DENR USEC urge business: get serious with Corporate Social Responsibility

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio, Jr. urged participants of the Philippine Exporters Confederation XI as well as the participants of the Mindanao Exporters Forum to take Corporate Social Responsibility of CSR seriously.

Ignacio talked on "Climate Change: A Corporate Social Responsibility", during the Mindanao Exporters Forum held at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on August 20.

He said the country is experiencing the worst flooding, drought and other climate episodes in years. This is already an effect of climate change, which no country can evade or avoid.

Ignacio said companies should make activities that address climate change issues part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to help their businesses survive climate change, and also to contribute to the world's effort in alleviating the effects of climate change.

Mindanao exporters to tackle 2-year export dev't plan

A CONSULTATION on Philippine Export Development Plan, 2011-2013, an initiative that will chart strategies to boost the country's export revenues, will be conducted this afternoon as one of the highlights of the Mindanao Exporters Forum at the Mini-Theater of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in Davao City.

Today's activity, initiated by the Export Development Council (EDC) and the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BETP), two agencies under the Department of Trade and Industry, is the second leg of consultation workshops being conducted nationwide.

The first was conducted on August 13 in Manila while the third leg is slated at Cebu Grand Hotel in Cebu City on August 25.

The EDC, in coordination with BETP, is now in the process of preparing the PEDP 2011-2013, which will chart the strategies to increase the export revenue of the country, thus providing employment and other economic activities, as embodied in the Export Development Act.
The final draft of the PEDP 2011-2013 will be presented to President Benigno Simeon Aquino 111.

Industry players from all over Mindanao are invited to attend the consultation workshop which will start at 1 p.m.

Serafin Juliano, PEDP 2011-2013 short-term expert, will present the PEDP framework adopted by EDC. He will be joined by top officials of the DTI in an open forum and breakout session.
DTI 11 regional director Marizon S. Loreto said that PEDP consultation will be a venue for the Mindanao stakeholders to share their insights relative to the inclusion and implementation of strategies to be incorporated in the PEDP 2011-2013.

"Every stakeholder must take part in this endeavor because this will greatly help EDC and BETP craft the necessary steps towards attaining utmost export growth potential of the entire country," she said.

EDC executive committee chair Assistant Secretary Ramon Vicente T. Kabigting said the consultation will gather the ideas, suggestions, and aspirations of all involved in order to give flesh to the plan.

"We are now experiencing the rebound of exports with a growth of 38.69 percent in January to May 2010 after its plunge to negative growth during the global financial crisis last year," Kabigting said citing President Aquino's guidepost for economic and trade agenda: public-private partnership.

The PEDP consultation is part of the two-day Mindanao Exporters' Forum which started Thursday.

It is being held back-to-back with the 14th Mindanao Trade Expo (MTE), which will run until August 22 at the BSP Convention Center.

MTE 2010 Opens Its Doors To The Public

With the theme "Mindanao Trade Expo...Eco-ing Traditions", the Mindanao Trade Expo 2010 opened its doors to the public yesterday.

"MTE started out as a dream to have a regular venue for our Mindanao entrepreneurs to promote our products," MTE Foundation and Philexport XI President Ann T. Pamintuan said. Today, she added, it has become a premier showcase of Mindanao's finest goods.

Pamintuan said MTE has allows those from Mindanao "to highlight our rich culture and traditions which have been preserved for centuries, such as the weaving of abaca fiber with natural root dye and the brass sculptures in the south."

For this reason, she said, most of the products on display during the MTE are fashioned out of sustainable raw materials.

"We hope that with this effort we will be able to help create a paradigm shift and make people realize that doing business at the same time protecting our environment can be a good mix," she said.

With this sentiment, the MTE 2010 opened the doors of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Convention Hall to the public yesterday. Ms. Noemi Avancena of the MTE Foundation delivered Pamintuan's message to the MTE guests during the opening ceremony yesterday morning.

NEDA SEC talks on 100 Days Agenda of Pnoy in today’s Philexport Forum

A lot of things have been said about President Benigno Aquino III’s policy on corruption but what is his economic agenda?

Aquino’s economic agenda will be one of the main topics that will be discussed during the Philexport Forum scheduled on August 19 to 20 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The Mindanao-Wide Exporters Forum is being held as a back to back event with the Mindanao Trade Exhibit.

“We in the business sector are looking forward to the Aquino administration’s plan for the country’s economy during his first 100 days,” Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc (Philexport XI) President Ann T. Pamintuan said.

