DTI's Pascual Supports Workforce Development, Pushes Alignment of Learning Systems

BIÑAN, LAGUNA—During the launching of the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development Alliance (AMDev) Program supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on 13 March 2023, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual echoed that the Department is in pursuit of encouraging employers to upskill workers, making them future-ready.

"Crucial to manufacturing development is advancing our workforce pipeline, so we fully support and will continue to support AmDev. Preparing our workforce for the future is essential, as it is one of DTI’s strategic priorities," Secretary Pascual said.

The AMDev Program is a 5-year (2022-2027) public-private partnership supported by USAID and implemented by Unilab Foundation (ULF). It seeks to develop a highly skilled and adaptive workforce pipeline that meets the evolving requirements of the advanced manufacturing sector through better-defined, harmonized skills and qualifications descriptors, competency, and training standards.

The main goal of the program is to improve the capacity of the education system to develop human capital aligned with the requirements of Industry 4.0. To deliver this goal, the program will seek to achieve three Intermediate Results (IRs) such as: (1) Improved competencies of target manufacturing workforce that are relevant to Industry 4.0 needs; (2) Improved enabling environment for advanced manufacturing workforce development; and (3) Improved stakeholder readiness for Industry 4.0.

Further, one of the key activities of AMDev is the establishment of the Advanced Manufacturing Institute (AMI) that will be operationalized by Alliance Core Partners, namely Amherst Laboratories, Inc, Belmont Softgel Pharma Corporation, Fastech Advanced Assembly, and Western Digital. Meanwhile, among its government partners are the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Initiatives such as AMDev are vital to the DTI's work of tapping and leveraging the immense potential of the Philippines as a manufacturing hub. Through AMDev, the Filipino workforce will have the opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge that will further strengthen the competencies of the country's manufacturing sector.

Secretary Pascual added that "We encourage employers to upskill workers. But we also recognize aligning systems of learning as equally important. With around 790,000 Filipino graduates annually, companies should find it promising to readily recruit smart, young, and productive workforce for their manufacturing operations."

The various initiatives that coincide with AMDev are aligned with the national government's work of responding to the learning needs and realities of the country's workforce, especially in manufacturing.

The DTI endeavors to implement an industrialization strategy driven by science, technology, and innovation. As this comes in, it is vital for the country to also adopt industry 4.0 technologies that will make industries more competitive. However, to successfully implement this, our workforce must be highly skilled. Relative to this, the DTI will soon launch an industry 4.0 pilot factory, which will house cutting-edge manufacturing technologies like advanced robotics, the intelligence of things, and virtual and augmented reality simulations, among others.

Likewise, to ensure organizations and regional governments realize the value of adopting and investing in digital literacy, DTI, together with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), launched the Philippine Skills Framework (PSF) Initiative. The initiative seeks to create a framework to upskill, reskill, and prepare our human capital and workforce to respond and adapt to the changing needs of the industry. The DTI is working on PSF for electronics, which AMDev and other similar initiatives can gain from for their workforce.

In closing, Secretary Pascual expressed the Department's willingness to continue supporting AMDev as its Alliance Core Partners implement projects and programs that are aligned with it.

CITEM Kicks Off First Digital Food Expo

A year before the pandemic hit in 2019, the Philippine agri-food sector turned in a strong showing, accounting for an estimated P6.1T to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The same year also saw the sector employ 42.7% of the national workforce. 

In the new normal that changed our lives and livelihoods forever, The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM)  tries to recapture the same momentum for one of our country's most lucrative export sectors.

 

This is made possible through the first-ever digital iteration of its banner sourcing event for Philippine food, the IFEX Digital Expo 2021, from September 23-25.

“One of the many things that the pandemic brought forth is the need to connect—now more than ever. COVID changed the way we at CITEM worked, especially with heightened activity online. With borderless communication at our disposal, we present through this expo how we can conduct the business of food in the new normal,” CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan shares.

Leveraging its access to advanced digital tools, CITEM stages the IFEX Digital Expo 2021 to provide an avenue for Philippine food brands and businesses to showcase homegrown food products and ingredients to a wider audience.

Themed “Salu-salo,” IFEX Digital Expo brings together business owners, restaurateurs, hoteliers, farmers, food manufacturers and distributors, retailers, culinary professionals and foodies. The event serves as a medium for strengthening the food community through storytelling, knowledge sharing, and creating dialogue. This year’s show features over 200 exhibitors from all over the country. There are also invited industry experts from global organizations and local government agencies who will share their knowledge and insights on trends, opportunities, and techniques related to food. Networking and business-to-business matching sessions will also be part of the online event’s features.

