The Export Development Council (EDC) re-grants Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.’s (PHILEXPORT) accreditation as the dominant umbrella organization of Philippine exporters during its first ever virtual Joint Council and Executive Committee (EXCOM) Meeting via ZOOM.
It is notable that EDC is mandated by the Export Development Act (EDA) of 1994 to “accredit a single umbrella organization of exporters…to represent the export sector concerns and interests for three (3) years, after which the Council shall undertake a review of the accreditation prior to the granting/re-granting of the said accreditation.”
On Tuesday, 20 May 2020, EDC convened the Joint Council and EXCOM Meeting chaired by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. Aside from the approval of PHILEXPORT’s accreditation for another three (3) years (June 2020 – May 2023), a timely agenda including the Philippine Economic Stimulus Act (PESA) of 2020 presented by Cong. Stella Quimbo, the Board of Investment’s Industry Promotions Strategies and Initiatives presented by Usec. Ceferino Rodolfo, the Exporters’ Survey Results by the Export Marketing Bureau, the New Normal Export Road-map by the PHILEXPORT, and also the Framework for the review of Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2018-2022 with post pandemic purview were intently tackled.
The meeting was 
graced by the Council and EXCOM members from both the government and private sectors. All the members from government agencies were represented, namely the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Finance (DOF), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Department of Labor (DOLE). Also, representatives from the Office of the President (OP) were in attendance.
For the private sector members, representatives from Visayas and Mindanao, from agriculture, food, construction, garments and textile sectors, from PHILEXPORT, and from Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) were also present. – KJDA