July 2015

DTI Central Visayas Performance Magazine

KALAMPUSAN

Kalampusan July 2015

uly witnessed the opening of Negosyo Centers in Central Visayas. Negosyo Centers were established to promote
ease of doing business in accordance to Republic Act 10644,
also known as the Go Negosyo Act.
The agency mounted the Sandugo Trade Expo, DTI7s annual regional trade
fair, at The Block, Island City Mall, Tagbilaran City Bohol from July 22 until 27.
With the Philippines being a member of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast
Asian Nations) Community and this years host to the series of APEC (Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation) ministerial and senior officials meetings, the
Sandugo Trade Expo highlighted opportunities in the travel retail market.
Also during the month, a consultative meeting on the draft Philippine ECommerce Roadmap 2015-2020 was organized by the department in Cebu
City prior to the finalization of the roadmap.
DTI representatives from 14 provinces in the country participated in the Promotion for Green Economic Development 3rd Monitoring and Replanning
Meeting.
A Capacity Building Training on Investment Promotion was conducted for
DTI frontline staff, LGU representatives as well as Local Economic and Investment Officers (LEIPOs) of DILG.

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

INSIDE:

DTI opens Negosyo

Centers in Central
Visayas

Sandugo Trade Expo

2015 highlights
Travel Retail Market

Capacity Building
Training on
Investment
Promotion

Retail Trade
Management
Seminar in
Dalaguete, Cebu

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers

Kalampusan July 2015

News Bite

In July, Negosyo Centers opened doors to serve

micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in
Central Visayas.
Negosyo Centers were established in Dumaguete City on July 16, Tagbilaran City on July 22,
and Siquijor on July 28 to cater and facilitate the
needs of the business sector in the region.
DTI Regional Director Asteria Caberte said that
the Negosyo Centers shall provide assistance
and facilitation to businesses or small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in terms of business
registration and trainings, among others.
These centers shall provide consultation, trainings, workshops and information packages to the
SMEs and businesses, she said.
A one-stop-shop for SMEs, Negosyo Center are
where SMEs can do business without hopping
from one office to another in order to comply with
needed requirements.
The facility may be located within the DTI office
compound or at designated area by local government unit (LGU).
According to Caberte there is a dire need for the
Philippines to offer this kind of service to the
SMEs, which comprise the 99 percent of businesses in the country.
She said taking care of the SMEs, as well as
boosting the growth of the small and medium
business players is very vital especially now that
the Philippine is formally part of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

The Negosyo Centers shall have the following functions:

business registration assistance, business advisory services, business information and advocacy and monitoring and evaluation of business processes for MSMEs.
Aside from making business registration easier, the Negosyo Centers will allow MSMEs to avail of other services such as technology transfer, production and management training programs as well as marketing assistance from the DTI, Department of Science and Technology, University of the Philippines Institute for SmallScale Industries, Cooperative Development Authority,
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
and other agencies concerned.
In the coming months, more Negosyo Centers will be
established to promote ease of doing business in accordance to Republic Act 10644 also known as the Go
Negosyo Act, signed into law by President Benigno
Aquino III last year.
The DTI, in partnership with the Local Government Units
and the business sector, has assigned personnel to
supervise the operations of the Negosyo Centers.

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 2

Kalampusan July 2015

News Bite

Sandugo Trade Expo 2015 highlights

opportunities in travel retail market
Sandugo Trade Expo returned with an innovative range of products,
crafted with the passion and soul of local craftsmen.
Harnessing growth in the travel retail market, this years Sandugo
Trade Expo showcased an eclectic mix of products ranging from
furnishings, fixtures, wearables and novelty items, as well as fresh
and processed food.
Shopping is becoming an increasingly relevant component of the
tourism value chain, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Regional Director Asteria Caberte explains. It is a determinant factor
affecting destination choice, an important component of the overall
travel experience and, in some cases the prime travel motivation.
Being a member of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Community and this years host to the series of APEC (Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation) ministerial and senior officials meetings, the travel retail market has never been more relevant to Central
Visayas, Caberte added.

