New DTI program taps communities for exports

Improved export products targeted in one year

A new program that will tap communities for the development of export products will be launched this month by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), an official said.

“We are crafting a program to try to help communities who have stories to tell do product development and hopefully be able to get their products into airports and seaports,” said DTI Central Visayas regional director Asteria C. Caberte.

The DTI is looking for communities that have a good track record, initiative and are independent.

“We cannot just choose anyone. We’d like to work with very good communities that are willing to cooperate,” Caberte said.

Among the communities that they are looking at are Palawan, where weavers are making bamboo-based products, and Butuan for agsam craft.

Caberte said DTI will help the communities improve the quality of existing products to make them more competitive in the market, especially for the retail sector.

“We have to have more local products in our retail, like in souvenir shops,” she said.

The DTI program will also help communities develop new products for the export market by using available raw materials.

The target is to deliver new and improved products with export potential within the year, Caberte said.

Some communities already have cooperatives or non-government organizations (NGOs) helping them. Nonetheless, Caberte said they will partner with any community as long as they are willing to cooperate and work with the agency.

Aside from Central Visayas, other regions that will likely implement the program are Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao and Soccksargen.

The program will run for about a year and will be implemented in selected communities nationwide.

Caberte said an academe-industry linkage is also being considered. Another activity which will feature locally made products is also being planned, she added.