DTI allots P80M for Calabarzon project

The Department of Trade and Industry has allocated P80 million for the Calabarzon region under the Shared Service Facility (SSF) program, which is aimed at further improving the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises.

The budget was higher than the P70 million allocated last year for the region, which covered Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. Of the P70 million, however, only P50 million worth of equipment were rolled out last year as fund releases were hampered by issues involving the priority development assistance fund (PDAF).

In 2013, the DTI was able to roll out P49.5-million worth of equipment, benefiting 106 cooperator-beneficiaries that were mostly farmer groups, cooperatives and community-based enterprises.

Most of the beneficiaries belong to the region’s priority industry clusters that include processed food, with 44 groups; gifts, decors and housewares (GDH), 18 groups; wearables, 16 groups; coconut/cococoir, 11 groups; bamboo, seven groups, and coffee, six cooperators. The rest were into metalworks, agriculture machinery and consumer products.

Marilou Quinco Toledo, DTI regional director in Calabarzon, noted that the improved levels of productivity through the use of the SSF in place of the traditional manual processes would result in simplified work (lower production costs); consistent and improved quality of products, and increased output that would enable MSMEs to fulfill bulk orders in time.

Toledo added that the summation of improvements would open more business opportunities for the enterprises resulting in more income and jobs, and boost exports and investments.

Under a memorandum of agreement with the DTI, the cooperators will use the SSF without rental or any form of charges but they will be responsible for the management and upkeep of the facility which will remain property of the DTI.

The shared service facilities are intended not only for the exclusive use of the cooperators but also for other players in the industry clusters as well.

The SSF project is a component of the DTI’s industry cluster development approach to increase production output and improve product quality resulting to higher levels of productivity and competitiveness. So far, it is the most significant assistance provided for the development of enterprises particularly those in the countryside.