GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 19 June) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in South Cotabato has recommended the funding and implementation of six trade-related projects under the agency’s Shared Service Facility (SSF) program.
Flora Gabunales, DTI-South Cotabato provincial director, said the six projects were the initial ventures that they identified and recommended for approval by DTI Region 12 as recipients of the SSF initiative in the area.
“These projects require a funding of P3.28 million,” the official said.
The projects are the production center for processed herbal products of the Danlag Women Association in Tampakan town; San Felipe pottery industry development project of the Purok O. Belo Pottery Makers’ Association in Tantangan; meat processing center of the Concepcion Women’s Association in Koronadal City; production center on bag making of the Libas Bag Making Association in Tantangan; production center for T’nalak-based indigenous crafts of the Klowil Agricultural Enterprise Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Lake Sebu; and the Crossing Palkan bamboo industry development project of the Crossing Palkan CARE Group in Polomolok town.
Gabunales said the SSF is a priority program of Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo that was launched last year by the DTI.
She said the DTI central office has set aside around P700 million for the program’s implementation this year.
Gabunales said the program, which will be implemented in the next three years, aims to enhance the competitiveness of local priority industry clusters through the use of quality and productivity-enhancing machinery and equipment.
The priority industries clusters covered by SSF program are abaca, bamboo, coconut coir, pineapple, kalamansi, milkfish, tuna, seaweeds, fashion accessories, gifts, decors and housewares, metal works, renewable energy, cacao, dairy, coffee, muscovado, organic fertilizer and processed food.
“It will provide the necessary equipment to enterprising associations, cooperatives and industry groups of micro, small and medium enterprises that are experiencing operational bottlenecks due to inefficient, inappropriate and the lack of needed machinery,” she explained.
Through the SSF, she said the agency intends to develop priority and market-driven industries in support of the National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Program.
Gabunales said they have been aggressively campaigning for the enlistment of more trade groups and cooperatives into the program.
She said they have so far conducted various roadshows to disseminate information and promote the SSF project to the different industries in the province.