dataline 24 (2013)

12
dataline A bi-monthly digest of global and domestic industry trends and developments. Published by the Trade and Industry Information Center, Department of Trade and Industry Manila, Philippines Tel. (632) 895.3611 Fax (632) 895.6487 To subscribe, email: [email protected] Online: http://www.dti.gov.ph December 02, 2013 Vol. 18, No. 24 In this issue Focus Foreign firms expanding PHL operations Inside DTI 1. DTI implements rationalization plan 2. DTI holds National Quality Infrastructure Stakeholders' Meeting Good News, Philippines! 1. PHL to become a knowledge-driven economy 2. DTI targets higher PHL doing business ranking MSME News 1. Compostela Valley launches own brand 2. Cordillera farmers all set to develop coffee industry Business Update 1. Scrap permanent incentives, not IPP 2. DTI focuses on streamlining business registration 3. RuMEPP aids 5,817 MSMEs in Eastern Visayas 4. Next Wave Cities seen to develop BPO industry 5. Love of job, not salary, makes workers stay 6. PHL firms urged to innovate to keep up Consumer News 1. Filipinos among world’s most confident consumers 2. Fake motor vehicles, parts awareness campaign launched 3. Be vigilant in buying Christmas lights 4. Special market monitoring conducted 5. FDA cautions against toys Features DTI extends supports to Bohol ASEAN Watch 1. S. Korea’s investments in PHL hit USD 3.8B 2. Southeast Asia needs USD 1.7-T energy investment Statwatch What’s New?

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Page 1: Dataline 24 (2013)

dataline December 02, 2013 1

datalineA bi-monthly digest of global and domestic industry trends and developments. Published bythe Trade and Industry Information Center, Department of Trade and Industry Manila, PhilippinesTel. (632) 895.3611 Fax (632) 895.6487 To subscribe, email: [email protected]: http://www.dti.gov.ph

December 02, 2013Vol. 18, No. 24

In this issue

FocusForeign firms expandingPHL operations

Inside DTI

1. DTI implements rationalization plan2. DTI holds National Quality

Infrastructure Stakeholders' Meeting

Good News, Philippines!

1. PHL to becomea knowledge-driven economy

2. DTI targets higher PHLdoing business ranking

MSME News1. Compostela Valley launches

own brand2. Cordillera farmers all set

to develop coffee industry

Business Update1. Scrap permanent incentives, not IPP2. DTI focuses on streamlining

business registration3. RuMEPP aids 5,817 MSMEs

in Eastern Visayas4. Next Wave Cities seen to develop

BPO industry5. Love of job, not salary,

makes workers stay6. PHL firms urged to innovate to keep up

Consumer News1. Filipinos among world’s most

confident consumers2. Fake motor vehicles,

parts awareness campaign launched3. Be vigilant in buying Christmas lights4. Special market monitoring conducted5. FDA cautions against toys

FeaturesDTI extends supports to Bohol

ASEAN Watch1. S. Korea’s investments in PHL

hit USD 3.8B2. Southeast Asia needs

USD 1.7-T energy investment

Statwatch

What’s New?

Page 2: Dataline 24 (2013)

Vol. 18, No. 24 2dataline

FocusForeign firms expandingPHL operations

Inside DTI1. DTI implements

rationalization plan

Multinational companies(MNCs) in the Philippinesare planning to expand their

operations here following the recentsuccessful trade and investmentmissions of the Department of Tradeand Industry (DTI) abroad.

“The investor interest levelin the Philippines is high—the highestin my career in DTI,” DTI SecretaryGregory L. Domingo said.

During his recent trips to Europeand Asia, Domingo said a majorpublicly-listed, London-based firmthat has an existing officein the country is positioning itselfto increase investmentsand manpower here.

Another British business processoutsourcing (BPO) firm has alsorecently transferred the logisticsmanagement for the deliveries of theirproducts here in the Philippines fromthe United Kingdom, he added.