Pamintuan said not all exporters are big businesses like those dealing in the export of agricultural products. She said there are also exporters that are classified as small and medium entrepreneurs and they are affected by various economic and political issues in Mindanao and all over the country.

“One of the most important issues faced by Mindanao business is the power shortage,” she said. Even the big players are already affected by the unstable power supply in Mindanao and we would like to know how the new administration intends to solve the problem, she said.

She said the Exporters Forum is an ideal venue for those who want to know more about the economic agenda of the new administration. National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, Jr, is expected to be in the city during the first day of the Forum to talk about the 100 days Agenda of the Aquino Administration.

“This is the Mindanao business sector’s chance to get up close and personal with the people in charge of steering the country’s economy forward so they should not miss this chance to interact with the NEDA secretary,” she said.

Pamintuan said the first day of the Exporters Forum will be very interesting since Philexport National President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. will brief the Forum participants on Philexport’s Direction for Exports Program.

Export Development Council Executive Director Senen Perlada will also talk on the Regional Interactive Program Platform for Philippine Exporters or RIPPLES.

Mindanao Exporters Forum set back-to-back with MTE 2010

The Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PhilExport) in Davao Region is set to conduct the Mindanao Exporters’ Forum back-to-back with the 14th Mindanao Trade Expo.

The forum will be conducted on August 19 to 20 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) mini-theater in Davao City while the 14th MTE will be on August 19 to 22 at the BSP Convention Hall.

Carrying the theme “Mindanao…..our AGENDA”, the forum is aimed at answering the various issues and concerns confronting the Mindanao-based exporters and the entire business community.

PhilExport 11 president Ann T. Pamintuan said that the business community must be one in addressing pressing issues in order to have a common stand and direction.

“Just like Mindanao power problem, it is everybody’s concern. However, it has greater impact on the business sector. Productivity may have been affected. Thus, the business community as a whole must take cognizance of the possible ill effects of this scenario. We have to take necessary steps in order to address this,” Pamintuan said.

Aside from the power/energy situation of Mindanao, other concerns that will be tackled during the two-day forum are the Climate Change: A Corporate Social Responsibility; ISO (International Standards Organization) Orientation: Exports Efficiency and Profitability; Hedging – a Creation of Investment; and RIPPLES (Regional Interactive Platform for Philippine Exporters and Export Pathways), among others.

“We are very optimistic that the most pressing concerns of Mindanao businessmen and exporters will be given an answer or even answers during the forum. It will definitely be a venue for us to discuss about the definite steps that we are going to adopt,” she said.

The Mindanao Exporters’ Forum and the 14th MTE are Kadayawan sa Dabaw’s accredited events.

These events are presented by the MTEFI, PhilExport 11, Export Development Council (EDC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Philexport Davao supports MTE 2010

Philexport Davao is supporting the Mindanao Trade Expo 2010!

The 14th Mindanao Trade Expo (MTE) will be staged on August 19 to 22 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Convention Hall in Davao City.

Ann T. Pamintuan, MTE Foundation, Inc. president, said during the MTE 2010 media launch on Tuesday at the Apo View Hotel Garden Pavilion that they are optimistic that the expo will continue to reap good harvests.

Pamintuan also said Mindanao products will take center stage once more in this year’s event.

She said since its first staging in 1996 until 2009 (except 2008), the MTE has already recorded an aggregate cash sales of P58.5 million and booked sales of P163 million, until its 13th staging last year. It has also promoted and extended marketing assistance to a total of 1,705 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and gathered 607 local and international buyers.

“In 2008, we didn’t have an MTE because of some factors. However, we were able to bounce back last year, as manifested by the sales we generated which amounted to P65.5 million, both for cash and booked,” she said.

Bearing the theme “Mindanao Trade Expo…Eco-ing Traditions”, the event is expected to host in one venue at least 100 exhibitors who are producers of gifts, toys and house wares (GTH), furniture and furnishings, fashion accessories, and processed food. Tourism destinations and investment opportunities will likewise be showcased during the four-day exhibit.

“The trend for green or sustainable products is the present requirement of the global market. If we are to widen our market reach, we have to make products that will meet the demand. Through it, we can sustain our economic gains,” she said.

Pamintuan added that aside from the economic gains, producing green products also means protecting the environment.

“This year’s theme exemplifies our continuing advocacy to support the promotions of eco-friendly products of Mindanao,” she said.

Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Marizon S. Loreto said the agency will always be of help to the MSMEs especially on the area of product development.

Loreto said the 14th MTE is an accredited event of the Kadayawan Festival celebration which be held also from Aug. 16-21 this year.