MANILA, Philippines — Domestic industries are asking the Department of Trade and Industry to help revive the domestic manufacturing sector with the crafting of a comprehensive roadmap that would focus on agro-industrial sector to push for development in the countryside and employ those unskilled workers in the rural areas.
This was raised by George S. Chua, president of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), during a meeting with Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo for the 1st Philippine Manufacturers and Producers Summit 2011 scheduled next week, Nov. 24.
“We have to come up with a roadmap to develop the manufacturing capabilities of our domestic industries,” Chua said.
Chua said the summit will try to discuss inputs and come up with policy framework for domestic manufacturing. It will gather policy makers, economists, academe, private and labor sectors to raise public awareness of the strategic importance of the manufacturing and producing sectors in creating inclusive and sustainable economic growth for the Philippines.
Speakers from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Philippine Institute of Developmental Studies (PIDS) will be sharing their research and insights on impact of manufacturing and producing to sustaining long-term economic growth for the Philippines. Local and foreign manufacturers and producers in the Philippines will be sharing their success and challenges in the domestic and export markets.
Industry representatives will also share their recommendations and vision for the manufacturing and production sectors of the Philippines.
Once the roadmap is in place, Chua said, “Hopefully, we can attract investors in the manufacturing sector.”
Chua stressed that while the government has been very successful with the business process outsourcing sector, this sector employs only those well educated and highly-skilled workers from the highly urbanized cities.
“But the manufacturing sector does not need the highly skilled, they can employ unskilled workers,” Chua said.
“The DTI should focus on agro-industry so the countryside can be developed,” he said.
FPI chairman emeritus Meneleo Carlos Jr. also noted that manufacturing is an ailing domestic industry but there is still hope given the right measures.
“We discuss with Secretary on how to survive, how to make it big,” Carlos said.
One of the major issues, he said is the high cost of power, which was acknowledged by Domingo.
Aside from power, Chua also said that the government needs to come up with an international policy to enable domestic industries to export at competitively.
“We lack agro-processing facilities and technology,” he added.
Jesus L. Arranza, FPI chairman, said the upcoming summit aims to generate discussion on advancing Philippines’ manufacturing sector and seek to create strategic collaboration between the government and private sectors.
“The focus is on enabling manufacturing and production to realize its full economic multiplier potential and drive jobs and growth and prosperity for Filipinos,” he said.
FPI is the umbrella organization of manufacturers and producers in the Philippines. It is composed of industry associations, ninety (90) corporate members who are local manufacturers and producers of various products such as agricultural & food products (rice, flour, sugar, beverages & wine, coconut & palm oil, oleo chemicals), meat processors, petroleum and petrochemical products, construction materials (cement, steel products, galvanized roofing, electrical wiring, pipes, nails, wood and glass), packaging & paper products (tinplates, tin cans & paper), textile & garment products, firearms, cars, battery, chemicals & plastics, fertilizers, appliances, tobacco & cigarettes, among others.
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By: Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
Source: Manila Bulletin, Nov. 17, 2011
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