Ilocos Rice Retailers Received P15K Subsidy

One hundred seventy-one (171) micro rice retailers in Ilocos Region each received P15,000 cash assistance under the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). Said 171 micro rice retailers in public markets were validated to be compliant to Executive Order (EO) 39 which imposes Mandated Price Ceilings on Regular-Milled Rice at P41.00 per kilogram and Well-Milled Rice at P45.00, respectively.

The Department of Trade and Industry has conducted monitoring activities in key cities and municipalities since the effectivity of EO 39 in September 5, 2023. As a result of said monitoring activities 175 Micro Rice Retailers found to be compliant were endorsed to DSWD as possible beneficiaries under the SLP of the DSWD. Pay out for the other four beneficiaries shall be done after completion of the requirements prescribed under the SLP.

A total of Php 2,565,000.00 SLP funds was distributed by DSWD in the 12 key cities and municipalities in the region with the assistance of the LGUs, DTI, DILG and DA. The cash assistance aims to ensure availability of affordable rice for consumers.

Payout areas include the cities of Alaminos, San Carlos and Dagupan in Pangasinan; the cities of Laoag and Batac in Ilocos Norte; Candon and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur and; the City of San Fernando in La Union. Other areas include the municipalities of Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur; San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, Agoo and Naguilian in La Union

DTI, DA and NFA shall continue to monitor the compliance of rice retailers until the lifting of the EO 39. Compliant micro rice retailers are advised to coordinate until September 18, 2023 with their respective LGUs, DTI Provincial Offices and Negosyo Centers for possible inclusion to the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

Ilocos Sur Coffee wins BEST in Nationwide Competition

Bigger market opportunities await the coffee industry of Region 1 as the locally produced Robusta coffee from the province of Ilocos Sur dominated the top five (5) spots in the 2021 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC). The entries for the Robusta Category submitted by coffee farmers from the province were hailed as best coffee during the PCQC virtual awarding ceremony held on May 26, 2021.

The robusta coffee entry of Mr. Mabini C. Ubuan from the municipality of Sigay bagged the 1st place award. Coffee farmers who landed the other top spots were: Ms. Marielle Gannad, Gregorio Del Pilar- 2nd place; Ms. Erlinda Dao-ayan, Gregorio Del Pilar- 3rd place; Mr. Rodolfo Aciong, Quirino- 4th place; and Ms. Juana Bitongan, 5th place.

Now on its 4th year, the event which was co-organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Barista and Coffee Academy of Asia, Inc. (BACAA) and the Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA), aims to aims to unite, empower and nurture the Philippine coffee community through friendly competitions.

National Industry Cluster for Coffee Coordinator and DTI CAR Regional Director Myrna Pablo called for the institutionalization of the PCQC. “Our coffee industry has gone a long way. More stakeholders are joining. Let us support the inclusive growth of the Philippine coffee industry.” she added.

The new normal situation brought about by the pandemic COVID19, had brought challenges in the industry. However, with the strong support and united efforts from the public and private stakeholders, Ms. Cherry Cruz, Chairperson of PCQC, believes that no pandemic could stop the celebration of the growing and improving Philippine Coffee Industry.

The competition was opened to coffee of Philippine origin, submitted by farmers and entities engaged in coffee farming nationwide. The entries were judged from grading, roasting and cupping. The competition was categorized into different types of coffee; robusta, arabica, liberica and excelsa and the mixed category. 103 entries nationwide were assessed for the competition, 13 of which came from Region 1, particularly in Ilocos Sur.

Primarily aiming to strengthen the coffee industry in the country, the competition paves way for Philippine Specialty Coffee to be recognized in the Global coffee industry by performing evaluations aligned with globally accepted grading and profiling protocols and standards of the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). Moreover, to make the locally produced coffee known in the global market thereby opening more marketing and better pricing opportunities to Philippine coffee farmers.

In Region 1, coffee is one of the priority industries being developed by DTI. It grows in the upland municipalities of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union. Fifty-four (54) percent of coffee produced is Robusta while thirty-nine (39) percent is Arabica. Excelsa and Liberica varieties, accounts for about six (6) percent and one (1) percent respectively of production in the region. The crop was basically grown by the residents for home consumption. However, through the years, areas planted for coffee significantly increased due to the distribution of coffee seedlings by various government agencies and appreciation of its market potential by coffee farmers and stakeholders.