A Three-Day Digital Celebration of Philippine Food

One of the highlights of the IFEX Digital Expo is the launch of two online platforms foodphilippines.com and www.ifexconnect.com, developed by CITEM. FOODPhilippines.com will be the website of the banner brand for all of CITEM’s events and initiatives for the Philippine food sector. Meanwhile, IFEXConnect.com will serve as the agency’s new promotion and lead generation platform for the country’s food export industry. 

 

Expo delegates can look forward to a wide array of Philippine food product categories, including fine food and specialties, biscuits and confectionery, organic and natural food items and ingredients, and snacks and crispy savory food products.

In addition to the informative discussions, the expo is set to excite the palate through happy hour sessions such as coffee brewing. Take in the rich aromas and flavors of Philippine coffee on Day 1. Savor mouthwatering dishes as Chef Angelo Guison explores the flavorful gifts of coconut, from tree to plate, in Coco Pop on Day 2. Distinguish craft from draft with the Craft Beer Association of the Philippines and Philippine craft kings beer connoisseur Jazel Paraiso, as you sample a beer set and learn about beer-food pairing on Day 3.

Source From a Wide Array of Products at the Expo Section

The IFEX Digital Expo 2021 brings you an all-new digital sourcing experience through its Expo section on Hopin. Browse through a catalog of flavors harnessed from the Philippines’ distinct terroir and by Philippine food companies from all over the archipelago. In the three-day expo, you can also initiate business with food brands, export enablers, and business support organizations.

To join IFEX Digital Expo, register for free at https://bit.ly/IFEXDigitalExpo.  

The rest of the three-day expo are as follows:

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The IFEX Digital Expo 2021 is organized with the help of RAPID Growth, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau ( DTI-EMB) and the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board, Philippine Coconut Authority, and DTI Regional Offices.

About CITEM

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) is the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) export promotions arm committed to nurturing the global competitiveness of Philippine micro, small, and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs), exporters, designers, and manufacturers. The agency aspires toward the highest standards of creativity and innovation, and spanning industries including home, fashion, lifestyle, and food sectors.

About FOODPhilippines.com

FOODPhilippines.com is an interactive community platform with stories celebrating and promoting Philippine food. The platform is replete with narratives on food heritage, culinary personalities, and well-loved recipes as well as innovative takes on Pinoy food. 

www.foodphilippines.com

About IFEXConnect.com

IFEXConnect.com is a promotions and lead generation platform with business functionalities catered toward the needs of food exhibitors and buyers alike.The business-intensive portal is envisioned to be a sourcing platform that features digital storefronts of Philippine food exporters. Ready to serve the global market, IFEXConnect also has a business-matching facility to ensure access to and discoverability of well-loved Pinoy food products. 

www.ifexconnect.com

About IFEX Digital Expo

CITEM organized the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines, a homegrown platform for the country’s food sector and the country’s biggest and most respected business-to-business (B2B) event for Asian food and ingredients. The export promotions agency is also in the thick of preparations for the digital iteration of IFEX Philippines, the IFEX Digital Expo. From expos, workshops, business-matching, and networking sessions, the IFEX Digital Expo will have food-intensive activities suited to the taste of anyone who's in the business and culture of food.

https://bit.ly/IFEXDigitalExpo 

Ref. Elmer Harold Grande

Email: ehgrande@citem.com.ph

Twitter: @CITEMPh

Facebook: @DTI.CITEM

QBO Launches Hub for Startup Programs

QBO Innovation Hub, an established partnership between the public and private sector including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), IdeaSpace Foundation, and J.P. Morgan, opened its startup enablement programs to help speed up growth and learning for Philippine startups and entrepreneurs.

“We are excited to create success stories that will inspire Filipinos to start their own companies instead of pursuing opportunities overseas,” said QBO and IdeaSpace President Butch Meily.

QBO will start offering programs and services to startups including access to QBO’s networking events such as classes, workshops, mentorship, feedback sessions, and use of its co-working space.

Available services also include professional consultations on legal, accounting, marketing and design, corporate and government partner resources referrals, incorporation assistance, business registration, intellectual property filing, and investors and potential partners pitching.

“DTI hopes that with our partners from industry, academe, and other government agencies such as DOST and DICT, our initiatives will help advance the development of our local startup ecosystem and increase the number of high-growth oriented enterprises that will bring the Philippine brand in a global scale,” emphasized DTI Trade and Investments Promotions Group Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado.