Over the years, the Sandugo Regional Trade Fair has been the venue
for the promotion of products of several MSMEs from the Visayas and
even from the Mindanao regions.
Historically, the fair started as a provincial marketing event in Bohol, but
eventually it grew into a regional fair in 2006. Since it started in 1989,
the Sandugo Fair has gained the interest of buyers and institutions
because of the wide variety of products and services that it offers.
Traditionally, the trade fair is a venue to market-test products made by
SMEs after undergoing careful product development process. Being an
annual marketing event for Region 7, it has been the medium by which
DTI showcases the tangible results of its achievements for the past year
or so.
But while majority of showcased items in the past were intended mostly
for the export market, the DTI looked into the prospects of the domestic
tourism market as an opportunity for MSMEs to sell or promote their
products in this years trade event.

The trade event opened from 8:00 in the morning to 9:00 in the evening at The Block, Island City Mall, Tagbilaran City Bohol and will run
from July 22 until 27, 2015.
Exhibitors featured in the trade event included those from Central
Visayas as well as from neighboring provinces in Visayas and Mindanao.
Now on its 10th year as a regional trade fair, the Sandugo Trade Expo
has already established name recall among buyers and visitors all
over the country.
This years exhibit featured timeless interpretations of locally made
products focusing on heritage, culture and environment protection
through ecologically-friendly, sustainable and indigenous materials.
More specifically, products exhibited ranged from furnishings and
fixtures to wearables, novelty items and fashion accessories, as well
as fresh and processed food.

Forty-Nine (49) out of 72 Timbangan

ng Bayan facilities have been installed
in the public markets of Dumaguete
City, Guihulngan City, Bais City, Tanjay City, Bayawan City, La Libertad,
Jimalalud, Tayasan, Sibulan, Valencia,
Zamboanguita, Siaton, Sta. Catalina
and Basay Negros Oriental last month.
The DTI, in accordance to Consumer
Act of the Philippines or R.A. 7394,
distributed weighing scales with housing to all municipalities and cities in the
country to protect consumers by monitoring the proper weight of their purchased products.

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 3

Kalampusan July 2015

DTI turned-over a Shared Service

Facility for Bayong Development
to the Cabilao Romblon Weavers
Network in Cabilao Island, Loon,
Bohol on June 24, 2015.

(Photos below) DTI Negros Oriental Provincial Office conducted a capacity building workshop among FEDASED members
(women's federation of dumaguete city assoc for socio-economic devt) on June 18-20 this year.

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 4

Kalampusan July 2015

7 - 9 July 2015, Dalaguete, Cebu

On July 7-9 this year, 35 participants from

Dalaguete, Cebu learned best practices on
how to start an enterprise.
The Retail Trade Management Seminar
organized by the Department of Trade and
Industry Cebu Provincial Office is the first
Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty
Program (ASAPP) intervention implemented in the province of Cebu.
ASAPP, initiated by the National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA), is an interagency program which aims to accelerate
poverty reduction and boost economic
growth in municipalities with high poverty
incidence levels by providing employment
and business opportunities, including selfemployment for the poor.

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 5

Kalampusan July 2015

(Photos directly below) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT), held a Media Interaction/ Press conference on the Sandugo Trade Expo 2015 on July 2, 2015, 3:00 in the afternoon, at the Abaseria Cafe and Deli, Gen. Lim Street, Mabolo, Cebu City.
Working on the theme Fabulous, Fun Finds, the DTI is now looking into the prospects of the travel retail market as an opportunity for MSMEs to sell or promote
their products in this year's trade event. This is one of the areas that the DOT and DTI are working as partners and involving the Tourism Support Industries
stakeholders. This years Sandugo Trade Expo will showcase an eclectic mix of products ranging from furnishings, fixtures, wearables and novelty items.

(Photos below) The Department of Trade and Industry Bohol Provincial Office Consumer Welfare and Business Regulatory Division conducted
two sessions of the Consumer Education Seminar at San Miguel Technical Vocational School, San Miguel, Bohol. The activity consisted of a 2hour lecture with interaction on the Rights and Responsibilities of the Consumers including its related Fair Trade Laws (FTLs) and Climate Change
to 167 High School students and teachers.

