Government crafts plan to protect local retailers

CEBU, Philippines - The government is now crafting an action plan to address the concerns of the local retail sector in Central Visayas to cushion the anticipated impact of the ASEAN integration to the industry.

Department of Trade and Industry 7 regional director Asteria Caberte said the government’s industry roadmap strategy puts focus on the local retail trade as it is one of the sectors that are most likely to get affected by the Asean Economic Community.      

Caberte said a multi-agency team led by DTI will be actively mobilized to intensify an information campaign on laws implemented to protect the sector.

Moreover, a plan to regulate the high cost of displaying products in a department store or supermarket will also be in place to protect the local producers, wholesalers, or retailers,

A tripartite council will also be formed to further identify the concerns of the industry and other issues, Caberte said.

Strong implementation on strict compliance among players in the Product Standard, or the Import Commodity Clearance  system will be closely monitored.

Caberte added the agency, together with private sector players including the banks and financial institutions will be linked with the local retail stakeholders to lessen, if not eradicate the perceived difficulties in availing of credit especially from the banks.

Strengthening the value chain in the retail sector by establishing a "Big brother, Small Brother" concept will likewise be implemented as well as encouraging retailers to adopt productivity base incentives.

Meanwhile, retail sales of Filipino fashion brands have dropped by 50 percent in the first quarter this year as big foreign brands with their unlimited resources dominate the domestic fashion sector.

Retail industry leader Samie Lim said that local fashion retailers have failed to match the resources of the huge foreign brands, which now occupy premium locations and big spaces in the country's premier shopping centers. (FREEMAN)