The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Globe Telecom conferred the 2008 National Outstanding Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) and the Globe Masigasig Award to La Union’s metalcraft industry leader Natomo Manufacturing during the opening of the MSME Development (MSMED) Week last 09 July 2008.

 

 

The 2008 National Outstanding MSME awardee, which automatically becomes the Globe Masigasig Award recipient, was chosen from among the Outstanding MSME Awardees for Luzon, Visayas,and Mindanao.

Outstanding MSME Awardees for Visayas and Mindanao were Capiz Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CMPC) and Zaragoza Foods Corp. (ZFC),respectively.

CMPC is the chief coordinating body of the cut flower and ornamental plant growers in Capiz. The province is now recognized for its wide production of potted orchids and orchid cut flowers, landscape materials, fresh foliages, and potted ornamental plants.

Meanwhile, 2005 National Shoppers’ Choice Awardee ZFC is a producer of high quality food products such as Spanish sardines,bagoong, salted fish, and achara.

The country's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are among Asia's most confident on business prospects this year despite current economic turmoil, the Asian Business Monitor 2008 survey by the United Parcel Services (UPS) showed.

The Philippines ranked 3rd in company growth confidence, surpassing China, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan, among others. Indian companies are most optimistic at 87%, followed by Indonesia at 78%.

The UPS said 74% of Filipino MSME leaders polled were confident their enterprises would perform better this year. This is higher than last year’s 69% share of optimistic entrepreneurs.

The country also ranked 5th in workforce growth prospect, with 58% of the enterprises surveyed intending to hire more workers by up to 10% this year.

The survey further showed that the Philippines is the only country which has access to a sufficient labor pool, as all the other 11 nations surveyed consider unavailability of a qualified workforce a major obstacle to their MSME competitiveness.

“The business services sector is an obvious growth area for MSMEs because it does not require a large capital investment. The Philippine MSMEs, in particular, have benefited from the strong demand for business services, with BPOs [business process outsourcing] being the most obvious example,” UPS Philippines Managing Director Tim Gohoc said.

Local MSMEs also look at rosy prospects in mining, manufacturing, and information technology (IT), the study showed.

University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Professor Bien Nito said MSMEs should expect improvements in the near term, as the government is boosting infrastructure, through the roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) transport system connecting the country's islands, and providing more loan opportunities to MSMEs through enhanced microfinancing.

The Asia Business Monitor is an annual survey on competitiveness and issues faced by MSMEs in 12 Asian countries, which include India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Commissioned by the UPS since 2005, the study surveyed 101 MSME leaders from the Philippines this year.

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MSME business prospects for 2008
Country in %
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India – 87%
Indonesia - 78%
Philippines - 74%
Malaysia - 73%
China - 71%
South Korea - 66%
Taiwan - 64%
Australia - 61%
Thailand - 60%
Singapore - 59%
Hong Kong - 43%
Japan - 28%

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Source: Asian Business Monitor 2008
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In line with the roll out of the Philippine Business Registry (PBR) project to Local Government Units (LGUs), another set of cities and provinces outside National Capital Region (NCR) have indicated support for the project. LGUs which gave their timeline for being e-ready are: San Fernando, Pampanga (July 25), Navotas (July 31), General Santos City (1st week of August) and Taguig (August 29).

Meanwhile, the 5 provinces in CALABARZON (Region 4A) expressed support for the project. In Laguna, the LGUs which set up a schedule to be oriented on the benefits of the PBR are Sta. Rosa City (August 8) and Cabuyao (August 21). Quezon Province, on the other hand, agreed to showcase PBR in its 1st Business Conference to be held in September 2008. The implementation of PBR in Region 4A is supported by the Regional Development Council through the NERBAC (National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center).

In Region 3, Central Luzon area, the LGUs which expressed support are the towns of Sta. Maria and Guiguinto in Bulacan and Aliaga in Nueva Ecija although the required resources will still have to be provided.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is now accepting payment for the various services of its selected agencies such as the Philippine Shippers’ Bureau (PSB); Bureaus of Import Services (BIS), Export Trade Promotion (BETP), Product Standards (BPS); and Board of Investments (BOI) through the GCash Bill Pay option, one of the various initiatives of the DTI e-Commerce Team. Available to all Globe and Touch Mobile (TM) subscribers, the GCash e-Payment facility is a system that will enable clients to use their GCash wallet as an option to pay for services transacted over-the-counter at the DTI Head Office. “The mobile payment system is an effective way to curb the illegal ‘money-making’ schemes involved in various government processes. We appreciate these changes as it helps in cutting red tape,” said DTI Secretary Peter B. Favila. Favila said the introduction of GCash e-payment facility in the DTI is proof of the government’s commitment to deliver fast, efficient, and cost-effective service to the public.