A Singaporean firm is also lookingto expand its operations by increasingits manpower in the country by 5,000personnel, while an international realestate firm has gotten about 30inquiries, well beyond the company’sexpectations of about fiveto eight inquiries.

“Over the past weeks, we were inat least seven investment fora androundtable discussions with high-levelbusiness executives. The strongattendance to these discussionsis a very strong statementon the Philippines,” Domingo said.

The series of trade missionsin London and Singapore was partof the country’s investment roadshows promoting the Philippinesas an attractive investment venue,with Hong Kong as the last legof the missions in 2013.

Relatedly, long-term foreigninvestments in the country more thandoubled in August as the Philippineeconomy shined amid dimconditions in both advancedand emerging markets.

Foreign direct investments (FDIs)rose by 123% year-on-year toUSD 143M in August, the BangkoSentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported.

“Domestic economic prospectshave been supported by soundmacroeconomic fundamentalsand a smoothly functioning financialsystem,” the BSP added.

“Parent companies abroad continuedto lend to their local subsidiariesand affiliates to fund existingoperations and expand theirbusinesses in the country,”it added.

Instead of taking their profits backto their main offices, moremultinationals also chose to reinvestthe earnings of their Philippinesubsidiaries for the expansionof their local operations. A net inflowof USD 54M in reinvested earningswas booked from January to Augustthis year. (PDI 11/10, 11)

The Department of Tradeand Industry (DTI)is implementing a

rationalization plan (Rat Plan) that willtrim down the 2,800-strong bureaucracyand remove irrelevant positionsas it seeks to become a moredynamic line government agency.

DTI Secretary Gregory L. Domingosaid the reorganization is part of the

Rat Plan submitted to the Departmentof Budget and Management (DBM)on October 4, 2004, but was onlyapproved on October 17 this year.

The DTI was given 60 daysto reorganize its bureaucracy,including the approved organizationalstructure, staffing pattern,and compensation action.

Page 3: Dataline 24 (2013)

dataline December 02, 2013 3

Personnel in positions that couldno longer be accommodatedin the staffing pattern have threeoptions: retire with incentives; beplaced to other agencies needingadditional personnel, to be handledby the Civil Service Commission;or their positions will be convertedfrom regular to co-terminus withthe incumbent (CTI) status, to beabolished once vacated.

Likewise, services of casualor contractual employeesare abolished under the Rat Plan.

Given the limited slots for voluntaryretirement with incentives,the DTI–Change Management Team(CMT) has decided to prioritizeemployees with serious illnessand those employees with lengthof service of a minimum of 20 years.

Domingo explained that whilethere will be an initial displacementof people, they will also be giventhe chance to be rehired if theyare qualified.

“The reorganization will realignfunctions that didn’t make senseand allow us to hire people ona permanent basis,” he said.

For instance, where the numberof incumbents in positionsof equivalent are more thanthe number of approved plantillapositions of the same rank,the bureau/office director assesseswho among the incumbents shall beplaced in the approved plantilla,based on the criteria of performanceand merit, with length of serviceto be considered as an additional

2. DTI holds NationalQuality InfrastructureStakeholders' Meeting

The Department of Tradeand Industry (DTI), through theBureau of Product Standards

(BPS) and the PhilippineAccreditation Office (PAO), convenedthe National Quality Infrastructure(NQI) Stakeholders’ Meetingon October 24-25, 2013 at the BestWestern Plus Antel Hotel in MakatiCity as the first of its activitiesfor the European Union-PhilippinesTrade Related Technical Assistance(TRTA) Project 3.

Gathering all relevant governmentagencies and industry associations,the meeting helped formulatethe basic rationale and define eachstakeholder's role in the eventualdevelopment of the NQI as a prime

requisite for efficient consumerprotection and the enhancedglobal competitivenessof the country’s industries.

In the said event, the stakeholdersalso deliberated on the draft NQIAdvisory Platform that was formulatedto facilitate the developmentof the Philippine NQI. A revisedversion of the document will nextbe prepared to incorporate the resultsof the meeting discussions.

