DTI & GIZ HOLD SOFT LAUNCH OF PROGED AND FINAL EVENT OF PSP SMEDSEP ON OCT 24

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) will hold the soft launch of the Promotion of Green Economic Development (ProGED) Philippines Project on 24 October at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City.

From a statement released by the trade department, ProGED is a new development cooperation project between DTI and GIZ, which hopes to address the emergent need of greening the Philippine economy toward sustainable development and inclusive growth. Specifically, the development of micro, small and medium enterprises in the Tourism sector will be the focus of the new project that will commence early next year.  

On the same day of the ProGED launch is the final event of the PSP SMEDSEP that celebrates the success of the DTI and GIZ partnership in the implementation of the highly successful over nine years private sector promotion program.

The DTI and GIZ partnership also worked for the success of development approaches such as the local and regional economic development (LRED), business permit and licensing system (BPLS), cash flow based lending, private sector provision of business development services (BDS) and promotion of market system development (MSD) and value chain (VC).

To spread widely the development results achieved by PSP SMEDSEP among media representatives and the general public, a press conference will be held earlier on the same day. Expected to serve as panellists in the conference are GIZ Philippines and the Pacific Regional Director Robert Kressirer, DTI Undersecretary Merly Cruz, GIZ Program Manager Dr Volker Steigerwald and DTI Directors Dominic Abad, Cynthia Nierras and Nelia Navarro,
 

As a way to show appreciation for covering various activities under the program, PSP SMEDSEP knowledge products will be given to all media practitioners who will attend the conference. These products will include the PSP SMEDSEP Book, the Magazine of Success Stories, Cases and Good Practices (both in hard and soft copies) and a PSP SMEDSEP film, which will be stored in USB sticks.

The USB sticks will also contain other knowledge products produced by the program all throughout its almost a decade of implementation, including program briefs, fact sheets, reference documents, consultancy reports, researches and studies. They will be useful to local media representatives in helping them get a fuller understanding and appreciation of the successful work done by DTI and GIZ in the program.

PSP SMEDSEP contributed to the efforts of the Philippine government to improve the framework conditions for private sector development in the country.  It was implemented in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry at the national, regional and provincial levels on behalf of the Philippine government and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

At the national level, PSP SMEDSEP’s advisory service helped shape the 2011 to 2016 National Strategy for MSME Development which has been adopted by the Philippine Development Plan of the Aquino Administration.

GIZ is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations owned by the German Government. For 30 years, it has been providing forward looking contributions to political, economic, ecological and social development in partner countries.

GIZ supports reform and change processes in an increasingly globalized world, often working under difficult conditions. Its major approach to facilitate change is promoting capacity development of people and partner organizations as well as improving institutions and frame conditions in partner countries. The joint projects and programs are outcome and impact oriented and contributes towards socioeconomic progress.


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DTI & GIZ HOLD MSME NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON JULY 19-20

The Bureau of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BMSMED) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit Private Sector Promotion Program (GIZ PSP) are jointly organizing the first MSME Development Councils National Conference. 

According to the DTI BSMED, the National Conference will be held on July 19 and 20,2012, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Marco Polo Hotel, Cebu City. 

The conference will be participated by at least 150 representatives of the National and Provincial MSMED Councils, officials from the DTI Head Office and 86 provinces nationwide, Secretariat Heads and the GIZ, DTI said.

DTI explained that the MSMEDC National Conference seeks to create greater awareness, commitment and action to the administration’s ‘Big Push’ policy for MSME development; present the highlights of the DTI and GIZ PSP Program and its contribution to MSME development; clarify the functional mandates of the Provincial MSMED Councils (PSMEDCs); share and learn from good practices and exemplar initiatives; create and reinforce networks toward mutually beneficial partnerships. 

DTI revealed the activities lined up for the conference that include presentation of good practices such as the use of the GIZ Capacity WORKS management model and others exemplifying the delivery of the MSMEDC functions, namely: policy formulation, program advocacy, program coordination and integration. 

There will also be a showcase of value chain and local regional economic development (LRED) approaches adapted in the implementation of the MSME Development Plan.  DTI added that exemplary initiatives of MSMEs on development global themes that include gender, climate change, migration and corporate social responsibility will be similarly tackled.

Provincial MSMED Councils policy, program, activity and projects (PPAPs) proposed by Provincial MSMED Councils (PSMEDCs) that need to be elevated for approval of national government agency will be packaged and endorsed by the National MSMEDC to the concerned office.

Knowledge products such as collaterals on the PPAPs that were introduced and implemented by the Provincial MSMED Councils will likewise be placed on exhibit as a side event during the Conference.

Members of the MSMED Council are the following: Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Tourism, Small Business Corporation, private sector representatives including MSME sector in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, banking sector and labor sector.

For inquiries, interested parties are advised to call the DTI provincial Offices.  In Central Visayas, they may call the following numbers: BOHOL PROVINCIAL OFFICE at tel# (63) 038-501-8260, CEBU PROVINCIAL OFFICE at tel# (63)(032) 412-1863 / 253-2631, NEGROS ORIENTAL PROVINCIAL OFFICE at tel# (63)(035) 422-2764, SIQUIJOR PROVINCIAL OFFICE at tel. # (63)035-480-9065. (ends)

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Launching of “Tindahang Pinoy” on April 20 showcases Filipino Innovation

 

After its successful opening in December last year, the national launching of the Ang Tindahang Pinoy (ATP) will be held on April 20 this year at the Bridges Town Square in Mandaue City, Cebu. Philippines.

