LEADERS of the eight industry cluster teams of the Davao Region will meet on April 12 in Davao City to present their accomplishments since the implementation of the Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (Diccep) in 2007.
The respective chairs of the teams, which represent the eight priority industries of the region -- banana, mango, coconut, seaweed, wood, eco-tourism, mining, and information and communications technology (ICT) -- will report about the milestones, breakthroughs, and best practices they have experienced as they carry out their priority projects.
These projects are part of the capacity-building intervention of the Diccep, being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).
Under the Diccep, the industry cluster teams have been provided the opportunity to strengthen the industry value chains through the projects which have been implemented.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao Region Management Support and Special Concerns Division (MSSCD) chief and Diccep manager Romeo L. Castañaga said the conduct of the Davao Regional Industry Cluster Forum will also be a venue where the industry cluster teams will exchange views of their varied experiences, best practices, learning, and business breakthroughs.
"In this forum, there would be sharing of ideas on how to improve the existing initiatives and projects. The Diccep has really been the vehicle in identifying the industry gaps, determining the corresponding action plan, and implementing those projects," he said.
Castañaga added that in the forum, the cluster teams are expected to present their collective commitments of sustaining the clustering approach by institutionalizing governance structure and institutional arrangements, as well as the updating and implementation of their respective action plans.
Among the initiatives of the cluster teams were the Pilot Project for the Enhancement of Banana Industry Cluster in the municipality of Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte; Mango Production Synchronization Project, which intends to address the low and erratic pricing condition of mangoes; Building Capabilities of the Davao Region Coconut Industry Cluster which aims to establish cluster-managed pilot coconut farms which will demonstrate improvement of production and productivity, strengthening and capacitating the cluster, improvement of markets, and reduction of production costs; Establishment of Seaweeds Model Coop Farms in Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, Digos, Davao del Sur; Establishment of Malapapaya (Polyscias Nodosa, family Araliaceae) Nursery and Plantation Development in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte; Web and Text Marketing and Tourism Databank Project; and Advocacy on Responsible Mining (ARM). (DTI/JMM)