A regional forum on the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) for 2014-2016 was held at the Widus Hotel and Convention Center in Clark Freeport Zone. The Department of Trade and Industry Region III (DTI-3) and DTI’s Export Development Council (EDC) co-organized the event in cooperation with the Philippine Exporters Federation of Central Luzon (PhilExport III). The forum was also supported by the European Union under its Trade Related Technical Assistance (EU-TRTA) project.
EDC Deputy Executive Director Emmarita Z. Mijares presented the three-year PEDP plan to stakeholders who consisted of food, furniture, toys, garments and other exporters in Central Luzon. Representatives from agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Freeport Authority of Bataan (FAB), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health – Food and Drug Administration (DOH-FDA) and DTI provincial officials also served as resource persons presenting their respective support programs and activities, and roles in the export business. Officials from the World Bank – International Finance Corporation (WB-IFC) and EU-TRTA also attended as observers.
Director Mijares emphasized the need to implement strategies outlined in the PEDP to be able to take advantage of emerging markets that will benefit present and potential exporters. The PEDP will have a funding of P 1.76 Billion for three years to support various programs across the different agencies to enhance the export capabilities of Philippine exporters especially in the growing markets such as fish and seafood processing, support to tourism and computer software services.
DTI Provincial Director Zorina D. Aldana noted that while Central Luzon has one of the highest export revenues in the country for 2014 at $ 5.7 Billion, DTI-3 has continually implemented programs like its Export Pathways Program, Industry Cluster Program, Shared Services Facilities, Investment Promotion and Market Matching activities to enhance exports in the region in order to meet the PEDP target of double digit increase in exports by 2016.
In the open forum, the exporters expressed their gratitude for the technical and advisory support of agencies like DTI and DOST. However, they also raised their concern for adjustments in the regulatory processes in some agencies that are bearing on their capabilities to meet their export targets because of red tape and too many regulations.
Posted By: Edrillan Pasion
