NEDA encourages private orgs to tap EU facility on trade

Davao City (14 December) — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is urging private institutions to tap a facility under the co-operation program between the European Union (EU) and the Philippine government that provides assistance on trade matters that impacts on poverty reduction.

The Rapid Response Facility (RRF) enables public and private institutions to adequately respond to new and emerging international trade issues. Proponents may access technical advice from EU trade experts and other technical assistance (TA) inputs, such as trainings and workshops.

The PhP42 million-RRF is a component of the second phase of the Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA 2), which is a co-operation program between the EU and the Philippines that aims to establish free, fair and safe trade to reduce poverty.

NEDA Director Brenda Mendoza, Imprest Administrator of TRTA 2, said that when the TRTA 2 was developed, the provision of a short-term TA for unforeseen needs within a reasonable period of time was deemed necessary.

“Now, proponents see the benefit of having a facility that has the flexibility to address certain issues that were not foreseen when the TRTA 2 was being planned,” said Mendoza, who also heads NEDA’s Trade, Industry and Utilities Staff (TIUS).

Mendoza urged academic and research institutions, and civil society organizations to propose activities for RRF funding, as most of the proponents come from the government.

The RRF already completed the provision of TA to three proposals from government agencies. These include the Department of Labor and Employment’s policy formulation for the labour market test; the Department of Agriculture’s training on traceability and cold chain for fish inspectors and stakeholders; and the Bureau of Custom’s support to change management.

Three RRF activities are already in the pipeline, while another three are ongoing. All of them were proposed by government agencies.

The TRTA was first forged in 2005 to address trade-related issues, including concerns on trade barriers, customs agreements and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, or those related to food safety, animal and plant health.

TRTA 2 commenced in 2008 after the conclusion of the first phase in the same year. TRTA 2 has an estimated cost of EUR 7.475 million, of which EUR 6.5 million are contributed by the European Commission and the rest by the Philippine Government.

Aside from RFF, the other three components of TRTA 2 are trade policy and export development, standards harmonization and SPS conformity, and trade facilitation. (NEDA)