Separate trade, industry departments sought

An association of domestic manufacturers is pushing for the establishment of a department that shall oversee local industries, separate from another one that would focus on foreign trade. In a statement on Friday, the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) said it “is set to draft a bill establishing a separate Department of Industry—distinct from the Department of Trade—that will formulate and implement a coherent industrialization plan for the country.”

FPI said its chairman emeritus, Meneleo Carlos Jr., will spearhead efforts to craft the bill. The group said they would look for potential sponsors and supporters of the proposed law in the House of Representatives and Senate.

“FPI has always believed that the current Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is an organizational mistake because it is dealing with the conflicting interests of traders and domestic manufacturers,” it said.

Traders want trade liberalization while domestic manufacturers represented by FPI want trade to be regulated consistent with the principles of fair trade, the group said.

“It is worth noting that a separate Department of Industry is not new since it used to be the case during the pre-Marcos period. At the time, the responsibilities of the Department of Industry and the Department of Trade were distinct from each other and they dealt with the interests of manufacturers and traders separately,” FPI added. –BEN ARNOLD O. DE VERA REPORTER, Manila Times