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02 January 2012 Vol. 16, No. 01
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A bi-monthly digest of global and domestic industry trends and developments. Published by the Trade and Industry Information Center, Department of Trade and Industry Manila, Philippines Tel. (632) 895.3611 Fax (632) 895.6487 To subscribe, email: publications@dti.gov.ph Online: http://www.dti.gov.ph
In this issue Focus DTI crafts industry dev’t blueprint Inside DTI 1. DTI to go on air 2. DTI allots P15M for Marikina shoe lab 3. DTI-4B implements knowledge management system Good News, Philippines! 1. GIR climbs to record US$76.3B in Nov’11, tops full-year target 2. PEZA lauds Japanese investments in PHL MSME/OTOP News 1. Impakabsat 2011 earns P66.5M 2. Cebu-GTH soon in Tindahang Pinoy 3. MSMEs’ lending grows 35% 4. Empowering MSMEs for int’l market
Business Alert 1. Scammers pose as DTI secretary 2. Vendors required to get new ICC stickers Consumer News 1. Consumer Power: Online shopping safety tips 2. Special lane proposed for undelivered OFW boxes 3. Court finds TVI Express pyramid selling scheme Feature Coco water and coffee: new sunshine industries ASEAN Watch 1. Asian group to boost Subic’s bid as cruise ship destination 2. ASEAN adopts expanded uniform tariff lines list Statwatch
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Focus DTI crafts industry dev’t blueprint
Vol. 16, No. 012
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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is preparing a thorough industry development plan by harmonizing existing various industry roadmaps to further boost the country’s competitiveness.
Among 142 countries, the Philippines ranked 75th in the 2011 World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report (GCR), up by 10 notches from the previous year. The WEF cited the Philippines as one of the biggest improvements in its 2011 report. “DTI is working on a comprehensive industry development strategy for the Philippines. We will work towards consolidating industry roadmaps to help identify the key strategies, investment requirements, and the required policy support to increase our competitiveness and sustain economic growth,” DTI Undersecretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy Group (IDTPG) Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr. said. The move, Cristobal said, is a response to the call of the different business chambers in the country for the government to come up with a comprehensive industry development plan. DTI will partner with the private sector through the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFCP), and other business chambers to achieve this goal, he said.
Inside DTI 1. DTI to go on air
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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will go on air starting this year bringing its programs and activities closer to its customers: the business and consumers.
The existing growth industries that the DTI cited are the electronics, information and communications technology-business process outsourcing (ICT-BPO), shipbuilding, steel fabrication, mining, and plantation farming. The second category of industries, mostly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that could help boost job generation in the countryside, are the agribusiness, tourism, processed food, handicraft, and manufacturing businesses. The third category of industries with large scale potential are car/tire manufacturing, bamboo, palm oil, rubber, corn, and prawn farming, among others. Cristobal said that the DTI will help the growing industries develop their respective roadmaps, noting that most mature industries, such as the BPO and semiconductor and electronics industries, have their roadmaps in place. DTI’s public consultation series on trade policy “One Country, One Voice” held in key cities in the country and consultations with different business chambers surfaced the need for a comprehensive industry development plan. DTI cites the public consultation series as instrumental in developing partnerships with the agency’s stakeholders and initiatives for better governance. (MAB 12/08)
The DTI-Public Relations Office (DTI-PRO) and the Presidential Communications and Operations Office–Philippine Broadcasting Service (PCOO-PBS) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA)
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for a one-hour weekly radio program that will premiere on 06 January 2012. The brand-new show entitled “TNT,” will be aired every Friday, 8:00 am to 9:00 am by the carrying station, DZRB Radyo ng Bayan 738khz, with simulcast on DWBR FM 104.3 Business Radio. It will be anchored by veteran broadcaster and now DTI-PRO Director Thelma Dumpit-Murillo and Radyo ng Bayan Anchor Tes Ramirez. TNT is a catch-all title that can mean Trade ‘N’ Tourism, Tunay at Totoo, Trade Natin ‘To, Talakayan Ng Trade, and so on. True to its various meanings, TNT is impactful news, packaged fresh and light to engage the common Filipino in relevant trade issues. “We hope to be able to reach out to the public and raise the profile of DTI’s programs and activities,” said Murillo, noting that the radio program will provide up-to-date information on trade promotions, trade policy, consumer welfare, and regional operations. For his part, PBS Director Tito G. Cruz said this joint project with DTI upholds the PBS mandate in the
2. DTI allots P15M for Marikina shoe lab
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nationwide broadcasting service for the government agencies, giving focus on areas not adequately served by private networks. “This partnership brings closer relationships between DTI and PBS. It aims for a more expanded dissemination of information on the projects and achievements of DTI nationwide, even outside the country,” Cruz said. Lines will be open for customer complaints and consultation. Also, prizes will be given away to listeners who can answer the “Question of the Day” to gauge audience awareness to DTI-related issues. Four segments of the TNT program outline Segment 1 will provide a review of DTI’s activities for the week. Segment 2 will feature trade promotion and investments as well as information and updates on policies. Segment 3 will go over regional news, where interviews with regional directors can be included. This segment will also delve into discussions about entrepreneurship, trade fair schedules, and the like, highlighting how DTI has helped their enterprise. Segment 4 will cover consumer welfare and topics where “Consumer is King.”