Office of Special Concerns (OSC)Director Lydia Guevarra, whois also TRTA 3 Imprest Administrator,emphasized that it is in the bestinterest of the country to step upthe converged efforts of the public

criterion. Those who qualify would berehired on a permanent basis.

According to Domingo, the Rat Planwould enable DTI to hire peopleon a permanent basis becausethey can now offer plantilla positions.

Under the present structure,the DTI can only hire contractualsand consultants. This has beenblamed for the agency not being ableto attract more competitive peopleas workers shy away from workingin government with no securityof tenure because they cannotbe hired on a permanent basis.

In terms of budget, Domingo said,there will be no reduction of budgetbecause those who will be displacedwill eventually be replaced. (MAB 11/04)

Participating stakeholders

Government agenciesDepartment of Trade and Industry (DTI)Department of Agriculture (DA)Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)Department of Science and Technology (DOST)Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Private sector entitiesPhilippine Metrology, Standards, Testing and Quality, Inc. (PhilMSTQ)Philippine Rubber Industry Association (PRIA)Cement Manufacturers’ Association of the

Philippines (CeMAP)

Page 4: Dataline 24 (2013)

Vol. 18, No. 24 4dataline

2. DTI targets higherPHL doing businessranking

and private sectors to finally constitutean NQI.

“The Philippines has to gear upfor economic integration with other

Good News,Philippines!1. PHL to become

a knowledge-driveneconomy

In a forum hosted by the InformationTechnology Journalists Associationof the Philippines (ITJAP),

the speakers revealed that the “on the cusp ofbecoming one of the world’s leadinginnovators in the tech industry.”

They particularly focused on solutionsin areas of disaster preparedness,healthcare, and social services.

During the forum, which wasco-sponsored by IdeaSpaceFoundation affiliate SmartCommunications, IdeaSpaceCo-Founder and President EarlValencia said the Philippines

is on track to becominga knowledge-driven economy.

Other speakers at the forumwere representatives from fourof the 10 start-ups that IdeaSpaceadmitted into its incubator programearlier this year, where each of theFilipino-companies is workingon solutions that address problemsfaced by millions.

"In Silicon Valley, people createsolutions designed for emergingmarkets based on abstract ideas.They only think they know ourproblems," Valencia said. (MST 10/27)

The Department of Tradeand Industry (DTI) aimsto make the Philippines

leapfrog in its world ranking in easeof doing business to “63 or better”by 2016.

DTI Secretary GregoryL. Domingo said the recentperformance of the Philippinesin the Doing Business Report for 2014of the World Bank-InternationalFinance Corp. (WB-IFC)—jumping 30notches to 108 from 138 in the 2013report—is indicative of how much thecountry can do to improve itself.

But Domingo said there are a lotmore things to be done to liftthe country’s rankings from startinga business to securing permitsand licenses.

“The Philippines is most improvedamong 189 countries. Part of thatis because of the reforms governmenthas put in place. But those are notenough. There are still a lot of thingsthat need to be done,” Domingo said.

“In fact the target, after the Philippinesjumped from 138 to 108 among189 countries, is to be in the top 63by 2016… 63 or better,” he added.

“With the big leaps made in the pastthree years, I am confident that thePhilippines will sustain its momentumin competitiveness, and eventuallyreach its target to be in the top thirdof the rankings by the end of thisadministration,” Domingo said.

nations to stay competitiveand to optimize the recentbreakthroughs that have beenachieved,” she said.

WB-IFC regulations’applying to small- and medium-size

domestic enterprises

11 areas of their life cycle• Starting a business• Dealing with construction permits• Getting electricity• Registering property• Getting credit• Protecting investors• Paying taxes• Trading across borders• Enforcing contracts• Resolving insolvency• Employing workers

country is currently

Page 5: Dataline 24 (2013)

dataline December 02, 2013 5

MSME News1. Compostela Valley

launches own brand

Products and servicesfrom Compostela Valley nowhave a distinct identity

as the provincial brand dubbed“ComValOriginal” has beenofficially launched.

