DTI formally launched Project Bayong in Cebu

To provide a source of income for Filipinos affected by the global financial crisis, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) formally launched “Project Bayong” in Cebu on June 12 during the Kalayaan 2009, a Philippine Independence Day celebration.

During the trade and livelihood fair held at SM City Cebu on June 12 - 14, Bayong utility and fashion bags were on display and bayong weaving was demonstrated to the public.

Project Bayong highlights the hand-woven native bag made of pandan, rattan or buri.

There are several advantages to Project Bayong. It generates employment, maximizes use of indigenous raw materials and provides an alternative for the environmentally conscious.

Project Bayong also supports micro-entrepreneurship. The production of bayong entails low investment, it requires light technology, it preserves our cultural heritage and augments income of rural folks.

Project Bayong is also one way for the government to address environmental degradation in the country aggravated by a high annual population growth rate and improper disposal of solid and toxic wastes, among others.

In the last four months (February-May) DTI initiated a series of product development trainings which include basic skills in bayong weaving, skills upgrading and dyeing techniques.

As of May 2009, Project Bayong has been rolled out to 11 municipalities in Central Visayas. Around 11 basic skills trainings, 5 trainings in dyeing techniques, 6 trainings in skills upgrading benefited 605 people. The municipalities where trainings were held include Barili, Bogo, San Remegio, Sta Fe, Bantayan Island in Cebu; Manjuyod and La Libertad in Negros Oriental; Talibon, Bien Unido, Ubay in Bohol; San Juan, Siquijor in Siquijor.

With more people seeking environment friendly products, there is now an increase in demand for bayong in the domestic and international markets, according to DTI.

The DTI is currently working in coordination with the local government, non-government organizations, retailers and exporters for the project. This is intended to provide sustainable livelihood for the people and create more entrepreneurs.

To implement the project, DTI has partnered with Gateway East, a Manila-based private company that advocates waste reduction and an end to the use of plastic bags.

Project Bayong is a component of the Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) of the national government and one of several poverty-alleviation programs.

The CLEEP is a nationwide effort by the government to protect the country’s most vulnerable sectors --- such as the poor, returning expatriates, workers in the export industry, and out of school youths, from threats and consequences of reduced and lost income as a consequence of the global economic crisis --- by providing emergency employment and supervising livelihood projects.

The program aims to build the capacities of Filipino workers and afford them the skills they need to compete in tougher job markets, and to create as many jobs in the least possible amount of time for the poor through investments in enterprise developmen t. (PR)

NERBAC and DTI conduct free seminars on Business Permits and Licensing and Enterprise Development

Entrepreneurs who have equipped themselves with sufficient knowledge on the intricacies of business will have a better chance at success, especially in difficult times, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) says.

Amid the growing number of overseas Filipino workers and domestic workers who lost jobs due to the global economic crisis, the government is urging businessmen and future entrepreneurs to take advantage of free business seminars and skills trainings.

Every Wednesday, 1:00 - 5:00 in the afternoon, interested individuals can avail of a free seminar for information on Business Permits and Licensing System at the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) located at the ground floor of the LDM building, Lapu-lapu and Legaspi Sts., Cebu City.

During the seminar, participants can interact with speakers from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS), Philhealth, Pag-ibig and the Cebu City Government.

Pre-registration is required for interested parties to attend the NERBAC seminar, an activity which has been ongoing since June 2007.
Another free seminar is on enterprise development which is conducted together with a skill training every Tuesday, except 4th week of the month from March to June this year, in all DTI provincial offices in Central Visayas.

The entrepreneurship and skills trainings are part of the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) of the Philippine government.
“CLEEP is a poverty alleviation program of the government viewed as an immediate solution to the country's burgeoning unemployment problem and as an immediate response to the global financial crisis”, DTI says.
NERBAC is a pioneering project that offers a myriad of government services for start-up and expanding businesses that include business licensing and registration, and proactive investment marketing, reducing red tape and improving effectiveness and efficiency in government services.