o further develop the Marikina shoe industry, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is alloting P15M to develop a shoe laboratory in the city.
as evidenced by testimonials from people here and overseas. It is just logical for shoes to be the city’s primary product,” Marikina Mayor Del R. De Guzman said.
The shoe laboratory will oversee the product development of all shoes made in Marikina and improve the sourcing of raw materials used in production.
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Marikina Chapter President Eduardo C. Francisco and other businessmen have recently proposed that November be declared as Marikina’s Business Month (MBM). This early, the
“Marikina-made shoes have an edge in competing with those made abroad
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chamber is already planning several business-related activities and celebrating for MBM in November
3. DTI-4B implements knowledge management system
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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-4B, together with its partner agencies in the Project GRACE (Generating Resources of Agencies for Community Enterprises), is all set to implement a knowledge management system (KMS) in the region. The KMS is aimed at building and managing an organizational learning strategy including mechanisms to identify, create, capture, and share key lessons and best practices learned at the implementation of the various projects and replicate successes. Led by DTI, the KMS will benefit the implementing agencies including the Departments of Agriculture (DA), Science and Technology (DOST), Labor and Employment (DOLE); the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); and the local government units (LGUs) of Region 4B. “We are now in discussion with the DOST to provide us the needed infrastructure of implementing the KMS,” said DTI-4B Director Joel B. Valera.
Good News, Philippines! 1. GIR climbs to record US$76.3B in Nov’11, tops full-year target
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he country’s gross international reserves (GIR) increased to record high US$76.3B in the first 11 months of 2011, from US$75.8B last October 2011 and US$60.6B in the same period in 2010, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported. BSP data showed that foreign investments, a major part of gross international reserves (GIR), amounted to US$66.2B in November
to help the business sector and strengthen their partnership with the government. (BMI 12/05)
The KMS is the strategic identification, creation, sharing, and use of knowledge to better achieve organizational objectives. Simply put, knowledge management combines technology and people-to-people interaction to get the right knowledge to the right people at the right time. An effective KMS leads to better development results. As an organization, DTI deals with many types of knowledge particularly those of business and trade practices. “Setting up an efficient and collaborative KMS presents a unique opportunity for DTI to be in the forefront in learning and sharing knowledge to achieve its broader and larger goal of business development effectiveness, efficiency, and relevance,” said Valera. DTI will continue to monitor and assess the projected outcomes of the projects. DTI also intends to share this as a best practice to be replicated by other regions.
2011 from US$65.9B in October 2011 and US$52B in November 2010. BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. said the preliminary GIR was adequate enough to cover 11.2 months worth of imports and goods and payments of services and income. It was also equivalent to 10.7 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 6.5 times based on residual maturity.
