Davao Oriental gets first DTI shared service facility

Davao Oriental map. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry on Friday said it had established a new shared service facility in Davao Oriental, the first in the province.

Called “MADE in DAVLAB”, the facility was established in collaboration with Davao Oriental State University (DORSU) and was inaugurated at the URESCOM Building, Marfori, Don Enrique Lopez, Mati City last March 5.

“The MADE IN DAVLAB Project will not only be a center for creativity, prototyping, and product innovation but will also empower MSMEs, students, and industry partners to explore new frontiers in design and fabrication,” DTI Davao Oriental Provincial Director Ma. Joycelyn Banlasan said in a statement.

READ: More than 200,000 new businesses registered with DTI in January

Since 2013, the DTI said that its Region 11 office has implemented 294 shared service facilities projects across the Davao region.

In 2024, a total of P36 million was allocated for regional shared service facilities initiatives, with P10 million specifically allocated for the DORSU’s MADE in DAVLAB project.

The DTI’s shared service facility program is a strategic initiative designed to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines.

It functions as a network of facilities scattered across the country, equipped with modern machinery, equipment, tools, and resources tailored to various industries such as food processing, furniture making, and bamboo crafts.

By offering MSMEs access to these facilities on a shared basis, the program significantly reduces the cost of individual investments in technology, said the government agency.

Earlier in February, Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque announced that around P800 million has been allocated for the program this year.

The budget will primarily be used to procure new equipment, including modern packaging machines, to further enhance the capabilities of these shared facilities.

Roque added that the newly acquired equipment will be distributed to these facilities across the country in the coming months, reinforcing the government’s commitment to empowering MSMEs and promoting inclusive economic growth through technological advancement and shared resources.