Thursday, June 05, 2008 DTI, group to help residents earn
PRESIDENT Gloria Arroyo has directed the Department of Trade and Industry 7 (DTI) to roll out a program that will train residents in “cleared conflict areas” on making export products.
DTI 7 Director Asteria Caberte said the project will be an initiative of the region and will soon be expanded to include other regions.
Dubbed the Sub-contracting Partners for Innovation Network (Spin), DTI 7 has also partnered with the local exporters of gifts, toys and house wares (GTH) to help train residents from six areas in the province, including Balamban.
There are already 33 areas in the region which were classified as “cleared conflict areas” upon the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The AFP was also given a directive by Arroyo to coordinate with the DTI, Caberte said.
DTI 7 will identify the skills prevalent in the area while the GTH group will provide the training.
“The exporters will also initially give the raw materials,” Caberte said, adding that the recipients of the training in the identified areas are “very marginalized people.”
Caberte said the training that will be extended are already on the actual export orders so that in case the end-product will pass the standards set by the exporter, the trainee could immediately earn from it.
“It immediately (brings) food on their table,” Caberte said.
During its last regional directors meeting, it was agreed that aside from Central Visayas, four other regions will be supported by the Cebu-based exporters.
This includes Western and Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga.
“In other regions, they have to identify the exporters who will become their ‘big brothers’,” Caberte said.
Logistics
The trade department has also allocated P20,000 to support the logistics cost for the training sessions this year.
DTI 7 will also monitor the price manipulation and the consolidation of products.
To start the program, DTI 7 and the GTH sector will focus on hand weaving skills training.
For this month, there will be three trainings to be conducted in Oriental Negros and two sessions in Bohol.
The GTH group, Caberte said, has also expressed their support for the program since this will help them meet the huge demand for GTH products. (DME)
