32 of 40 industry roadmaps completed

To date, there are already 40 sectoral roadmaps submitted to the Bureau of Investments. Of the 40, 32 roadmaps have been completed and are currently being implemented or for implementation, while the rest are still subject to enhancement or finalization.

The Board of Investments (BOI) will continue sustaining the momentum it gained last year in implementing interventions for local industries and sectors in a bid to further elevate the development and growth of the local industries as competitive players in the global market.

The BOI will continue to pursue an integrated approach in implementing the Industry Development Program (IDP) including its partnership with the industries and sectors in the development and implementation of industry roadmaps through its Industry Roadmapping Project.

Further efforts in 2016

In the first quarter of 2016, two regional conferences on the localization of industry roadmaps are initially scheduled to be conducted in Ilocos and Leyte. The Ilocos localization will happen on March 4, 2016 with processed meat and fruits, cacao, and coffee as thriving industries in the area as core topics in the regional conference. The Leyte localization meanwhile which is set on March 10, 2016 will have copper and among other dominant sectors as center of the discussions.

An industry roadmap details a sector’s current situation and outlines the various interventions it needs to be globally-competitive. The roadmaps are crafted by the local industries themselves with the guidance of BOI and other government agencies.

The industry roadmaps also serve as basis for effecting policies and implementing programs that support the development and growth of industries including government funding to support its key initiatives. In 2015, the government allocated P239 billion to implement agency-wide programs and projects of manufacturing-related industry roadmaps under the Manufacturing Resurgence Program.

Projects and programs

Specific to the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), a budget of P89.5 million was allocated for the implementation of the IDP. Some of the programs and projects implemented include the comprehensive automotive resurgence program (CARS), the die and mould training program, the localization and implementation of the rubber roadmap, the study on the impact of the ASEAN economic integration and other free trade agreements on Philippine manufacturing, enhancing the competitiveness of Philippine coffee project, the FabLab activities in Bohol, and the support program for the National Industry Cluster for Tourism Support Industries such as wearables, homestyle, and processed foods.

This year, the budget increased to P289 billion with a specific allocation of P110.75 million for DTI to fund projects including the transformation of the cottage industry technology center into a super shared services facility, the establishment of FabLabs/Innovation centers, and the implementation of the CARS program.

The BOI also went around the country last year to encourage localization of roadmaps in the regions especially those industries that are dominant or thriving in the area and its alignment and linkage with the national industry roadmaps.

The BOI, in coordination with the regional offices of the DTI, conducted nine regional conferences in Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, Baguio, Tagaytay, Pampanga, Zamboanga, Palawan and Naga. The regional conferences deepened the awareness of local industries on the importance of industry roadmaps in regional integration and the opportunities and challenges for Philippines industries with the integration of the ASEAN Economic Community this year.

—From the Bureau of Investments