have been growing, causing injury to local industry, from assembly to the local parts supply network in the country.
Thus we really have to study the need to impose safeguard duty and other measures to provide at least a level of support to the local assemblers.
PASAY - Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said that the tax reform bill endorsed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee is a well-balanced approach to the corporate tax reform and helps remove the uncertainty of foreign investors.
On 19 February, Senator Pia Cayetano sponsored Senate Bill No. 1357 also known as the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives rationalization (CITIRA). Senator Cayetano, who heads the committee, is optimistic that the Senate would approve the bill on final reading by March 13.
“DTI would like to thank Senator Pia for sponsoring a bill that could create a better investment climate for the greater majority. We think that this is a well-balanced bill that enhances the incentives but will ensure investment performance and efficiencies, with a systematic way of rationalizing incentives,” said Sec. Lopez in a press conference.
“We appreciate this version of the bill, and we hope for the immediate passing of the bill to remove uncertainties and the wait-and-see attitude of investors. We are now pushing for the passage of the bill to resume the growth momentum of the country,” he added.
The CITIRA Bill, which seeks to lower income tax rate from 30% to 20%, and modernize the tax incentive system, is a priority bill of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Since a bill on rationalizing tax incentives was first proposed in 1995, the Department of Finance (DOF) and DTI have urged Congress to finally make this crucial reform happen.
“After a series of consultations and meetings with various members of the government, business community, and academe, and thorough consideration of the sensitivities of key stakeholders, the new bill offers a more reasonable transition period and one that gives recognition to high performing investments such as being 100% exportation, or 10,000 jobs created or being in a highly competitive footloose industries”, said Sec. Lopez.
Through the CITIRA, the Philippines’ corporate income tax rate will be gradually reduced from 30% to 20% over the next ten years, not far from the 17 to 25% of its neighboring ASEAN countries.
The bill prioritizes incentives of business activities that generate local employment, promote development, innovation, high technology projects and agribusiness, as well as those that invest in less developed areas or communities recovering from disasters and conflicts.
The incentives provided will be in accordance with the principles based on international good practices to make it performance-based, targeted, time-bound, and transparent.
BBDO Guerrero has won the bid to develop the multi-media marketing communications for the Philippine participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai, this October. The agency is tasked to project the country as a highly connected global nation.
BBDO Guerrero will also inform, persuade, and motivate global audiences to visit the Philippines Pavilion at the Expo – dubbed the bangkóta – for the full experience of design, art, and culture, combined with shopping and tasting authentic Filipino food.
Partnering with PR firm FleishmanHillard, the agency is also tasked to build and maintain DTI’s relationships with primary stakeholders in UAE and Manila.
The Philippine participation in Expo 2020 Dubai is led by the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) under the leadership of Secretary Ramon Lopez, with the guidance of Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn Quintana and Consul General Paul Cortez, including the support from member agencies comprising the Philippine Organizing Committee.
The bangkóta, inspired by the ancient Filipino word for coral reef, is designed by the architecture firm Budji+Royal Architecture+Design, with the exhibition content being developed and curated by Marian Pastor-Roces.
DTI Assistant Secretary for the Trade Promotions Group and PH Expo 2020 Dubai, Alternate Commissioner-General Rosvi C. Gaetos says: “We are happy to have BBDO Guerrero and FleishmanHillard as part of the Philippine team that will ensure a successful participation in the Expo. This gives us confidence as we promote our business interest in this region and aim to achieve our trade, tourism and investment objectives”.
BBDO Guerrero Creative Chairman, David Guerrero shares: “It is our privilege to be involved in this country-branding campaign that positions the Philippines as a global force, through the strength of its people that are highly connected, creative, and compassionate”.
MAKATI – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is partnering with USAID, Lead-More, and Havas Ortega to train women entrepreneurs on using digital tools to grow their business. The three-month program will be piloted in Region 4A in April, Iloilo in July, and Cagayan de Oro in October.
“In DTI we always say that for every job or business opportunity, we lift one Filipino family out of poverty. If we give these opportunities to women, we also empower them and help them become an inspiration for their families and their communities,” said Secretary Lopez.
The program, called Women Entreps-Digitally Enhanced Ventures (WE-DEV), is a three-month lecture and mentoring series to open opportunities for growth and sustainability among selected businesses owned or managed by women entrepreneurs.
USAID will fund the project and link entrepreneurs to online platforms Lazada and Shopee. Lead-More, led by Dean Pax Lapid and Jorge Wieneke, will provide training modules and mentor the women entrepreneurs.
