DTI pushes trade pacts with Asia-Pacificnations to address dwindling tuna catches

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is pushing for more cooperation with other Asia-Pacific states in a bid to address the declining domestic tuna catches and supplies.

Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. said they are considering the forging of trade agreements with several countries in the ASEAN and the Pacific regions to help resolve the supply crisis affecting the tuna industry.

He specifically cited Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Indonesia, which control vast tuna-rich waters.

“Regional cooperation is currently the most viable solution to our supply problems with tuna,” he said at the opening of the 17 National Tuna Congress trade exhibit at the SM Trade Hall in General Santos City on Thursday (Sept. 3).

Cristobal said local tuna industry players expressed concern over the continuing drop in tuna catches and supplies in the last two years.

He said the problem is mainly due to the declining tuna stocks within the country’s waters and the limited access for tuna fishing in the Pacific waters.

Cristobal said such situation could later affect the country’s tuna exports to the international markets, especially in the European Union (EU).

In December last year, the EU parliament approved the country’s inclusion in its Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) scheme.

EU’s GSP+ mainly grants zero duty or tariff to over 6,000 eligible exports, including tuna, from the Philippines to its member-states.

Cristobal urged tuna industry stakeholders to cooperate with the DTI, Department of Agriculture and the Department of Foreign Affairs in the pursuit of the trade agreements.

Rather than looking at ASEAN and Asia-Pacific as an area of competing nations, he said they should consider them as potential partners for cooperation.

For instance, the country, through the tuna fishing sector, could offer assistance to the PNG in terms of technology adoption and technical enhancements in exchange for access to tuna fishing grounds.

He said it could also pursue other areas of partnerships or cooperation that would be mutually beneficial for both countries.

 

General Santos City, which is home to six of the country’s tuna canneries, is dubbed the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines.”

The industry generates annual export receipts of around USD 350 million and directly employs about 20,000 workers.

The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) earlier reported that local tuna catches have declined by 25 percent as shown by the landings at city fishing port complex.

  

After posting a 10-year record high of 101,480.19 metric tons (MT) in 2014, local fish landings, 90 percent of which are tuna and tuna-like species, have dropped to just 42,064.73 MT in the first six months of the year.

The PFDA recorded total fish landings of 55,846.31 MT in the same period last year.

But the overall landings were still up by nine percent due to the 50 percent increase in the entry of frozen tuna imports.(PNA)

Treats for gov’t workerson 115th civil service anniversary

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has announced special discount packages await government employees as the entire bureaucracy celebrates the 115th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA),.

From September 25 to 27, 2015, state workers can avail themselves of 10% discount at all SM Department Stores nationwide, valid on regular-priced items for a minimum purchase of PHP500. SM Appliance Centers will offer 5% discount nationwide, as well as financing promos for select branches in Metro Manila and nearby Luzon. Shoppers at SM Supermarket and SM Hypermarket will get a free item with a minimum purchase of PHP500. A list of exempted items has been provided.

To be eligible for the said promos, civil servants should present their official government office ID or Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) ID card, including an SM Advantage Card, SM Prestige Card, MOM Card, or BDO Rewards Card.

From September 1 to December 31, 2015, Executive Optical branches are offering up to 20% discount on exclusive frames and sunglasses, up to 10% discount on signature frames and sunglasses except for select brands, and free services. State workers only need to present their official government office ID and/or GSIS ID to qualify for the benefit, which is transferable to the employee's dependents.

Red Ribbon is also offering a 10% discount for a minimum purchase of PHP350 from September 15 to November 15, 2015. Government employees will also get a free 12 oz. iced tea for every PHP200 purchase at any Chowking store for the whole month of September.

The National Museum will provide government employees free admission this September to the National Museum of Anthropology, National Museum of Fine Arts, National Planetarium, and its branch museums nationwide.

The Manila Ocean Park is offering discounted packages for entrance to its attractions. Government employees may purchase a maximum of 10 tickets for their family and friends. Schedule of ticket reservations at the Manila Ocean Park Reservation Office is from Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ticket validity is from September 1 to December 31, 2015.

