DTI Davao Region on Track of 2022 Target

DAVAO CITY - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Davao Region has already exceeded the 50 percent mark of its annual target indicators for the first half of 2022.

DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi noted that this is an indication that the office has remained steadfast in the delivery of its services amidst the pandemic.

A total of 16,232 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have been assisted during the said period, according to its latest accomplishment report. This is 64 percent of its 25,200 target for this year.

The agency has continued to provide livelihood seeding assistance through the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (NSB) and Pangkabuhay sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG). Its provincial offices have successfully conducted its caravans to 148 barangays and provided 1,719 business and livelihood kits worth Php 8,000 to Php 10,000 each to the selected MSMEs who were hardly hit by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, its implementation of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship-Go Negosyo’s mentorship program has continued as well through the Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprise-Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) Online which already produced 48 graduates in the first semester of the year. The agency has targeted to produce a total of 92 graduates by the end of 2022.

The DTI 11 regional and provincial offices have likewise extended their assistance to 84 investors in the priority industries. These include cacao, coffee, banana, coconut, rubber, information and communication technology (ICT), seaweed, rubber, wearables and homestyle, and processed fruits and nuts. It is worth noting that the majority of these investors belong to the agribusiness sector.

Under the exports and investments development program, the agency has facilitated the participation of 155 MSMEs in one international trade, three national, two regional, and one provincial trade fair. This has resulted in Php 3.36M worth of cash sales, Php 1.68M of booked sales, and Php 4.43M of sales that are still under negotiation.

On consumer protection, it has consistently conducted workplace monitoring as part of its commitment to protecting consumers and the general public against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. For the first half of the year, 292 workplaces and 48 barbershops and salons were monitored.

On the other hand, to support the existing efforts to ensure compliance with minimum public health standards, DTI 11 has approved 128 Safety Seal Certification applications from the establishments under its jurisdiction. Twenty-four of these were approved for renewal.

At the same time, the agency has successfully resolved 100 percent of consumer complaints through mediation and arbitration within the prescribed time.

In addition, its provincial offices have processed a total of 1,330 permits and licenses. This has earned a regional client satisfaction rating of 99 percent.

Ambi is confident that the agency can go beyond what is expected and will continue to provide stakeholders with quality services.

“Our resiliency and constant pursuit for innovation have become the foundation of our great success during these uncertain times. We will continue to strive towards recovery and realization of inclusive growth in the region,” Ambi said.