Provincial Administrator VirgiliaS. Allones and ExecutiveAssistant Isabelo Melendresunveiled the logo before a crowdof provincial government officialsand employees at the provincialcapitol in Nabunturan.

2. Cordillera farmersall set to developcoffee industry

Some 1,000 agroforest farmersin the Cordilleras in NorthernLuzon are all set to develop

their age-old coffee-beans productionas a multimillion-peso industry.

The Department of Tradeand Industry (DTI), which haslinkages to possible buyers,has joined in the region’s grandcoffee industry which has all thepotential as a ranking dollar-earnerin the locality.

"The brand is also an effectivemarketing tool to reach outto costumers as it identifies the originof the product and/or service as wellas depicts and promotes the imageof the province as producer of qualityproducts and services," Departmentof Trade and Industry (DTI)ComVal Program Manager LuckySiegfred M. Balleque said.

The provincial brand logo wasdesigned by Designers’ Poolof ComVal Member Ronald Generalao.

Also, the Department of Agriculture(DA) has already venturedwith the propagation of coffeevarieties planting materials and theyaccount for the planting of Arabicaand Robusta coffee in some existing6,720 ha of local coffee farms.

Next year, the DA will spend P24Mfor the propagated planting materialswhich will be sufficient to plant inat least 300 ha of suitable landsin various parts of the region.(BMI10/29)

Business Update1. Scrap permanent

incentives, not IPP

The government should repeallaws that grant permanentincentives and retain the

Investment Priorities Plan (IPP),to ensure that perks are given onlyto those which need support,Department of Trade and Industry(DTI) Secretary Gregory L.Domingo said.

The problem is not with the IPP,but with the country’s many lawswhich grant permanent incentivesto different industries, Domingo said.

As of this writing, the 2012 IPPis currently being used while,the 2013 IPP has yet to be released.(TPS 11/06)

2012 IPP preferred activities

• Agribusiness and fishery• Agriculture• Creative industries

or knowledge-based services• Disaster prevention, mitigation,

and recovery projects• Energy• Green projects• Hospital or medical services• Infrastructure• Iron and steel• Mass housing• Motor vehicles• Research and development• Shipbuilding• Strategic projects

Page 6: Dataline 24 (2013)

Vol. 18, No. 24 6dataline

2. DTI focuseson streamliningbusiness registration

3. RuMEPP aids 5,817MSMEs in EasternVisayas

The Department of Tradeand Industry (DTI) will focuson streamlining the business

registration system to enhancethe process of starting a businessin the country.

“Our streamlining is per milestone.We complete the streamliningand create a new streamlining for newmilestone. It’s a process improvement,”DTI Undersecretaryfor Management Services Group(MSG) Nora K. Terrado said.

It is essential for agencies involvedin the process of starting a businessto reform the system to encouragemicro, small, and mediumenterprises (MSMEs) to register andcompete within the formal sector,Terrado said.

She said the DTI has beenresearching best practicesin business registration processof other countries.

The seven-year Rural MicroEnterprise Promotion Program(RuMEPP) has reached out

to 5,817 micro, small, and mediumentrepreneurs (MSMEs) in EasternVisayas, the Department of Tradeand Industry (DTI) reported.

DTI-8 Regional Director Cynthia R.Nierras said the project has elevatedthe status of many MSMEsin the region through microfinancecredit and support, enterprisepromotion and development, andmanagement and policy coordination.

The region is one of the beneficiariesof the International Fundfor Agriculture Development (IFAD).RuMEPP started in 2007 and will endthis year.

“With the RuMEPP, we were ableto enhance our services to MSMEsconsidering that our existing programhas limitations in terms of assistingthem,” Nierras said during the IFADsupervision and implementationsupport mission.