Star City is also offering a PHP280/Ride-All-You-Can (RAYC) ticket (discounted from PHP420) to government employees and three (3) of their family members. This treat is available from September 4-6, 2015 and September 11-30, 2015; Monday to Thursday (4 p.m. onwards) and Friday, Saturday, Sunday (2 p.m.onwards).

To avail of the museum and theme park promos, government employees must present their office ID or GSIS ID card at the reservation or ticketing booths and the service gates.

Themed “Kayang-Kaya Mo, Lingkod Bayani”, the month-long PCSA celebration aims not only to commemorate the establishment of the Philippine Civil Service in 1900, but also to recognize the contributions and achievements of civil servants in national development.

Aside from special treats, the CSC is spearheading the R.A.C.E. to Serve V Fun Run on September 12, 2015 at the Quirino Grandstand, and the 5th Government Choral Competition Grand Finals on September 15, 2015 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. (CSC)

New partnership seeks to strengthen use of research evidence for policymaking in Mindanao

State think thank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) are set to begin a new development partnership this September, a most opportune time as the Philippine bureaucracy celebrates the 13th Development Policy Research Month (DPRM).

On September 4, PIDS President Dr. Gilberto Llanto and MinDA Chairperson Undersecretary Lualhati Antonino will sign an agreement that will promote policy research and knowledge sharing in support of Mindanao’s development needs, facilitate access to policy studies and materials produced by higher education institutions (HEIs) in Mindanao, and establish the Mindanao Knowledge Research and Policy Center (MKRPC). 

“This partnership has a lot of potential in creating synergies for the development of Mindanao. Given the Institute’s limited financial, human, and technical resources, we cannot cover the entire Philippines to effectively carry out our mandate. We need to multiply ourselves. We see MinDA as an excellent partner in promoting evidence-based policymaking at the local level and in increasing the relevance of our policy studies,” says Llanto.

Created by Republic Act No. 9996 in 2010, Davao-based MinDA is the only Mindanao-wide body mandated to integrate a development framework and provide strategic directions for Mindanao that are consistent with the peace and development initiatives of the national government. It also aims to promote, coordinate, and facilitate the active and extensive participation of all sectors in Mindanao to promote inclusive development for the region. Prior to its creation, MinDA was known as the Mindanao Economic Development Council of MEDCO, which was established in 1992.

The signing ceremony will be held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City and will also include a public presentation of the Mindanao Development Report and soft launch of the MKRPC whose components include a knowledge portal of development research and policy studies conducted by government agencies and HEIs in Mindanao. The idea of developing a knowledge portal was inspired by the PIDS’ SocioEconomic Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P) project, an online database of socioeconomic studies produced by PIDS and 52 member-institutions comprising the SERP-P Network that includes MinDA.

The PIDS, through its SERP-P team composed of Dr. Sheila Siar and Mr. Mark Vin Aranas,  will help MinDA set up the MKRPC knowledge portal. An orientation on open access and how to develop a SERP-P-like portal for Mindanao will be conducted by Siar and Aranas on September 3.

To mark the DPRM celebration, a press conference will also be held on September 4. This year’s DPRM theme “Effective Regulations for Sustainable Growth” is aimed at giving emphasis on regulatory issues and the critical need to build a formal regulatory management system that is backed by research evidence and systematic assessment of proposed policies and regulations before they are implemented. Resource speakers include Llanto, Antonio, and heads of local regulatory bodies in Davao City. 

The DPRM is celebrated across the country every September by virtue of Malacanang Proclamation No. 247 issued on September 02, 2002. It aims to promote and draw nationwide awareness on the importance of policy research in the formulation of national development plans, programs, and policies. The proclamation also designated the PIDS as the lead government agency in the observance of the DPRM.

A policy forum titled “Advance Mindanao: Toward Sustainable Economic Development and Balance Ecosystems” will cap the whole-day affair, which is expected to bring together more than 150 participants from the government, academe, business, and civil society sectors in Davao City.  Mr. Oscar Picazo, senior health research consultant at PIDS, will present his paper on “Green and Gold: Promoting Eco-adventure and Cultural Tourism for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth”. Meanwhile, researchers from MinDA will share the findings and policy implications of their paper on “Developing Payment for Ecosystem Services Mechanism for River Basin Organizations in Mindanao”. ###

DTI-Davao: Sales promo period must be definite

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao Region reiterated among establishments that sales promotion period must be definite.