DTI Grants P50-M Worth of SSF Lab to Ilocos Norte’s State University

Contributing to the needs and addressing the bottlenecks in the value chain of priority industry clusters, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), spearheaded by the Regional Operations Group (ROG) Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona, granted the provision of Shared Service Facility (SSF) laboratory equipment to Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU). The ceremony transpired during the inauguration of the state university’s National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC) in Brgy. Quiling Sur, Batac, Ilocos Norte last January 23.

The P50-M SSF consists of machineries for Bioenergy Innovation, Incubation Hub and Product Testing Center for Renewable Energy stored in the NBERIC Building.

“We are happy for being part of this project. DTI has already provided the equipment so they can start the activity. Now, DTI still owns the equipment, but if the cooperator, which is MMSU, can operate it optimally and can show us that all the equipment are being used, then, in a span of two years, these equipment will be awarded to the MMSU. During the 2-year period, ano man ang mangyari sa mga makina, sagot ‘yan ng DTI,” said Usec. Lantayona.

As DTI’s cooperator, MMSU will regulate the utilization of the SSF for the beneficiaries, such as the researchers, innovators, teachers and students, stakeholders, and especially, the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) where they could tap a better and wider market share, and be integrated into the global supply chain.

“The equipment will serve two purposes: for continuous research to form the innovative ideas of young researchers, scientists, in the development of the technology; and at the same time, this is going to be a training facility for the farmers and even entrepreneurs whom we are developing as scientists in the village,” MMSU President Dr. Shirley Agrupis explained.

The bestowed SSF apparatuses will contribute to the research center’s goal as to capacitate all the key players and stakeholders in bioenergy for countryside development through bioenergy research, training, extension, and techno-preneurship.

Furthermore, aiming to improve the competitiveness of MSMEs, the SSF Project is being implemented nationwide with project partners, which may be any juridical entity such as but not limited to non-government organizations, people’s organizations, cooperatives, industry/trade/business associations, local government units (LGUs), state universities/colleges technical vocational schools and other similar government and training institutions.

To date, DTI has already established 2,528 SSFs nationwide mounting up to P1.6-B expenditure since 2013, and 220 of it were launched in Ilocos Region with 3,225 beneficiaries and 4,539 jobs generated. Most of the SFFs granted are designed for food processing, loomweaving and furniture industry.

DTI rolls out Kapatid Mentor Me Program in Ilocos Norte

True to its thrust to propel micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) towards innovative and competitive business environment, the Department of Trade and Industry Region 1, in partnership with Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE), on September 15, launched the Kapatid Mentor Me Program (KMME) - Ilocos Norte Leg in Ilocos Norte.

the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship - Go Negosyo. The KMME Program is part of the DTI – PCE partnership Negosyo - Kapatid Project to help MSMEs scale up their businesses and become globally competitive enterprises through coaching and mentoring sessions.

The KMME Program is part of the Negosyo- Kapatid Project that will guide micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) scale up their businesses through 10 weeks of 1-on-1 consultations and coaching sessions with business experts and help MSMEs scale up and become globally competitive enterprises through coaching and mentoring sessions.

In his message, DTI-Ilocos Regional Director Florante Leal emphasized the role played by MSMEs in fueling the economic growth of the country while also highlighting the importance of mentoring towards the attainment of economic progress driven by empowered MSMEs.

Leal said the KMME program is a “big brother-small brother” concept, which is a perfect tool to motivate the entrepreneurial spirit of the Ilocanos and Pangasinenses.”

PCE accredited mentors shared their expertise on Entrepreneurial Mind Setting, Business Values Formation and Marketing to some 250 MSMEs from the Region.

The KMME program is in line with the Duterte Administration’s agenda of advancing MSMEs in the country.

The program will allow mentees to learn strategies on marketing, financial, human resource and operation management among others during the 10-week module-based sessions. On the 11th week, mentees are also required to present their business development plans before their graduation from the program.

Upon completion of the program, the MSEs are expected to become confident entrepreneurs with the right mindset and business-knowhow that will be able to sustain and scale up their enterprises.

For Ilocos Norte, 22 mentees were chosen for the program. Qualified mentees are business owners or managers of an enterprise with an asset of three million and below and operational for at least a year.

Ilocos Norte is the fourth and last province in the region to roll-out the Kapatid Mentor Me Program. La Union, Pangasinan have previously launched the KMME program and has already produced entrepreneur 50 graduates while 23 entrepreneurs in Ilocos Sur are expected to finish the program.

*This is Press Release