Under the program, DTI will select 50 women entrepreneurs from the One Town, One Product program to be part of WE-DEV. These entrepreneurs will undergo the program that will begin with a two-day boot camp from Socialyse, a social media pure player from Havas Ortega.
In the boot camp, the mentees will learn how to create content and use analytics tools to track their growth. After the program, Socialyse will offer assisted campaigns by prepaid packages. Socialyse Executive Director Peter Juan said that sustainability in campaigns is important because in most seminars, mentees get excited after the first few days, but burn out when they run out of ideas.
WE-DEV will also offer lessons on basic business concepts like entrepreneurial mindset, marketing, product development, and finance. Afterwards, mentees will learn how to use digital platforms to sell their products, build their online presence, and establish payment methods.
The Philippines has the 2nd highest percentage of entrepreneurially-active females, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2015-2016. We Are Social’s report also named the Philippines as the top country in terms of time spent on the internet in 2019. Filipinos, on average, spend 10 hours a day online. The global average is 6 hours and 49 minutes.
In an effort to diversify markets for PH exporters, the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB), in coordination with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Middle East and Africa, is conducting an Outbound Business Matching Mission (OBMM) to the Middle East on February 12-24, 2020. The OBMM is in conjunction with Gulfood 2020 in Dubai World Trade Centre.
"We hope that through this OBMM, the Philippines will be able to explore business environment and possible prospects in the Middle East markets and sustain networking and follow-up activities in the UAE as part of the mission legs last 2019,” DTI-Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman said.
The OBMM also targets to develop and expand relationships with business, government, and multiplier organizations in Middle East countries and enhance local understanding of the current economic conditions and business opportunities.
The mission is also anchored on EMB’s aspiration to engage with high-level promotion, targeted market intelligence and business matching, and focused training and capacity building for both large companies and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which also echoes the thrust of the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act (PHEDP) and the Expo 2020 Dubai campaign.
Moreover, this project supports the Export Promotion for PH Food Sector which endeavors to bring Philippine cuisine, ingredients, and beverages overseas. The program’s strategy will build on Strategy No. 3 of PEDP 2018-2022 which is to design comprehensive packages of support that will be able to mainstream the Philippine food, food ingredients, and beverages sectors and encourage innovations on major Philippine commodities and niche products.
Led by Usec. Macatoman, the business delegation is composed of representatives from 11 Philippine business companies, namely: Fitrite, Inc; Fruits of Life, Inc; HDR Foods Corporation; Jocker’s Food Industries; Magic Melt Food, Inc; Marigold Manufacturing Corp; Marikina Food Corp; Pinesvill Trading FZE LTE; Pixcel Transglobal; Sagrex Food, and LBC. Also included in the delegation are Philippine Commercial Attaché for the Middle East and Africa Charmaine Mignon S. Yalong, DTI-EMB’s Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist Myrtle Faye L. Solina, and Trade and Industry Development Specialist Al-Mahdi I. Jul-Ahmad.
The featured products for this mission are food items, sauces, spices, mixes, and condiments as well as cargo and logistics for the services.
Macatoman reiterated the need for more Philippine brands to enter the Middle East markets to cater the demand of Filipinos living there, and to a larger extent, to penetrate the mainstream market. This mission also endeavors to deliberately promote Philippine bananas in the Middle East market, among others.
The delegation is set to have business matching events, market scanning, store visits, meetings with government authorities and a visit to Gulfood 2020.
“As part of the OBMM’s activities, the PH exporters will be engaged in B2B meetings with prospective buyers which will give them knowledge of the market requirements in terms of volume, quality, and price. It will bolster and increase exports of food and non-food products and services to GCC countries,” DTI-EMB Director Senen M. Perlada said.
Gulfood is the world's largest annual food, beverage, and hospitality exhibition which attracts F&B professionals from all over the world to Dubai - a hub for international trade and commerce. It is also celebrating its 24th edition this year.
In January - November 2019, the Philippines exported USD 720.1M worth of goods to the Middle East and imported USD 3,298.8M of goods. Among the top products exported by the country were bananas, including plantains, fresh or dried (USD 211.9M), Input or output units, whether or not containing storage units in the same housing (USD 64.0M), other bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other baker's wares, whether or not containing cocoa (USD 41.3M), pineapples, fresh or dried (USD 38.1M), and video projectors (USD 22.1M).
On the other hand, the country’s top imported products from the Middle East in the same period were petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude (USD 2,112.6M), light petroleum oils and preparations thereof (USD 225.9M), propane, liquified (USD 126.6M), butanes, liquified (USD 120.9M), and aeroplanes and other aircraft, of an unladen weight not exceeding 2,000 kg.