The foreign-funded initiativehas targeted new and expandingbusinesses with assets of lessthan P3M and one to nine workers.

IFAD Country Program OfficerYolando Arban lauded Region 8

RuMEPP-assisted MSMEsin Eastern Visayas by province

Province Number of MSMEs assisted

Biliran 1,051Eastern Samar 1,310Northern Samar 1,802Samar 1,654

for surpassing the target in MSMEdevelopment.

“There is an increasing numberof new and existing ruralmicroenterprises expandingand operating profitably andsustainably,” Arban said.

RuMEPP, with an approved budgetof USD 27.5M, targets to directlybenefit 200,000 householdsin Regions 5, 8, 12, 13,and the Cordillera AdministrativeRegion (CAR).

The program was designed to raisethe incomes and improvethe livelihoods of poor rural peopleby providing them with loans andother financial services, and withbusiness development services suchas capacity-building, market linkagesand product development.

Page 7: Dataline 24 (2013)

dataline December 02, 2013 7

The Department of Scienceand Technology-Informationand Communications

Technology Office (DOST-ICTO)and the IT & Business ProcessingAssociation of the Philippines (IBPAP)have selected the Next Wave Citiesthat are expected to further developthe local business processoutsourcing (BPO) industry.

Smarter Philippines ProgramDirector Alejandro P. Melchor IIIsaid the Next Wave Cities are seento host IT and BPO companiesoutside Metro Manila, which wouldaccelerate economic developmentand bring more job opportunitiesfor people in the countryside.

4. Next Wave Citiesseen to developBPO industry

The BPO industry is expectedto reach USD 25B in revenuesand 1.3M employees by 2016.

Top 10 Next Wave Cities

1. Davao2. Sta. Rosa, Laguna3. Bacolod4. Iloilo5. Metro Cavite6. Lipa, Batangas7. Cagayan de Oro8. Malolos, Bulacan9. Baguio

10. Dumaguete

5. Love of job, not salary,makes workers stay L

ove of job is the top reasonwhy employees stay with theircurrent employers, according

to the results of a survey conductedby JobStreet.com.

Over 75% of job-seeking respondentssaid that while salary is a veryimportant factor when it comesto job satisfaction, it is not the mainreason why they stay at their jobs.

Most of them said they leave whenthey don’t like what they do,regardless of other factors suchas compensation, tenure, or havingfriends in the office.

Top 5 reasons why peoplestay at their jobs

1. They like what they are doing2. Work gives them a sense

of purpose3. They get along with colleagues4. Office location is convenient5. Good salary and benefits

Based on the answers of 65%of the respondents, three yearsis the average employee’s thresholdor the length of time they can staywith a company until feeling the needto move on to a better career.(MAB 10/28)

6. PHL firms urgedto innovate to keep up F

ilipino companies must learnto innovate if they wantto survive amid globalization,

technological advancements,and increasingly competitive marketconditions, according to the speakersat the First Pacific AcademyExecutive Series last month.

Renowned futurist Dr. Michio Kakusaid that local companies shouldlearn to keep up as the globaleconomy makes a historic transitionto intellectual capitalismfrom commodity capitalism.

Meanwhile, AirAsia X ChiefExecutive Azran Osman-Ranistated that companies shouldbe flexible enough to accept ideasif they want to see changesto happen.

“Companies should have a cultureof thinking differently, and defyconventions. That makes allthe difference,” Osman-Rani added.(BWD 11/07)

Page 8: Dataline 24 (2013)

Vol. 18, No. 24 8dataline

Consumer News1. Filipinos among

world’s mostconfident consumers

Filipinos continue to be amongthe world’s most confidentconsumers in the third quarter

of 2013, according to the findingsof the Nielsen Global Surveyof Consumer Confidenceand Spending Intentions.

In the latest round of surveyconducted between August 14and September 6, 2013,the Philippines registered the secondhighest consumer confidence index

points of 118 despite a three-point dipfrom the previous quarter.

