DTI sets up trade assistance centers in Yolanda-hit areas

CEBU, Philippines - A trade official said that although most parts of northern Cebu has not yet fully recovered from the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda last year, Industry, Trade and Services (ITS) however is gradually picking up in the area.               

Poultry and tourism are two industries that are slightly improving in terms of production and visitation rate, months after the typhoon hit the Visayas in October 2013, said Dr. Elias Tecson, chief of Business Development Division of the Department of Trade and Industry-7.

He said that they recently built Business Assistance Centers in Yolanda-affected places in northern Cebu to help speed up the rehabilitation efforts for the ITS sector.

"Practically, we're focusing more on the affected areas," the chief told The FREEMAN in an interview. "So we can provide livelihood projects and skills training to the residents."

The department is piloting the BACs in five local government units namely Bogo City, municipalities of Daanbantayan, Medellin, Malapascua Island and San Remigio.

Last week, the agency has set up BACs in Bogo City (also covering areas of Medellin and San Remigio) and in the municipality of Daanbantayan (including Malapascua Island).

Tecson explained that the BACs would serve as DTI-Cebu's extension offices especially in the affected LGUs to provide immediate support services related to the recovery efforts of the ITS industry.

He described the center as the "little DTI" operating in the locality to extend its basic services there.

The centers, the DTI official added, will also improve relations with different LGUs and the efficiency of addressing the needs of the business sector.

He shared the mayors of Bogo and Daanbantayan have expressed their affirmation on the initiative, adding also that BACs will soon exist in municipalities of Santa Fe of Bantayan Island and Sogod.

Tecson noted they are looking at putting up also business centers in Cebu's growth areas such as Carcar City, Toledo City and town of Argao: "It may not necessarily be all LGUs but we will identify growth centers." (FREEMAN)