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 6

Kalampusan July 2015

News Bites

Transparency is one of the inherent and overriding

principles in the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement. As a
signatory to the WTO Agreement, the Philippines is
obliged to comply with the commitments. Thus, the
Department of Trade and Industrys Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) maintains a Standards and
Conformance Portal which houses the Philippines
TBT Enquiry Point Page where notifications made by
other WTO Members could be accessed.
Transparency is not however the only name of the
game. Information must also be provided in a predictable and timely manner. With this in mind, the Bureau
continues to find ways to utilize new developments to
improve the delivery of its service.
The new look and functionalities introduced are the
major changes to the TBT Enquiry Point. The page

The Department of Trade and Industrys Bureau of

Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) has issued the Philippine National Standards (PNS) on the specifications of
plastic shopping bags, which is a flexible plastic material used for containing and transporting goods.
The PNS 2097:2014 provides the general characteristics, safety and labelling requirements for plastic shopping bags. It applies the terms and definitions of
bidegradable, biodegradable plastic, compostable
plastic, composting, degradable plastic, oxidatively
degradable plastic, plastic, polymer and, recyclable.
The PNS 2097 lists the maximum allowable concentration of heavy metals and other toxic hazardous substances and the degradation requirements of a plastic
shopping bag.
The BPS Technical Committee on Packaging and
packaging materials or BPS/TC 40, in collaboration of
the BPS Technical Committee on Plastics and plastic
products or BPS/TC 45 prepared the said PNS.

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

now contains information on the coverage of the TBT Agreement and has a direct link to the WTO TBT Information Management System (TBT IMS), a recently established online
platform of the WTO.
The page also hosts a weekly publication called BPS WTO
TBT Notifications Bulletin. This weekly bulletin is envisaged
to simplify the access to information by the relevant stakeholders by containing direct links to the notifications made by
the WTO members. Entries are arranged by country and the
deadline for comments is also listed. Exporters are encouraged to review notifications that they think will impact on market access to a particular country. They are also encouraged
to submit comments to the notifications to BPS.
The TBT Notification Bulletin is released every Wednesday.
To subscribe, contact bps@dti.gov.ph.
(Source: http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph/)

In preparation of PNS 2097:2014, the said committees

referred to the following PNS:
1. PNS 2102:2013 Specifications for compostable plastic
2.PNS 2104:2011 Standard specification for plastics
that degrade in the environment by a combination of oxidation and biodegration
3. PNS/ BHDT ISO 8124-1:2008 Safety of Toys Part
1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical
properties
The DTI-BPS, as the National Standards Body, is the
Philippines member to the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO).
A copy of the standard may be availed for a minimal fee
from the Standards Data Centre at 751.4736
andstandardsdatacenter@bps.dti.gov.ph
(Source: http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph/)

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 7

Kalampusan July 2015

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 8

Kalampusan July 2015

(Photos directly below) The Training Workshop on Supply Inventory Management System (SIMS) was conducted by the DTI - HRAS on June
25, 2015 at the DTI RO7 Conference Room, Cebu City. SIMS will pave the way for the full automation of transactions within the core processes of procurement and supply sections of the department.

(Photos below) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducted an Information Session on Doing Business in Free Trade Areas at Dao
Diamond Hotel, Tagbilaran City, Bohol last May 27. Doing Business in Free Trade Areas is DTIs trade advocacy and information campaign to
increase SME awareness of the countrys preferential trade agreements. Since its launch in 2010, the program has also become a venue for
exporters to navigate the complex Philippine FTA markets, including ASEAN, China, Korea, India, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 9

Kalampusan July 2015

(Photo directly below) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the University of the Philippines Institute of Small Scale Industries
conducted a Small Business Counselors Course for DTI 7 staff in Region 7 on June 29 - July 3, 2015 at Hotel Asia, Cebu City.

(Photo below) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) held a consultative meeting on the draft Philippine E-Commerce Roadmap 2015-2020 on 06 July 2015,
from 1:00pm to 5:00pm, at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel.
The growth of e-commerce has been remarkable, compelling many businesses worldwide to draw on the new marketplace which is known to be more convenient and
efficient. The DTI, with its commitment to catalyze and facilitate growth, and enable Philippine industries, brought together e-commerce practitioners, and other key
stakeholders to discuss and benchmark the growth of Philippine e-commerce. The e-commerce roadmap covers the industry vision, goals and targets from 2015 to
2020 and will serve as the countrys blueprint in gaining the mutual commitment among the private and public sectors, academe and other stakeholders to bring forth a
prolific e-commerce industry.