Located in a 500-square-meter space in Bridges Town Square along Plaridel Street in Mandaue City, Ang Tindahang Pinoy showcases and sells world-class products catering to local and foreign tourists Around 70% of products in the Ang Tindahang Pinoy Cebu outlet will be sourced from Central Visayas and 30% from other regions in the Philippines. Products under the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will also be displayed.

DTI Central Visayas regional director Asteria Caberte said the national launching of Ang Tindahang Pinoy on April 20 will be attended by Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo. Caberte also revealed that video presentations of ATPs in Cebu, Clark and Davao will be shown during the launching to give buyers, exporters, traders, retailers, travel associations, among others a glimpse of the product depots in these areas.

Ang Tindahang Pinoy in Cebu is a joint project of the DTI and the Cebu Gift, Toys and Houseware Foundation, Inc. (Cebu-GTH). The permanent product depot in Cebu is managed by the Cebu-GTH. Since Ang Tindahang Pinoy opened in December last year, Cebu GTH Vice-President for External Affairs Pedro Sepulveda Jr. said that the sales of the showroom are continually increasing since they are being aggressive in their marketing strategies. For March alone this year, the Cebu product depot garnered around Php 300,000 in sales.

With the positive response on Tindahang Pinoy, Cebu GTH President Ramir Bonghanoy expressed his gratitude to DTI for helping them with the setting-up and promotion of the facility. Currently, there are 42 companies displaying their products in Ang Tindahang Pinoy Cebu, including those from other provinces in Central Visayas.

The project aims to expand market access for micro, small and medium businesses. DTI and Cebu-GTH forged a partnership with the Department of Tourism and the associations of tour guides and tour operators in Cebu for the promotion of Ang Tindahang Pinoy to tourists.

DTI also tapped the GIZ, a technical agency of the German government, for the production of a video catalogue to promote the products of Tindahang Pinoy. DTI also announced that the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines will also be working on product catalogues and brochures that will be distributed to major hotels, resorts and airports in the country.

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Enough BPO Industry Jobs Await Skilled Dumaguete Graduates

Dumaguete City – January 6, 2012 — Students from Negros Oriental and neighboring provinces need no longer worry about finding work after graduation because more than enough jobs are waiting for them in Dumaguete’s ICT-BPO Industry. ICT DGTE revealed the good news to the administration and department heads of the city’s Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) at an ICT-BPO Industry Forum for Educators held in December at SPi Global’s facilities in Bagacay.

ICT DGTE’s Forum for Educators had two goals: (1), to recognize the valuable contribution of HEIs to the success of BPO companies in the city, and (2), to be the de facto beginning of a closer partnership between HEIs and BPOs in bridging the gap between the skills of graduates and the entry level skills required in the industry, as reflected in the relatively low passing or hiring rates.

Fortunately, the factors with the greatest impact on the success of applicants have already been identified. ICT DGTE pooled the considerable resources of the local BPO companies to present concrete examples of these factors at the Forum.  The speakers and their topics were: Suzanne Lu-Bascara, Site Director of SPi Global, and Dr. Jeff Sallaz on English Communication Skills; Ms. Bascara on Critical Thinking  Skills; Eric Sardual, Managing Director of JTIGlobal, on Basic Computer Skills; and James June, Program Director of TeleTech, on Work Ethic.

ICT DGTE president, Randolf Bandiola, and Dr. Jeff Sallaz, Fulbright Scholar and Professor of Sociology of the University of Arizona, answered what was uppermost in the minds of most educators: Why promote jobs in ICT?

Mr. Bandiola showed that ICT-BPO jobs were not merely about “answering phone calls”, even though by the end of 2010 the Philippines had surpassed India in the number of voice jobs. In Dumaguete, ICT-BPO jobs are currently in customer management (voice), copyediting, graphics, animation, web design, software programming, architecture, market research, medical transcription, and engineering. Meanwhile, companies involved in other non-voice work like legal research and accounting services, are checking out the city’s business conditions.

According to Dr. Sallaz, the industry could be a way for Negros Oriental “to leapfrog from an Agricultural Economy straight into the Information Economy”.  BPOs have drawn most foreign direct investments in the country from 2000 to 2010, thus reversing the lack of investment and manufacturing growth in the 70’s and 80’s. Incomes derived from the industry, he said, are welcome additions to an economy that is “too dependent on agriculture and remittances”.

Worldwide, this is a rapidly growing industry where the Philippines is uniquely poised to increase employment from 500,000 individuals in 2010 to 1.3M by 2016.  In fact, for 2011 alone, ICT DGTE projected the availability of more than 2000 jobs in Dumaguete’s BPOs. The reality, however, is that only about half of those positions were set to be filled by the end of 2011 because the critical factors mentioned above kept the hiring rate at around 20 to 30%.

Represented at the Forum for Educators were Foundation University, Silliman University, St. Paul University, COSCA, STI, AMA, and ACSAT. Also present at the Forum were City Administrator William Ablong who gave the Welcome Remarks, ICT DGTE directors Danah Fortunato and Ed Omictin, ICT DGTE consultant Joe Daigle, and DTI’s Medy Fernandez and Olivette Somido.

The Forum for Educators was an initiative of ICT DGTE, an association that includes ICT professionals, schools, and companies in the BPO industry, namely SPi Global, TeleTech, StudentUniverse, SOPHI, Entheos IT, JTIGlobal, Zero One Concept, Qualfon, and Marketing Plus.  It’s Board of Directors are:  President, Randolf Bandiola (Algorithm & Synapse); Vice President, Suzanne Lu-Bascara (SPi Global); Treasurer, Carlo Uy Matiao (Acelogic); Secretary, Danah V. Fortunato (StudentUniverse); Members, Dave Marcial and Ed Omictin (SU School of Computer Studies), Eric Sardual (JTIGlobal), Joel Balajadia (FU), and James June (TeleTech).


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