Pascual bats for a stronger PH-UK Trade Scheme Relations

MAKATI CITY– Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual welcomed the launch of the new UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) to replace its Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP). Secretary Pascual described the DCTS as having “more generous terms than the GSP.”

During the launch of this UK DCTS on 07 June 2023, Secretary Pascual stressed the Philippine government’s efforts in strengthening its trade and economic activities. Through the UK DCTS, the country looks forward on having access to duty-free, quota-free trade on 92 percent of our eligible goods—or 99 percent of our exports to the UK which estimates a tariff savings of 21 million euro.

In his speech, Secretary Pascual emphasized that “The Philippines and the UK have worked closely for several years so that our respective countries may enjoy and foster stronger economic ties. In 2019, under the European Union Generalised System of Preferences Plus (EU GSP+), the UK was the Philippines' third destination market for exports. The Philippines' exports to the UK also increased by 15 percent from 2020 to 2021. And in 2021, the UK was the Philippines' 21st trading partner and fourth source of approved investments.”

The DCTS aims to improve access to the UK market for goods imported from eligible developing countries. It will also offer about 750-million-euro tariff reductions per year from its 65 country beneficiaries. Its three tiers include (1) comprehensive (LDC) preferences for all goods except arms and ammunitions; (2) enhanced preferences for wide number of product lines that are economically vulnerable; and, (3) standard preferences for certain product lines that are subject to goods graduation.

For the Philippines, the DCTS will lower or remove tariffs on more than 150 products including agricultural produce such as tomatoes, milk and cream, cheese, grains, tropical fruits, and animal and vegetable oils. Further, in demand electronic products and optical instruments will also benefit from preferential tariffs. Likewise, the goods that will benefit the most from the said scheme are those from the tuna and t-shirt sectors.

Aside from tariff reduction, the scheme also highlights the benefits of the provision for simpler rules and procedures, including the rules of origin. Through the simplified trade conditions and regional cumulation measures, Philippine exporters will benefit as they can source components, from other Southeast Asian countries while still claiming it as originating from the Philippines.

Further, to promote trade and investment opportunities, the current administration will be keen on implementing the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 (PDP), which will utilize trade and investments as drivers of job creation and poverty reduction.

In support of PDP, DTI also formulated the Philippine Export Development Plan 2023-2028 (PEDP), which the President already approved yesterday. This aims to capitalize on export opportunities to integrate our products in the global value chain in order to realize our vision of making the Philippines an agile export powerhouse.

Hence, the Department will undertake an industry-centric and firm-centric approach in capacitating our export ecosystem. Specifically, the DTI will prioritize three industrial clusters for our investment-driven approach. These clusters include the (1)Industrial Machinery and Transport (IMT); (2) Technology Media and Telecommunications (TMT); and, (3) Health and Life Sciences (HLS).

In his closing remarks, Secretary Pascual stressed that “A continued partnership with the UK Government will sustain our efforts to enhance trade and investment with the UK. We at the DTI are grateful to the British Embassy in Manila, and the UK Department for Business and Trade, for the Philippines-UK Economic Dialogue since 2019. And I look forward to our Fourth Dialogue this year. There, we can continue our discussions on enhancing our economic ties so our economies can grow and expand.”

SM Supermalls Partners with GSP to Boost DOH's 'Resbakuna Kids' Campaign

SM Supermalls teams up with the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) to boost the Department of Health’s ‘Resbakuna Kids’ nationwide vaccination campaign.

SM Supermalls’ ongoing vaccination efforts will now also welcome over 700,000 members of the GSP to get inoculated against COVID-19 starting April 2.

“We remain devoted to supporting the ‘Resbakuna Kids’ campaign of the Department of Health, and I think what’s more important is being able to administer the vaccinations particularly to the Girl Scouts of the Philippines who have not been vaccinated yet,” said Joaquin San Agustin, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SM Supermalls. 

San Agustin also urged those who are still hesitant to get jabbed to safeguard the public’s health and safety.

“We encourage everyone to get vaccinated and for those who were vaccinated to get their boosters. It is not only for the safety of the person [but it is also] for the safety of their families and we, at SM Supermalls, will always welcome everyone for vaccinations here in our malls nationwide,” San Augstin said.

GSP National President Nina Lim-Yuson also echoed the need for children to get vaccinated so they can fulfill their duty of serving their communities.

“We know the Girl Scouts [of the Philippines] made their promise to serve God and our country and to help people at all times. You cannot help others if you are sick. We want everybody to be healthy and well, and that is why we hope they will all get vaccinated at SM Supermalls,” Yuson said.

This initiative led by SM Supermalls is encouraging members of the GSP who have not been vaccinated yet, especially children aged 5 to 11, 12 to 17 and senior citizens to get jabbed at their nearest SM mall vaccination site.

Prior to the vaccination day, GSP members must register in their respective local councils. Parents and guardians must also secure copies of any of the following documents: birth certificate, health records, school registration or ID, or baptismal certificate.

The collaboration between SM Supermalls and the GSP aims to speed up the vaccination rollout in the Philippines in order to achieve herd immunity in the country as soon as possible.

As the single biggest entity to vaccinate Filipinos in the country, SM Supermalls has already administered over 9.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines nationwide in its 78 mall vaccination sites. The mall chain remains dedicated in its commitment to ensuring a safe malling experience for the public through its staunch support of the government’s nationwide vaccination campaign.