With its efforts to uphold the rights of consumers, the agency is intensifying its campaign against unscrupulous conduct of sales promotion.

Republic Act 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, defines sales promotion as techniques intended for broad consumer participation which contain promises of gain, which includes a prize (either in cash or in kind) and reward for purchasing a product or service, involves winning in a contest or game, and utilize widespread means of communication. It is also a strategy intended to increase sales, patronage and/or goodwill of a product, service or credit facilities.

These sales promo campaigns are offered in different types, to wit: raffle (electronic or conventional), discount, premium, games, contest and redemption.

For a sales promo application of an establishment to get approved, DTI reiterated that it needs to suffice four elements – promise of gain, consumer purchase, use of mass media and duration.

With these elements, there will be greater chances to achieve fairness in the conduct of sales promotion, truth in claims, guarantee in the delivery of commitments and remedies for possible violation.

“We would like to reiterate that putting the phrase ‘until supply lasts’ in any sales promo activity is prohibited by law. Therefore, all establishments must ensure that the items on sale or the prizes they are giving away will last until the last day of the promo,” DTI-Davao Region Officer-in-Charge Maria Belenda Q. Ambi pointed out.

Ambi added that any person who wants to conduct any form or scheme for a sales promotion campaign of a consumer product, service or credit facilities which include sponsorship or game shows and similar activities must first secure a permit from DTI, from the Department of Health (DOH) for food, drugs, cosmetics and hazardous products, or from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) for meat products at least 30 days prior to the actual start of the promo period.

Meanwhile, DTI clarified that no sales promo permit is needed for the following activities:

·         Sales promo campaigns sponsored by government;

·         Imported products under promo in their country of origin, not covering the Philippines;

·         Social, civic, political, religious, educational and other similar organizations conducted among their members;

·       Sponsorships of programs, concerts, game shows and similar activities, political, religious and institutional advertisements presented for public service, education         or information, health, environment and development or desirable values and similar activities.

Should the public know of any establishment running a sales promo campaign without a permit, Ambi is urging them to contact the nearest DTI office. In Davao City, they may contact (082) 224-0511.

Monkayo town strengthens grassroots communication

MONKAYO, Compostela Valley , Sept 01 (PIA)--  The Municipality  of Monkayo has taken steps to strengthen grassroots communication with the  reorganization of the Community Development  Information Council (CDIC).

Municipal Mayor Joselito B. Brillantes signed on June 01, 2015 Executive Order No. 026-2015, “Reorganizing Anew the Community Development Council” seeking to establish and maintain communication channels to access information and to strengthen grassroots information and communication.

The reorganized CDIC  also seeks to raise information consciousness at the barangay level and to empower residents of Monkayo to become  active partners  in local government development initiatives.

The CDIC is expected to serve as catalyst of community organization and social mobilization,  to develop a common network for information dissemination, to serve as intra and inter community link, and to develop and harness the communication skills as well as the creativity of students.

Among the major  activities that the CDIC organized this year include the Inter-school Literary Musical Competition held today at Monkayo Municipal Gymnasium participated in by elementary, secondary  and tertiary schools.

Contests lined up during the whole-day event were News Reporting,  Essay Writing,  Quiz Bee,  Vocal Solo/Vocal Duet and Dance Theater.  The Film/Video Competition judged on August 27 formed part of the Inter-school Literary Musical Competition.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the event, Mayor Brillantes viewed the Inter-school Literary Musical Competition as  the “season of discovering talents”.

He, however, called on students to arm themselves with humility which, he said, should go along with whatever success they may achieve.  

“Dapat isaalang-alang ang pagkumbaba. Marami na ang nagkamit ng tagumpay, pero konti lang ang bumalik upang magpasalamat. (We should consider being humble. Many have become successful but only few come back to thank.),” he said.

Meanwhile, CDIC Chairperson Elyn M. Atienza during the same event revealed that the municipality of Monkayo first held an inter-school literary competition on September 13, 1989, a day before that year’s founding anniversary of the town.

On top of Quiz Bee, news reporting,  dance theatre and film video are  the three new events added to the line-up of literary competitions, she said.  (PIA 11/ Jeanevive D. Abangan)