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The original full-year projection was US$70B and the BSP has since adjusted this number to US$75B due to continued strong capital inflows and stable remittances. While foreign investments comprise the bulk of the total GIR, the BSP also maintains gold reserves, which amounted to US$8B as of end-November 2011, higher than the US$6.9B recorded in November 2010. The Philippine foreign exchange reserves have provided an important
2. PEZA lauds Japanese investments in PHL
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hilippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Lilia B. de Lima lauded Epson Precision Philippines, Inc. (EPPI) for its expansions, hiring of many workers, and exports that earned dollars for the country. De Lima joined President Benigno S. Aquino III for the inauguration of the P4.5-B 3LCD projectors manufacturing plant facility recently at the Lima Technology Center. The event marked Epson’s 2nd plant for projectors in the economic zone since the first factory for printers was established 13 years ago to meet growing demands. Addressing Japanese investors, who had come all the way from Japan for the occasion, electronics industry leaders, national, and local government executives, De Lima said Epson’s investments in the second facility were a manifestation of trust and confidence in the Philippine economy. “I’d like to assure you of the total cooperation and support of our organization, the PEZA. Please tell your friends and business associates of the many good things that the Philippines can offer now, better than
buffer for the country, especially during the economic and financial crisis. The GIR and the balance of payments (BoP) surplus reflected the country’s strong exports, remittances, sovereign bond issuance, and other capital inflows. Including foreign exchange swaps which are derivative forwards, the country’s total foreign exchange reserves amounted to US$86B in the review period. (MAB 12/07)
any other countries in the region,” De Lima said to the investors. She also praised the country’s partnership with Japan. “You have the capital and the technology. We have the human resource and the areas to offer. So this is a truly win-win situation to both our countries,” she said. She also cited recent surveys by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) disclosing problems of Japanese managers in Asian countries, and results of which have shown that the Philippines is now the best investment destination. De Lima reported that the JETRO surveys were conducted in seven Asian countries and “it showed that in the Philippines they only have one problem — the lack of raw materials.” Culling from the JETRO findings, she said all the other countries have so many problems including labor and customs procedures among others. “We are very happy and pleased to share with you that we don’t have that in the Philippines especially if you are inside a PEZA economic zone,” de Lima said.
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MSME/OTOP News 1. Impakabsat 2011 earns P66.5M
Vol. 16, No. 016
The same JETRO survey showed that “in the cost of production for workers, we are now very competitive because we have the social security
burden cost” and compared with the other competing countries, “we are very much favored.”
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that adversely affected the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region.
he Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) trade fair, the Impakabsat, registered P66.5M in cash and booked sales in November last year, with 302-% more than their target sales of P22M and 363% better than the P18.3M in 2009. Cash sales amounted to P16.9M; booked orders, P48.5M; and under negotiation sales, P0.2M. Supposed to be an annual event, Impakabsat was not staged in 2010 apparently because if the unfavorable economic condition
2. Cebu-GTH soon in Tindahang Pinoy
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he Cebu-Gifts Toys and Houseware Foundation, Inc. (Cebu-GTH) is soon to be included in Tindahang Pinoy as part of the operator’s itineraries as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to sign an agreement with tour guides and tour operators in Cebu. “We are making available to our tourists and local buyers a
3. MSMEs’ lending grows 35%
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Top earners By product Furniture and furnishings Bamboocraft Processed food By province Abra Benguet Mt. Province
in million pesos 53.5 5.7 3.5 in million pesos 56.7 2.4 1.9
permanent facility where they can shop products manufactured by our globally-renowned exporters,” DTI-7 Regional Director Asteria C. Caberte said. Caberte said the tourism is a low-hanging fruit which fits world-class products to showcase and to penetrate in the domestic market. (MAB 12/06)
he Small Business Corporation (SBC) increased its lending to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by 35% in the first half of 2011 while the loan releases reached P2.1B compared to P1.5B in the same period of 2010.
SBC President and Chief Operating Officer Benel P. Lagua said they are intensifying their partnership with the banking sector and have also taken steps in sharing risk-based lending technology through seminars and trainings.
SBC released P1.2B loan in 2002 and recorded its peak in 2010 with P4.2B. It had released a total of P30.9B since 2002.
Some P225M was released to the country’s 19 poorest provinces through Rural Micro-Enterprise Promotion Program (RuMEPP).
The agency’s largest portfolio was the wholesale lending amounting to P736M which was released to 151 partners in financial institutions.
The MSME retail lending recorded a market increase of 32% reaching a total of P278.9M compared to P211.5M in June 2010.