While the outlook for job prospectsdeclined in half of the Asia-Pacificmarkets measured, Filipinorespondents continue to indicatepositive attitude on local jobprospects registering the highestoptimism in the world at 79%,a two-point increase from last quarter.(MAB 11/03)

Concerned governmentagencies and membersof the motor vehicle industry

signed a memorandumof understanding (MOU) to promoteawareness on knockoff motorvehicles and parts andintellectual property (IP) rights.

The MOU was signed duringthe 3rd Anti-Counterfeitingand Anti-Piracy Summit held recentlyin response to challenges of IP theft.

This will form a frameworkfor collaboration between membersfor its nationwide informationcampaign for IP laws and road safetyin the automotive industry.

The first project to be rolled-outis the installation of posterswith the tagline “Ingatan ang Buhay,Bumili ngTunay” in various key areasaround the country.

Intellectual Property Office of thePhilippines (IPOPHL) DirectorGeneral Ricardo Blancaflor saidthe use of counterfeit parts that maycause accidents are often overlookedin investigations of vehicular mishapsthat concentrate on human error,general mechanical defects,and environmental factors.

Meanwhile, MotorcycleDevelopment ProgramParticipants Association (MDPPA)

President Alfred Leiano saidinstead of getting a bargain,purchasers of fake products shell-outmore due to the substandard qualityof the product and exposure to healthand safety risks.

Legitimate companies incur lossesdue to counterfeit products not onlyin terms of profit but also in brandvalue as fake parts are passed offas genuine. (MAT 10/27, BMI 11/02)

MOU signatories

• Land Transportation Franchising

and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)

• Intellectual Property Office of the

Philippines (IPOPHL)

• Motorcycle Development Program

Participants AssociationInc. (MDPPA)

Awareness campaign poster areas

• Offices

-National Committee on IntellectualProperty Rights (NCIPR)

-LTFRB-Land Transportation Office (LTO)

• Bus and metro rail stations

• Major sea and air ports

• Motorcycle parking areas

• Public-utility vehicles

• Schools

• Shopping malls

• Shops and stores

-Motorcycle repair-Spare parts dealers

2. Fake motor vehicles,parts awarenesscampaign launched

Page 9: Dataline 24 (2013)

dataline December 02, 2013 9

3. Be vigilant in buyingChristmas lights T

he Department of Tradeand Industry (DTI) reminds thepublic to be mindful of the

importance of checking for ImportCommodity Clearance (ICC) stickerand Philippine Standard (PS) markon Christmas lights to ensureproduct quality and safetyas the holiday approaches.

DTI also prompts the publicto be attentive of the importeror distributor’s name, address,and trademark for easier trackingand more fluid processingof complaints.

As of October 31, 2013, only 23importers distributing 40 brands

DTI-certified Christmas light brandsas of October 25, 2013

Importer Brand

Carlson Trading AKARIDSL Gam Enterprises DSL GAM / DSL LEDEastrend Enterprises WILL POWER / JANXIN NANHAIFuh Maw Gen. Enterprises Inc. SUPER BRIGHTGolden Seasons Corporation GOLDEN SEASONSGreat Circles Trading AKOHighest Regard Enterprises MABUHAY STARHyrax Enterprises STARIkhea Lighting, Inc. E.T. / GHC / LUCKYSTARJwer International Trading LUCK DEER / 7 STAR NORTHSTARKang-Fa Marketing BIGLITELandlite Philippines Corporation LANDLITEMacgabe International Trading NORTH STAR / SEVEN STARMadison International Sales LAMPENortek Dale International Merchandising Corp. AKOP&J Multitrade Venture, Inc. ANDREWPinecrest Enterprises GOLDCRESTRepsolutions Philippines Inc. JFRockford Marketing Corp. LED LIGHTSheratone Industries Inc. FUJI - BRIGHT / ECO BRIGHTShining East Marketing Corporation YULETIDE FANTASY / THE

MAGIC OF LIGHTS / SEASONOF LIGHTS / SUPER BRIGHT /MILLENIUM LIGHTS / MERRYLIGHTS / XMAS LITES / THE JOYOF LIGHTS / LIGHTS & SHINE /HAWAII LIGHTS / CHRISTMASSTAR / SHINING STAR

Wan Da Xin Trading International Inc. MABUHAY STARWexford International Sales Inc. DIAMOND BRIGHT

have been issued with ICCcertificates by the Department’sBureau of Product Standards(BPS) while no PS certificatehas been issued to local or foreignChristmas lights manufacturers.