New applicants can file their business name registration with DTI 7 simultaneously with their application for a Cebu City business permit as there is also a representative from the Cebu City government available at the NERBAC aside from four National Government Agencies.
The NERBAC was launched in Cebu in November 2006. It is supported by the Private Sector Promotion Program (SMEDSEP), a development cooperation project between the Republic of the Philippines and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The SMEDSEP program aims to improve the Business and Investment Climate for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines, especially in the Visayas.

SMEDSEP is implemented in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

DTI temporarily reduces Business Name Registration fees

To encourage more business activities and generate employment, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall charge a business name registration fee of One Hundred Fifty Pesos (Php150.00), an amount fifty percent (50%) lower than the original fee of Php 300.00.

This is in accordance to Department Administrative Order No. 09-01 and shall apply to single proprietorships only. Other charges under Section 5, Art III of DAO No.6, s.1999 shall remain.

According to DTI, such reduction of registration fee shall be implemented until June 2009. After which, the registration fees to be charged shall automatically go back to Php 300.00.

For more information, interested parties may call the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) at telephone numbers 255-6971, 412-1944 or 255-3926.

Entrepreneurs may also visit NERBAC at the ground floor of the LDM building, Lapu-lapu and Legaspi Sts., Cebu City.

DTI 7 POSTS VACANT TEMPORARY JOB POSITIONS

The Department of Trade and Industry Central Visayas Regional Office (DTI 7) is announcing that the agency will be hiring around 36 workers for temporary job positions in the regional and provincial offices.

Interested applicants to the positions of Financial Analysts, Trade and Industry Development Specialists and Analysts must be at least college degree holders relevant to the position, DTI 7 Human Resource Management Officer Rebecca Basilla said.

Basilla added that for the hiring of Price Monitors, Clerks and Coordinators of the Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) preference will be given to the unemployed, affected, displaced workers and out of school youths.

Basilla is advising interested job applicants to submit a letter of intent with bio-data to DTI 7 regional director Asteria C. Caberte, 3rd floor, WDC Building, corner Osmena Boulevard and P. Burgos Street, Cebu City.

For inquiries, please call DTI 7 HRMO Rebecca Basilla at telephone numbers 412-1989 or 412-1868 local 402

Free seminar on Business Permits and Licensing at NERBAC Cebu every Wednesday

Entrepreneurs who have equipped themselves with sufficient knowledge on the intricacies of business will have a better chance at success, especially in difficult times, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) says.

Amid the growing number of overseas Filipino workers and domestic workers who lost jobs due to the global economic crisis, the government is urging businessmen and future entrepreneurs to take advantage of their free business seminars and skills trainings.

Every Wednesday, 1:00 - 5:00 in the afternoon, interested individuals can avail of a free seminar for information on Business Permits and Licensing System at the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) located at the ground floor of the LDM building, Lapu-lapu and Legaspi Sts., Cebu City.

During the seminar, participants can interact with speakers from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS), Philhealth, Pag-ibig and the Cebu City Government.

Pre-registration is required for interested parties to attend the NERBAC seminar, an activity which has been ongoing since June 2007.
Another free seminar is on enterprise development which is conducted together with a skill training every Tuesday, except 4th week of the month from March to June this year in all DTI provincial offices in Central Visayas.

“NERBAC is a pioneering project that offers a myriad of government services for start-up and expanding businesses that include business licensing and registration, knowledge and information management, and proactive investment marketing, reducing red tape and improving effectiveness and efficiency in government services,” DTI stated.

New applicants can now even file for their business name registration with DTI simultaneously with their application for a business permit as apart from four National Government Agencies there is also a representative from the Cebu City government available at the NERBAC.

An additional task of the NERBAC is the promotion of investment in Central Visayas. For that purpose the NERBAC provides all necessary information to future investors.
The NERBAC was launched in Cebu in November 2006. It is supported by the Private Sector Promotion Program (SMEDSEP), a development cooperation project between the Republic of the Philippines and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The SMEDSEP program aims to improve the Business and Investment Climate for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines, especially in the Visayas.

