DTI-Cebu employs student designers for OTOP program

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry-Cebu Provincial Office (DTI-CPO) is calling on student designers to start connecting with industry players noting a growing demand for designing jobs.

DTI-CPO director Maria Elena Arbon made this announcement following the need for industries also to improve their packaging, branding and visual merchandizing as pressure in competition is becoming a bigger threat.

Arbon said her office has already started to hire designer interns from the University of the Philippines-Cebu as JOs (Job Orders) and tap these students’ talents for OTOP (one-town-one-product) program around the province.

The students, she said are deployed to several towns within Cebu province to help OTOP identified industries and businesses in their packaging and other design-related requirements.

Students or schools are encouraged to coordinate with DTI provincial office, in order to connect with the industry players or the Micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs).

"We are giving the MSMEs access to designers," said Arbon adding that while students are exposing themselves to the "real world", they also need mentors to hone and sharpen their talents.

MSMEs also become the students' mentors, a collaboration that provides mutual benefits.

"We are developing pool of designers, at the same time dealing with MSMEs and looking for willing mentors to guide these [young] designers," added Arbon.