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 10

Kalampusan July 2015

News Bite

As the Philippines continues to enjoy high investor confidence, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
and Board of Investments (BOI) continue to build sustainable groundwork to promote investments in the various regions of the country.
In collaboration with DTIs regional offices, we have
stepped up our promotion efforts to drive economic activities nationwide, especially in investment -ready areas, DTI-Industry Promotions Group (IPG) Undersecretary Ponciano C. Manalo Jr. said.
The BOI through its Domestic Investments Promotion
Service (DIPS) and the Investment Assistance Service
(IAS) recently synchronized their respective programs
to conduct the investment counseling and capability building training on investments promotion with focus
on project plan preparation.
With these efforts, we expect a more vibrant DTI and
BOI presence in providing frontline services to investors in the regions, Manalo said.

He also noted that this training intends to refine the

skills of the DTI regional and provincial frontline staff
and the Local Economic and Investment Promotion Officers (LEIPOs) assigned in the regional Negosyo Centers in assisting small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) and providing advanced advisory
services on investments.
He added that project preparation skills of the stakeholders will be enriched to generate ready to go investment projects for promotion and possible BOI registration.
Aside from the frontline DTI regional and provincial
staff and LEIPOs in Negosyo Center, participants in
trainings also include economic stakeholders from the
local chambers of commerce and industry, industry associations, SMEs, academe and representatives from
the other line agencies.
This month, trainings were scheduled in Region 7 from
July 13 to 14. (S ourc e: ht t p:/ /www . dt i. gov . ph/ )

17 June 2015, Inabanga, Bohol

DTI Bohol rolled out the Balik Eskwela Diskwento Caravan in Inabanga, Bohol on June 17, 2015. The Diskwento Caravan is a banner program of the Department of
Trade and Industry. It aims to help consumers stretch their budget through price discounts offered by participating distributors and wholesalers.

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 11

Kalampusan July 2015

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 12

Kalampusan July 2015

News Bite

CSC assessment of DTIs Level II Accreditation Status

under the Program PRIME-HRM
On July 06-10 this year, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) conducted an
on-site assessment of the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 7
Level II Accreditation status under the
Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy
and Excellence in Human Resource
Management (PRIME-HRM) of the
CSC.
The certification is granted to agencies
that satisfactorily implements CSC human resource management systems/
programs which gives authority to the
agency to continue to take final action
on appointments.
DTI RO7 maintains its commitment in
continuously providing high level of
standards and quality services to its
clients.
CSC provides assistance to the DTI in
further improving the agencys HR practices, system and procedures.

https://youtu.be/hrS0cJPkar8

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 13

Kalampusan July 2015

country. Election observation missions do not just offer insight into

politics after all. The interaction of observers with a broad spectrum of stakeholders and the electorate also brings with it a more
meaningful understanding of the culture, the aspirations, and the
values of the host country's people," Chairman Bautista said.

The ASEAN Workshop on Election Observation, the first ever

gathering of the region's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Election
Management Body leaders and regional organisations that
conduct election observations, wrapped up last month in Manila, Philippines.
During the two-day workshop, participants tackled the important role of election observation missions in an election and
the benefits and challenges they bring in election administration. They also discussed the roles and relationships between
election management bodies and election observers and the
crucial role of international election observation missions'
recommendations in protecting and strengthening the integrity of elections in the ASEAN region.
Philippine's Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman
Andres Bautista emphasised the importance of election observation and shared to the participants the Philippine's experience on this very important aspect in poll administration.
"For the host country, election observers are an invaluable
source of third-party opinions, if you will, on how adeptly the
polls have been managed, how protected the electorate's
rights and privileges have been, and ultimately, on how credible the elections were.
For the observers, missions such as these represent an opportunity to learn more about how things work in the host