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“With 311 borrowers, under a risk-based lending approach, SBC has once again proven that adopting a risk based approach as opposed to traditional collateral-based lending, has helped us maintain a reasonable default rate and a good earning portfolio without compromising our
4. Empowering MSMEs for int’l market
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he slogan “We are 99” of the Occupy Wall Street movement highlights the percentage of small businesses in United States (US) over the 1% of wealthiest. “What is meaningful here is that these small businesses are telling these big guys that ‘we are the 99, and you are only one.’ And you can say exactly the same thing here in the Philippines. It is the small and medium enterprises that make up more than 99% of all the businesses in the Philippines,” University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Senior Vice President Bernardo M. Villegas said. Villegas emphasized that the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the foundation of any economy. He stressed out that there are small suppliers that make these large corporations productive.
Business Alert 1. Scammers pose as DTI secretary
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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) warns the public against deceitful people posing as DTI Secretary Gregory L. Domingo to demand money from businessmen. “The modus operandi is they contact companies, particularly those owned by Chinese businessmen, and introduce themselves as ‘Secretary Domingo.’ They solicit cash—around P20,000—for a business meeting, planning session, or teambuilding activity. They ask the unsuspecting person to send the cash through a remittance center. The swindlers
mandate of lending to non-bankable,” Lagua said. Luzon still has 62% from the total SBC’s loan portfolio while the corporation is planning to have a strategy in increasing Visayas and Mindanao portfolio. (MAB 12/10)
Without these suppliers, these large corporations would not be able to contribute to the value of the economy. “It isn’t a reality yet because in the Philippines small businesses are handicapped. It is very difficult for them to borrow money, to get serviced financially; and what’s worse is that it’s the MSMEs in the countryside who are even more handicapped,” he said. Villegas added that the emerging Filipino MSMEs can go international especially as Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be a free market by 2015. “Countries that are overly exportdependent are going to be in trouble in the next five years as traditional markets are slowing down,” he concluded. use prepaid cellular-phone numbers to contact their targets,” Domingo said. Reports show their racket began in September last year. Domingo has asked help from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate on the matter. He made clear that the Department, the Office of the Secretary in particular, does not solicit cash from people or companies. The public is advised to report similar unscrupulous acts to authorities.
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2. Vendors required to secure new ICC stickers
Vol. 16, No. 018
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n response to the smuggled fake safety stickers, the government has required vendors to secure new Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers for electrical and construction items by April 2012. The move aims to protect consumers from substandard and illegal products with counterfeits of older label. While slower moving construction goods might be granted an exception to the deadline pending discussions with stakeholders by the said date, the ICC marks in white and silver-gray backgrounds will be considered invalid in all critical products. Department of Trade and IndustryBureau of Product Standards (DTI-BPS) unveiled an update of the 2009 ICC sticker, which features higher definition printing that is costlier and more difficult to duplicate. “With the influx of imported products in the country...it is essential for the government to impose stricter guidelines in the printing and issuing of the ICC mark to... further control the use and ensure the security of this quality and safety seals,” DTI Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said.
Consumer News 1. Consumer Power: Online shopping safety tips
Importers must submit samples for inspection to receive an ICC certificate for the business and safety seals to be affixed on the products. Around 100 electrical and constructions items require ICC certification. DTI has been continually looking for a more secure means of printing and distributing it. The latest ICC stickers, which come in two sizes, are printed using electron beam origination producing an image resolution of 500,000 dots per inch (DPI) in comparison with the regular printers that have an image resolution of only 10,000 DPI. The hologram designs are also registered with the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA), a monitoring body that certifies the uniqueness of a security design. DTI can authenticate ICC stickers using a special gadget to be distributed to retailers. The new ICC stickers cost P1.25 and P0.90 for the large and small versions. Both are cheaper than their older versions which cost P1.38 for the large sticker and P0.95 for the smaller one.
ICC indicates that a product has passed mandatory safety standards enforced by the DTI.
DTI will embark on a campaign educating the consumers and businesses about the said changes.
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having to stay away from one’s keyboard.