Through QBO, startups will also have an opportunity to join J.P. Morgan’s Incubation Program, a stage agnostic module that will be available to select and high-potential startups all year round. It initially plans to enroll 15 startups by the end of 2017.

“As one of the world’s leading financial institutions, J.P. Morgan celebrates new ideas and we are committed to supporting entrepreneurs in the country, especially those with underserved backgrounds. Engaging with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at their early stages is critical and we are excited about the tremendous opportunities they will bring to developing sectors and generating jobs, which are both vital in promoting prosperous and thriving communities,” said Roberto L. Panlilio, Senior Country Officer, J.P. Morgan Philippines.

To avail the said services, startups need to have an initial interview with the QBO team and undergo initial assessment. Through this, a customized plan will be designed to match with the resources needed by the startup.

QBO was launched in 2016 with DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez and PLDT Group Chair Manny V. Pangilinan. It aims to link innovators, explorers, investors, academic institutions, start-up mentors, funders and enablers as well as a broad spectrum of partners and stakeholders from both public and private sectors to convene in constructive interaction.

 “The Philippine startup ecosystem is growing incredibly quickly, fueled by a young population engaged in the internet and digital, and more importantly, by entrepreneurs that demonstrate incredible determination and commitment. By continuing to develop ideas into innovative products and technologies, startups can evolve to become great companies that positively impact the future of the Philippines" said DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development, Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara.

QBO is the first innovation hub in the country, pioneering the first public-private effort to establish an innovation ecosystem in the Philippines following success stories of Silicon Valley in the United States, BLK 71 in Singapore, and MaGIC in Malaysia

The World Renowned Arduino Day Celebrated in Manila

The largest celebration of the world renowned Arduino/Genuino Day in Manila was held last April 2, 2016 at the TechPortal, UP-Ayala TechnoHub, Quezon City which was organized by ThinkLab, a local research and development startup group together with RedWizard Events and EConnext Ideas + Media.

About 300 participants attended the event consisting of students, professionals, and hobbyists who came from different places such as Cavite, Pampanga, La Union and from the different Cities and Universities in Metro Manila.

The Largest Official Arduino Day in Manila gathered around 300 plus participants coming from different provinces such as Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga and La Union.

The event consisted of a plenary with key speakers like Juan Antonio Tuazon of DOST-SEI, Jun Fetizanan of Project FAME, IdeaSpace , Jude Defensor of Asian Development Bank, Emil Mananquil from I Am Cardboard PH and Christopher Misola, the Technical Evangelist of Microsoft Philippines.

There was also parallel workshops which focused on the Arduino 101 Basics headed by AMA Univeristy and Arduino with IoT handled by the students of Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University in Pampanga who was also the 3rd place winner of the recent IoT Hackathon.

Several projects were showcased during the event including from those who joined the IoT Summit Hackathon last March 4 & 5. Cristopher David of VR Philippines brought their mixed reality robot, while Rizal High School brought Salamander their official entry to the Tagisang Robotics 2014 by DOST and ThinkLab.

Norde International Distributors and Thinklab also introduced their own makerspace called the SparkLab. It will be one of the biggest makerspace to watch out for. It will be open to the public on June 15, 2016 and makers could use 3D scanners and printers, laser cutters and CNC machines, and other makerspace equipment.

SparkLab Makerspace will be open to the public on June 15, 2016

ThinkLab, a leader in microcontroller education, started the initiative a few years ago when the first celebrated the world event locally in various places such as UP Diliman and an event center in Makati.

WHAT IS ARDUINO / GENUINO?

The Arduino is an open-source and cross-platform device with the endless capabilities of embedding electronics into mediocre day-to-day tasks and objects into exciting and fantastic projects. Originally based in Italy and founded by Massimo Banzi, his team migrated to the United States and brought their technology but was forced to rebrand globally after disputes with the other Arduino developers. Technology marketed and sold outside the USA are now called Genuino and are still the same with the original Arduino with Banzi’s ideals.

The event was supported by E-Gizmo Mechatronics Central and Circuit-Help Partners Company who gave out someraffle prizes for the participants such as E-Gizmo’s Gizduino Plus, a locally made Arduino, and Circuit-Help’s Arduino products, I am Cardboard PH also raffled two Google Cardboard that made the event more exciting while some new technology from ATEN and DNP was showcased like the ambient light resistant projector screen.

If you want to learn more about Arduino or other advance trainings, visit http://thinklab.ph/. They conduct regular workshops not just for High School, College and Professionals but also for Kids.

*This is Press Release