To develop local manufacturing CCCI eyeing DOST programs

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans to tap the support technologies and programs available specifically from the Department of Science and Technology and other government agencies to perk up the local manufacturing sector.

CCCI president Ma. Teresa Chan said that while services and remittances from the Overseas Filipino Workers continue to fuel the economy, there is a need to support the local manufacturing sector to grow the other side of the economy.

"There are a lot of government programs that the private sector is unaware of. DOST for example has several programs that would support the local manufacturing industry," said Chan.

She added that the Regional Development Council  has a lot of good plans and proposed programs that the government can act upon and this has to be presented by the private sector in full scale.

"We really have to develop our local manufacturing sector. This is also to help push the inclusive growth that our government is trying to achieve," she added.

Chan mentioned the development of women entrepreneurship that needs serious attention, and the private sector like the Chamber could start an advocacy and hopefully eventually gain support from bigger institutions like the government and also other international non-governmental organizations that share the same advocacy.

Cottage and micro industries including those that are run by women, are one of the few sectors that the chamber is going to pursue under Chan's leadership.

Meanwhile, in an earlier interview with National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Arsenio M. Balisacan, the said that the government is now bent on developing the local manufacturing sector, aside from attracting big-ticket foreign manufacturing investors.

In the last few year, when the Aquino administration started is thrust to promote inclusive growth, Balisacan said manufacturing investments have started to move up from both local and foreign capitalists.

"The revival of manufacturing is vital," said Balisacan adding that the government is now updating the Philippines Economic Development Program to prioritize six blue-collar generating industries such as agri-business, manufacturing, tourism, construction, logistics, as well as Information Technology.

The revival of attracting manufacturing investments to the Philippines is deemed crucial to balance the economic expansion, enabling the poor to participate in the growth process, he said.

Asian Development Bank  senior country economist Norio Usui said, “now is the time for the Philippines to translate economic growth benefits down to the ordinary people if the country wants to take the right road to inclusive growth." (FREEMAN)