The number of consumers relying on the World Wide Web for purchasing various goods and services has been increasing as online shopping provides access to these without
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shares the following tips regarding the matter:
he Internet is no longer just a source of information, but it is also now a primary medium of communication and major platform in doing business.
Consumers are advised, however, to be vigilant against deceitful persons.
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2. Special lane proposed for undelivered OFW boxes
Value your privacy. Use passwords that cannot be easily guessed. Also, to ensure that nobody else has access to your personal accounts and data, use own computer or laptop when shopping. Do not give too much information when filling-out online forms. Beware of hackers. Install and update computer’s anti-virus and/or anti-malware program and make sure that this is reliable for optimum security against Internet threats. Always log out one’s account after every transaction because an account left logged in is exposed to hackers. Check the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or website address. Most online shops accepting credit card payment use an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption which ensures a secure transaction. You would know if a website has SSL installed if the URL starts with “https” instead of just “http.” Know the seller. When buying products online, validate the seller’s contact information.
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bandoned balikbayan or door-to-door boxes of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) victimized by unscrupulous freight forwarders should have a special lane as proposed by the Department of Trade and Industry-Philippine Shippers Bureau (DTI-PSB). DTI-PSB Director Pedro Vicente C. Mendoza said the agency plans to enter a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with and had proposed this to the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which scans an average of 400,000 balikbayan boxes a month. “There are OFWs who send their balikbayan boxes without knowing that they transact with bogus freight
Try to search the Internet to know if they can be trusted or if they have any records of fraud and misconduct. If an online shop’s policy and payment modes do not suit you, do not transact with them. Look for other websites that may fit your need. Read the privacy policy statement. No matter how lengthy it is, it is vital that you read and understand the privacy policy of the online shop that you will be transacting with so you would know how they handle and secure the information that you will provide them. Do not be deceived by unbelievable offers. If the offer seems too good to be true, then probably, it is not true. To validate offers, contact the website or the merchant. Also, look for the DTI Sales Permit Number, which is issued to duly registered businesses conducting local sales promotion open to the consuming public. To verify the sales permit number, visit DTI-National Capital Region’s (NCR) website at dtincr.ph.
forwarders, mostly in the Middle East. The freight forwarder abroad assigns a local forwarder here (which is supposed to deliver the balikbayan boxes to the OFWs’ families), but no payment is remitted to the local forwarder,” Mendoza said. The containers loaded with balikbayan boxes are often abandoned at the port since the local freight forwarding company does not know about the transaction, he added. Initial talks with BOC Commissioner Ruffy Biazon brought positive response. Mendoza said he would finalize the plans and present it to the commissioner. (MAL 12/12)
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3. Court finds TVI Express pyramid selling scheme
Vol. 16, No. 0110
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he Federal Court of Australia has found TVI Express to be a pyramid selling scheme following action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). TVI Express, which stands for Travel Ventures International, is a UK based travel multi-level marketing (MLM) company and had been promoted through various websites including the site www.tviteamoz.com and the TVI Express Oz group on facebook.com. The TVI Express scheme extended throughout Australia and internationally.
Justice John Nicholas found Lualhati/TeddiJutsen, Tina Brownlee, and David Scanlon to have breached the law by participating in the TVI Express scheme. The Court found that they had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct. They made it appear that TVI Express was associated with certain companies in the travel industry. The court accepted evidence that Jutsen transferred US$296,985 out of Australia between February and May 2010. This, Nicholas
Feature Coco water and coffee: new sunshine industries
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he Philippine Coco Water makes it big outside the country as exports for this product increased by 315% for the first quarter of last year. According to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), a total of 7.5M liters (L) of coconut water were exported over the same period mostly to the United States (US), Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Latin and Central America, and even the Middle East. Philippine coco water export stood at 1.8ML in the first quarter of 2009.
