Pascual bares 10 strategic priorities of DTI

MANILA, Philippines — Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual has unveiled the 10 strategic priorities of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), with focus on areas such as exports, regional development and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), among others.

In a presentation during the cabinet meeting yesterday, Pascual said the agency’s first priority is to upgrade and upsize MSMEs through digitalization and digital transformation in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

This can also be achieved through science, technology and innovation (STI) in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology and the National Economic and Development Authority as well as the graduation of micro enterprises to small, small to medium, and medium to large.

The second priority of the DTI is to foster industries geared to domestic demand. In line with this, the DTI is eyeing to build a solid domestic base to support eventual forays of local firms into the export market.

Other initiatives under this priority are the development of agri-based manufacturing industries to empower local farmers and generate more rural-based employment opportunities, as well as implementing programs to build a start-up ecosystem, among others.

Another strategic priority of the DTI is promoting and supporting regional development. Part of this effort, according to Pascual’s presentation, is to broaden the “one town, one product (OTOP) “ into a regional scope based on the region’s natural endowments and comparative advantage.

The DTI plans to partner with the Philippine-American Academy of Science & Engineering (PAASE) and National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in innovating the OTOP.

Ensuring the availability of accessible and affordable food is also part of DTI’s strategic priorities. In line with this, the agency is aiming for the improvement of food value chains through upgraded transport and logistics facilities, as well as streamlining agri-supply chains.

Meanwhile, Pascual is also pushing for the reconfiguration of the country’s export sectors into three industry clusters that offer strategic advantages to the country particularly, industrial, manufacturing, and transport (IMT); technology, media and telecommunication (TMT); and health and life science (HLS).

IMT covers aerospace such as aircraft interiors; maintenance, repair, and overhaul, as well as automotive and semiconductors.

Under the TMT cluster are digitization services, the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, artificial intelligence, analytics, cybersecurity, hyperscalers and creative industries.

In contrast, the HLS cluster covers biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare services.

Other efforts to boost the export sector include the promotion of ore processing of green metals such as nickel,cobalt and copper before exporting them.

Also among the strategic priorities of the DTI are the enabling of job-skills matching and skills upgrading as well the improvement of the ease of doing business.

Attracting investments and expanding exports is another priority of the DTI, based on Pascual’s presentation.

As part of this effort, the DTI is pushing for the immediate ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and other free trade agreements (FTAs).

Pascual said the agreements would diversify the country’s exports in terms of products and services and country destinations, and enhance the Philippines’ attractiveness to foreign investments.

Other strategic priorities of the DTI include protecting and empowering consumers, as well as transforming the agency into an agile organization

The DTI will also prioritize the protection and empowering of consumers.

Pascual earlier said he wants the DTI to become an agile organization to be able to readily address the changing needs and priorities of the country.

“Going forward, I would like DTI to be an agile organization. I want us to have the agility and the readiness to organize teams, task forces, and small working groups as we respond to the country’s changing needs and priorities,”Pascual said.