Refueled (First of 2 parts)
 05 Feb. 2008

.
RACETRACKS have finish lines. These lines symbolize victory, separating the winner from the would-have-won. This is where all eyes are focused. Yet one of the less-noticed parts of racetrack, the pit stop, is just as important. Here, the race car is evaluated, retooled and refueled, before being sent back to the race.

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee last January 31, was at its 9th pit stop, as it were, when committee members met to evaluate the 2007 MSME successes. Representatives from the Philippine Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC), Small Business Corporation (SBCORP), Department of Science and Technology (DoST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), University of the Philippines-Institute of Small Scale Industries (UP-ISSI), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Presidential Management Staff, and other agencies, also presented their plans for 2008.

It has been a year now since I was given oversight of MSME program and our Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee (ICC) was created. MSMEs comprise 99.6% of all registered companies and account for 70% of total employment. The economy has performed creditably over the past year, with the Gross Domestic Product growing at 7.3%, the highest in 31 years, and no doubt helped in no small measure by the MSMEs.

Highlighted at the MSME-ICC meeting was the One Town One Product Philippines or OTOP Program that has posted unprecedented growth, headed DTI Usec. Carissa CruzEvangelista.

Inspired by Japan’s "One Village, One Product" project, OTOP is aligned with the priority programs of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for promoting entrepreneurship and creating jobs at the local level. It is dedicated to the development of products and services with the competitive advantage, locally and internationally. OTOP-Philippines marketing support to MSMEs, especially in the development of distinctive products or services using indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents.

OTOP represents the convergence of government services, of reliable suppliers of raw materials, providers of local labor and talent, rich cultures and traditions, but most importantly, of a committed and visionary local government unit, with the capacity to see its town succeed on at least one indigenous product.

Among OTOP’s best sellers are the Roasted Coffee from Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), Bangus of Region 1, Home Furnishings from Region 2, Lanterns of Region 3, Wood Carvings of Region 4, Woven Buntal of Region 4-B, Ceramics of Region 5, Loomwoven Materials from Region 6, Woven Raffia of Region 7, Mussels of Region 8, Seaweeds of Region 9, HighValue Vegetables of Region 10, Banana Chips of Region 11, Fresh Banana’s of Region 12, and Palm Oil of CARAGA.

OTOP in 2007 generated investments of R4.57 billion in MSME, employed 208,633 workers, generated sales of R5.77 billion domestically, and export earnings of 3.99 million. It supported and developed 5,831 new SMEs and assisted 15, 909 new SMEs.

In 2007 alone, OTOP established 321 pasalubong centers and 2,235 market outlets nationwide.

Indeed, pit stops will show us the strengths of past programs through hindsight from the rear view mirror, and reveal the drive ahead, allowing us to realign our efforts to our over all objectives.

[TOP] [HOME]