inferred, represented the proceeds of membership fees collected from new members. “It is beyond question that new participants in the TVI Express System are led to believe that they will receive payments for the introduction of further new participants. Indeed, the only way a participant can earn any income in the TVI Express System is through the introduction of new members to the scheme,” he said. Those who wanted to join were required to pay a membership fee of US$330, after which an individual will receive a “travel certificate.” This will also give them the chance to receive commission payments by recruiting other people as in all pyramiding whose main source of finance is through the said process. “The scheme has been designed to be operated in a way that makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for people to redeem their travel certificate for the purpose of taking such a holiday. For that reason, travel certificates which may be downloaded by new members are likely to be of little or no value to them,” Nicholas said. (ACCC 11/30)
Most of the exporters come from Batangas where coconut plantations are plenty. Coco water is rich in potassium and magnesium, packing a considerable amount of Vitamin B (Thiamin). It is also reportedly rich in electrolytes and glucose. PCA Administrator Euclides G. Forbes said he hopes that this export sector is regulated well. As more and more exporters go into coco water, top quality of this highly perishable product that
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goes into the global market must be ensured. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated a total of P160M this year for the Coffee Board’s purchase of new seedlings and the rehabilitation of old coffee farms.
ASEAN Watch 1. Asian group to boost Subic’s bid as cruise ship destination
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sian Cruise Terminals Association (ACTA) was formally launched in Subic recently to provide a unified marketing platform for the cruise ship industry in the Asian region. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Deputy Administrator for Business Raul Marcelo said cruise ship operators are expected to turn to Asian destinations as economies in Europe and the United States (US) falter. “With the formal launching of ACTA, Subic would have the network to bank on for support. We’d grow as ACTA grows,” he said. Subic became a founding member of ACTA when it was organized two years ago by Singapore Cruise Centre Pte Ltd. (SCC) and other terminal operators in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, and India. The SBMA said Subic’s entry into ACTA was a strategic move because the agency is targeting major industry players to make Subic part of their cruise itinerary. After Subic has been established as a cruise ship destination, the economic impact will trickle down to local businesses in terms of providing supplies, fuel, food, and even manpower, the SBMA said.
(TPS 12/11)
Coffee Board President Pacita U. Juan shared that the Philippines imports about half of its coffee requirements every year. The Coffee Board’s advocacy is for the country to be ultimately completely self-sufficient in coffee. (TPS 12/10)
STATWATCH US$76.3B PHL’s gross international reserves (GIR) in JanuaryNovember 2011 US$75.8B PHL’s GIR in JanuaryOctober 2011 US$60.6B PHL’s GIR in JanuaryOctober 2010 P2.1B
Loans released by the Small Business Corporation (SBC) in H1 2011
P1.5B
Loans released by SBC in H1 2010
P66.5M
Total sales of the 2011 Cordillera Autonomous Region’s (CAR) annual trade fair Impakabsat
P22M
Target sales for the 2011 CAR annual trade fair Impakabsat
P18.3M
Total sales of the 2009 CAR annual trade fair Impakabsat
P15M
Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) allotted budget for Marikina shoe laboratory
75th
Philippines ranking (out of 142) in the 2011 World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report (GCR), up by 10 notches from the previous year
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he Bureau of Customs (BOC) and its counterparts in nine Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members have started adopting an expanded common list of tariff lines beginning the first day of 2012.
from 8,300 in the version that was adopted in 2007.
The move is in line with the objective of building unified customs processes for the ASEAN.
“The AHTN is now more comprehensive with additional tariff lines included. This helps to provide more predictability and transparency when it comes to tariff code declarations for the trading of goods among ASEAN countries,” Singapore Customs’ Tariffs and Trade Services Unit Head David Foo said. (PDI 12/05)
According to Singapore Customs, which led the ASEAN task force that developed the ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) 2012, the new list increased the number of items covered to 9,558 tariff lines
Legend: ACCC BMI MAB MAL PDI TPS
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Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Business Mirror Manila Bulletin Malaya Philippine Daily Inquirer The Philippine Star
In a statement, the agency said most of the additional tariff lines were on products relating to fishes, machinery, and vehicles.
Philippine Postal Permit No. PM-04-08
2. ASEAN adopts expanded uniform tariff lines list
Vol. 16, No. 0112
Editor-in-Chief: Anne L. Sevilla Associate Editor: Vic S. Soriano Writers: Resty P. Par, Jam A. Hourani, Aye B. Salcedo, Elaine M. Lazaro, Emman R. Caleon Design/Layout: Ren C. NeneriaCirculation: Myrna V. delos Reyes To subscribe, email: publications@dti.gov.ph