Meanwhile, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Raphael E. Seguis said the Philippines is about to embark on a national
election less than a year from now, that is why they "deemed it
necessary to organize this workshop in order to share with
ASEAN and our friends, our experiences, and learn from likeminded regional institutions like you." Seguis said the Philippines
is committed to strengthen its electoral processes by learning
more about elections observation, thereby helping in the development of democracy and democratic ideals in the region.
"Increasing transparency is one good outcome that may be expected from holding effective elections observations. Corollary to
increasing transparency is the improvement of governance and
accountability of institutions, which we all aim for in ASEAN. When
we achieve these goals, we would not only raise our profile as a
regional organization but contribute to building a regional climate
that is conducive to attracting business in the region and furthering our economic integration," he added.
Seguis said further that "the holding of this workshop is a manifestation that democratic principles have indeed taken root in ASEAN
and that we are moving towards the same direction as other regional organizations like the Organization of American States,
European Union, African Union, and the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe, even as we develop our own unique
perspective, approaches, and solutions."
The ASEAN Workshop on Election Observation is jointly organized by the Philippines' COMELEC, the Department of Foreign
Affairs and the International Institute for Democracy Electoral Assistance (IDEA), and funded by ASEAN - ROK Special Cooperation Fund. (Source: http://www.asean.org)

http://youtu.be/N5vj8Osfrqk

OTOP STORETINDAHANG PINOY CEBU.

OTOP Store, Cotcot, Lilo-an, Cebu, Philippines.

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 14

Kalampusan July 2015

Philippines

KALAMPUSAN
http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

EDITORIAL BOARD

Executive Editor
Asteria C. Caberte
DTI 7 Regional Director

REGIONAL OFFICE

Regional Director ASTERIA C. CABERTE

3rd Flr, WDC Bldg.,Osmena Boulevard, cor. P.Burgos, Cebu City
Tel. # (63)(032) 255-0036 / 255-0037
Fax # (63)(032) 253-7465
email: dti_7@yahoo.com / dticentralvisayas@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/dtiregion7
http://dti7updates.tumblr.com/
REGIONAL DIVISIONS
Business Development Division (BDD)
Victoria Diaz, Chief
Tel. Nos. 2550036 / 412-1989 / 412-1868 loc. 601
e-mail: bdd.dtiro7@gmail.com
Consumer Welfare and Business Regulatory Division (CWBRD)
Rose Mae Quinanola, Chief
Tel. Nos. 2550036 / 412-1989 / 412-1868 loc 301

Writer / Editor
Lay-out Artist
Jojisilia Villamor

I.T. Support
Jerome Elarcosa &
Bernard Cabasisi

Contributors
Vierna Teresa Ligan
Evelyn Fabian
Angeline Gonzales
Olivet Nina Somido
Miguel Abuyabor
Krystle Jade Bato
Elias Tecson
Jose Hibaya

http://kalampusan.weebly.com/

Industry Development and Investment Promotions Division (IDIPD)

Minerva Yap, Chief
Tel. nos. 412-1944 / 4121945 / 255-6971 / 255-3926
e-mail: dtiro7.idipd@gmail.com
BOHOL PROVINCIAL OFFICE
Provincial Director MA. ELENA C. ARBON
2F FCB Bldg., CPG Ave., Tagbilaran City
Tel. # (63) 038-501-8260
Fax # (63) 038-412-3533
email: dtibohol@yahoo.com
CEBU PROVINCIAL OFFICE
Provincial Director: NELIA V.F. NAVARRO
DTI Building, Osmena Boulevard, corner Lapulapu Street, Cebu City
Tel. # (63)(032) 255-6971 / 255-3926
(63)(032) 412-1944 / 412-1945
email: dticebuphil@yahoo.com / dticebuphil@gmail.com
NEGROS ORIENTAL PROVINCIAL OFFICE
Provincial Director JAVIER FORTUNATO, JR
2F Uymatiao Bldg., San Jose Street. Dumaguete City
Tel. # (63)(035) 422-2764
Fax # (63)(035) 225-7211
email: dtinegor@gmail.com
SIQUIJOR PROVINCIAL OFFICE
Provincial Director NIMFA M. VIRTUCIO
CF Bldg., Legaspi St., Siquijor, Siquijor
Tel. # (63)035-480-9065
Fax # (63) 035-344-2238
Email: dtisiquijor@yahoo.com

Enabling Business Empowering Consumers 15