SMEDSEP contributes to the efforts of the Philippine Government to improve the framework conditions for private sector development in the country.

SMEDSEP is implemented in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry the pilot (DTI) at national, regional and provincial levels and the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

DTI, DOST conduct enterprise seminar and training on fruit wine making on March 31

This coming Tuesday, 9:00 a.m., the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will hold a seminar on enterprise development at the DTI-Cebu conference room, 3rd floor, LDM Building, corner Legaspi St. & M.J. Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City.

In the afternoon of the same day, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will conduct a skills training on fruit wine making min the same venue.

"These business seminars and trainings are for free and open to all who are interested in learning a new skill that they can turn into a livelihood," DTI said.

In a press statement released by the DTI, the seminars and trainings on business are conducted in all DTI provincial offices every Tuesday, except 4^th week of the month from March to June this year.

Everyday, except Tuesdays from March to June this year, the DTI provincial and regional offices will conduct Business Counseling for walk-in clients.

Recently in Cebu, the enterprise development seminar was conducted by Lydia Canalagi, Manager of Lexmark Employees’ Cooperative and Elias Tecson of DTI-Cebu. The training-workshop on candle making was conducted by Moises Miranda of the Argao Business Club (see attached photos).

Displaced workers interested to avail of business consultation or related seminars and trainings may contact the following DTI representatives: Elias Tecson or Mila De Los Reyes for Cebu at tel no. 253-2631 or 412-1863; Marisol Balistoy for Bohol at tel no. 411-3302 or 501-8260; Bing Sumanoy or Araceli Maypa for Negros Oriental at tel. no. 225-7211 or 422-1764; Marlene Patria for Siquijor at tel. no. 344-2238 or 480-9065; Roselyn Suelto for Central Visayas at tel no. 412-1868 or 412-1989.

The seminars and skills trainings are in accordance with President Gloria Arroyo’s mandate under the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).

The DTI said the CLEEP program is a “necessary intervention” after several companies in the country streamlined their work force to cope with the global financial crisis.

DTI Conducts Free Business Seminars and Skills Trainings, March –June 2009

Displaced workers and would be entrepreneurs can take advantage of free business seminars and skills trainings scheduled by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Every Tuesday, except 4^th week of the month from March to June this year, all DTI Provincial Offices in Central Visayas will conduct Business Options Seminars, How Tos, Skills Demonstrations or Trainings for displaced workers.

Everyday, except Tuesdays from March to June this year, the DTI provincial and regional offices will conduct Business Counseling / RISC for walk-in clients.

On March 13, the DTI through the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) and the Cottage Industry Technology Center (CITC) will be in Cebu for the entrepreneurship seminar and skills training at the Cebu Holiday Plaza Hotel.

Topics for the activity will include Franchising, Dealership, Distributorship, Competitive Costing and Pricing, Desserts Galore, Beadworks and Flower Arrangements.

On March 17, the DTI team will be in Negros Oriental to discuss on Franchising, Dealership, Distributorship, Competitive Costing and Pricing, Beadworks and Flower Arrangements.

On March 18, the DTI team will be in Siquijor for trainings on Financial Management and SPIN to be held at the Siquijor Social Center.

Those interested in the DTI trainings and seminars in Cebu may contact Mila De Los Reyes or Elias Tecson at telephone numbers 412-1863 / 4121856 / 253-2631. Those in Bohol may contact Marisol Balistoy at telephone numbers 411-3236 / 501-8260 / 501-8828.

For those in Negros Oriental, they may contact Bing Sumanoy at telephone numbers (035) 225-4781 / 422-1764 / 225-7211. In Siquijor, interested parties may contact Marlene Patria or Nympha Virtucio at telephone numbers (035) 480-9065 / 344-2238.

For inquiries regarding DTI regional activities, interested parties can contact Roselyn Suelto telephone number 412-1989 loc.102

Last March 11, the training team was at JJ’s Seafood Village in Bohol to discuss a range of topics that include Franchising, Dealership, Distributorship, Competitive Costing and Pricing, Beadworks, Flower Arrangement for Special Occasions.