The Department is also informingconsumers and retailers of the lifespan of Christmas lights,which is limited to three years,as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) usedfor its insulation deterioratesover time.

The proper use of Christmas lightsto avoid accidents is alsobeing stressed.

Page 10: Dataline 24 (2013)

Vol. 18, No. 24 10dataline

Office of the SenateCommittee on Trade,Commerce

and Entrepreneurship ChairmanSenator Paolo Benigno “Bam”Aquino IV joined the Departmentof Trade and Industry (DTI) duringits first monitoring of Christmas itemsfor this year in Divisoria, Manila.

Together with the senator were DTISecretary Gregory L. Domingo,DTI Consumer Welfare andBusiness Regulation Group(CWBRG) Officer-in-Charge (OIC)Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba,DTI-National Capital Region (NCR)Assistant Regional DirectorFerdinand L. Manfosteand members of the local governmentunit (LGU) of the Cityof Manila.

Simultaneously held in other areasof NCR and in the regions,the monitoring ensured thatChristmas lights being retailed werecertified and that Noche Buena itemswere sold within the prescribedSuggested Retail Price (SRP).

Consumer Welfare Desks (CWDs)were also installed in businessestablishments to better assistconsumers with regards their rightsand responsibilities, as well aspromote responsible market practiceto raise business standards.

To further inform businessesand consumers, a joint monitoringteam will post the list of certifiedChristmas lights and SRPs of NocheBuena products.

The Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) remindedthe public, especially parents,

to be critical and buy onlyfrom registered shops to guaranteethat toys they purchase are legitimateand non-toxic.

Genuine merchandise are availablefrom around 135 toy manufacturers,importers, and distributors issuedwith a License to Operate (LTO)by the FDA and were able to securea Certificate of Conformity.

The FDA Field Food and DrugRegulation Officers are making

rounds in the National Capital Region(NCR) to check toys for presenceand levels of heavy metals using x-rayfluorescence analyzer (XRFs),and plans to procure more XRFsto cover the whole country.

Government is now implementingRepublic Act (RA) 10620 or GameSafety Labeling Act of 2013,which requires toys to haveprecautionary labels and warnings.

The Department of Tradeand Industry (DTI) supportsthe province of Bohol as they

slowly recover from the 7.2magnitude earthquake effects.

DTI Secretary Gregory L.Domingo recently visitedBohol to check the DTI-led livelihoodprojects and gracedthe Diskwento Caravan.

4. Special marketmonitoring conducted

5. FDA cautionsagainst toys

FeaturesDTI extends supportsto Bohol

Domingo stated his full commitmentto provide support to the TubigonLoom weavers Multi-PurposeCooperative (TLMPC) members.The Tubigon Loom weaving facilityis one of DTI’s priority projectsunder the shared service facility(SSF) program.

He said TLMPC is now a supplierof high-end quality raffia fabrics

Metals checked by FDA

• Arsenic• Cadmium• Lead

Page 11: Dataline 24 (2013)

dataline December 02, 2013 11

to big companies in Europe.The partnership became possiblebecause of the partnership withEuropean Chamber of Commercein the Philippines (ECCP),

South Korean investmentsin the Philippines have alreadyreached USD 3.8B

as of October this year, an officialfrom the Embassy of the Republicof Korea reported.

South Korean Minister andConsul General Min Kyong-Hosaid the amount includes theinvestments of Hanjin HeavyIndustries and Construction Co.based at the Subic Bay Freeport anda thermal power plant basedin Batangas.