To know more about of the Philippine Delegation, you may scan the QR Code below.
You can visit their Facebook Page: fb.com/dti.export to stay updated on DTI EMB’s new and upcoming events and programs.
The One Town, One Product Program (OTOP) Next Gen kicked off the year assembling all its regional and provincial focal persons through the “OTOP Visions 2020: Trade Promotions Officers’ Evaluation and Planning Session”, last February 5 and 6, 2020 at the Hotel Jen Manila.
The session aimed to assess the group’s performance, to earn from the best practices of each region, and to set the direction of the program for 2020. It was attended by DTI Regional and Assistant Regional Directors and all the Trade Promotions Officers who have played crucial roles in the continued success of the OTOP program.
“We hope to face 2020 with a clear and unified vision of OTOP. As we set out to elevate our level and quality of MSME support, may we grow all the more resilient. Let us remember why we are doing this and who we are doing this for – for MSMEs and for the continued development of our country”, OTOP Program Manager Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga stated during the opening of the OTOP Visions 2020.
The two-day conference also included learning sessions for participants given by various resource persons from the Department and other agencies. In line with rising global trends, the prospective e-commerce platforms are also being explored by the program.
The program surpassed its targets for 2019, successfully providing 10, 819 counts of MSME assistance, 6,771 counts of product development services, and enabling OTOPreneurs to generate Php 1.407 billion in sales.
To date, the program has already established 37 OTOP Philippines Hubs (OTOP.Ph), OTOP’s retail and marketing arm, nationwide with many more underway.
The Program also engaged with prospective foreign markets during a mission to Europe, where it participated in the ANUGA Fair in Cologne, Germany. There, it showcased the rich flavors of the Philippines on the world stage, enticing potential buyers and partners from all over.
The session only marked the beginning of OTOP’s continuous thrust to promote inclusive economic growth and increase the competitiveness of local MSMEs. Much can be expected from the program this year as it seeks to further expand its pool of new enrollees and level up the package of services it offers to OTOPreneurs.
QUEZON CITY - Government and private sector stakeholders converge to support the bamboo industry during the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council meeting (PBDIC) on 6 February.
As Chair of the Bamboo industry council, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez reported that various agencies like the Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Local Government, and Trade are aligning their various programs and connecting the dots in the value chain of the bamboo industry. These programs include from tissue culture, and planting materials developed by DA to plant propagation and greening program of DENR, to processing, product development and design and marketing by DTI.
Several private organizations and advocacy groups will likewise merge their activities into the council’s programs. Moreover, being an agribusiness activity, located at the countryside, Lopez added that these activities are included in the Board of Investments BOI investment priorities plan or IPP that can enjoy incentives. The PBDIC is now also heavily supported by the House Deputy Speaker DV Savellano, being a staunch Bamboo advocate for years.
“The DENR’s National Greening program is targeting to plant 19,000 hectares of bamboo nationwide" said Sec. Lopez.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar also expressed support for this effort in turning bamboo crops into an investment opportunity. Sec. Dar recently approved DTI’s request of including bamboo as a high-value crop. DA encourages farmers to plant high-value crops like mango, banana, coffee, and cacao as they are expected to generate more profit.
"With bamboo as a high-value crop, we can undertake various interventions that include research, processing and value-adding, and budgetary support, complementing the programs and projects of the PBIDC," said Sec. Dar.
Bamboo takes only three years to fully grow as compared to 10 to 20 years for wood trees. The plant can be used as construction materials, as well as furniture and paper-making, among others, providing a good livelihood source for a community.
Sec. Lopez shared that investments are welcome at all stages of the value chain from nurseries to design studios. Both secretaries also promoted the use of modern technology to quickly propagate and process the plant. Secretary Dar meanwhile encouraged the participation of big businesses to partner and help the small farmers, to make the project more competitive and profitable.
PBDIC Vice-Chair and Ilocos Sur Representative Savellano shared that the bills filed are to institutionalize the PBDIC and these are now being discussed at the 18th Congress. He also committed to push the bill at the bicameral hearings.
Senate Bill 524, proposed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, aims to make bamboo a main export product by creating the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap and the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council to provide the overall policy and program directions, and coordinate the activities of the public and private sectors.
The council will have an official launch to promote the bamboo industry. The campaign will be named 5K: Kawayan, Kalikasan, Kabuhayan, Kaunlaran, Kinabukasan.