Also, Min said trade volume betweenthe Philippines and South Koreahas reached USD 11.5M in thefirst 10 months of the year, exceedingthe expected USD 10-M tradevolume between the two countries.

“The Philippines has becomean attractive investment destinationto Korean businesses due tothe country’s investor-friendlyenvironment,” he said.

1. S. Korea’sinvestments in PHLhit USD 3.8B

ASEAN Watch

Southeast Asia needs aroundUSD 1.7T of investmentsfor energy infrastructure over

the next two decades to cope withthe growing reliance on oil imports,the International Energy Agency(IEA) said.

The region’s energy demandis likely to increase by over 80%through 2035.

"Increasing reliance on oil importswill impose high costs on SoutheastAsian economies and leave themmore vulnerable to potentialdisruptions," the agency said.

Southeast Asia's 10 countriesare expected to reduce natural gas

USD 25B Revenue target

of PHL’s business processoutsourcing (BPO) industryby 2016, with job generation

placed at 1.3M

USD 3.8B South Korean

investments in PHLas of October 2013

USD 143M Foreign direct

investments (FDIs) that enteredthe Philippines in August 2013

5,817 Micro, small,

and medium entrepreneurs(MSMEs) in Eastern Visayas thatbenefited from the Rural MicroEnterprise Promotion Program

(RuMEPP)

2,800 Number of DTI personnel

30 PHL’s ranking improvement

in notches in the Doing BusinessReport for 2013 of the World

Bank-International Finance Corp.(WB-IFC), from 138th place

in 2012 to 108th in 2013

INTERLACE – a Cebu-basedEuropean exporter of high-end qualityfabrics, and Tubigon’s localgovernment unit (LGU).

STATWATCH

and coal exports as productionis diverted to meet domestic demandin a region where some 134M peoplestill lack access to electricity.

IEA also encouraged the regionto adopt more energy efficiencymeasures to help cut the region’senergy demand by almost 15%by 2035.

2. Southeast Asia needsUSD 1.7-T energyinvestment

Page 12: Dataline 24 (2013)

Vol. 18, No. 24 12dataline

Editor-in-Chief: Anne L. Sevilla Managing Editor: Vic S. Soriano Associate Editor: Resty P. Par Writers: Jam H. Raposon,Hazel S. Dizon, Joanna D. Cruz, Airiz A. Casta, Kit S. Andaya Design/Layout: Kit S. Andaya/Ren C. Neneria

Circulation: Myrna V. De Los ReyesTo subscribe, email: [email protected]

Entered as Third-Class Mail atthe Makati Central Post Office

under Permit No. PM-04-08

valid until 31 December 2013

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Legend:

MAT - Manila TimesBMI - Business MirrorBWD - Business WorldMAB - Manila BulletinMST - Manila StandardPDI - Philippine Daily InquirerTPS - The Philippine Star

(A synopsis of selectedbook acquisitionsat the DTI-TIIC library)

What’s New?

Author : Atwood, Christee GabourPublisher : ASTD PressCall Number : 13.03/ATW/2009

This book contains sound, practical,and implementable suggestionsfor creating a knowledgemanagement (KM) system thatfocuses on the humanelement. It offers a clear and concisemethodology for creatingand maintaining a KM system with theroles of people as focus. It is a goodstarting tool with a system alreadyin place, can be used as anassessment tool to fill in the gaps. 130p.

Author : Mandhyan, RajuPublisher : Inner Suns PublishersCall Number : 06.08/MAN/2011

The material provides sophisticatedprinciples and suggestionsthat are meant not only for thebeginning entrepreneur, but alsofor the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of a multi-national corporation.It features tools needed to thriveand adapt in today’s rapidlychanging global businessclimate. 105p.

Title :KnowledgeManagementBasics

Title : Pit BullsandEntrepreneurs:FiveFerociousInsightsthat SpellBusinessSuccess