The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) gears up to adapt the “new normal” after the COVID-19 pandemic through its “OPLAN TESDA ABOT LAHAT – TVET towards the New Normal” Operational Plan. In continuous support to the Philippine Export Development Plan 2018-2022, as directed by Memorandum Circular No. 27, TESDA continue to oversee policies on the prioritization and implementation of technical vocational education and training (TVET) amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Operational Plan aims to come up with relevant policies and programs to help society adjust to the new normal by introducing flexible & technology-based TVET arrangements, prioritizing agribusiness courses, and reassessing & adjusting TESDA’s systems responsive to future crises.

Priority sectors were also identified by TESDA in the Plan, namely: Agriculture, Health, ICT and Construction.

Moreover, the said Plan contains the following three (3) phases:
Phase I: Survival- involves the immediate response of TESDA during the crisis, focusing on reducing possible transmission of the disease, ensuring safety and security;

Phase II: Transitional or the transition period which provides for the TESDA’s action plans, programs and activities during the modified community quarantine as the country transitions to the “new normal.” and;

Phase III: Structural that involves the regular implementation of all programs under the “new normal” condition. PKC

Amid the global health crisis brought by the COVID-19, the Philippine Government agencies continue to support the export industry as they continue to implement their existing programs in assistance for the Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

As the current situation urged the need to double the production of medical goods such as masks, Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) and food and beverages for the frontliners,  the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) is continuing its implementation and support to the industries through its Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).

DOST continues to support the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2018-2022 Strategy 1: Improve the overall climate for export development, continue to support the export industry by upgrading to SETUP 2.0 that aims to fully harness science and technology and innovation for enhanced competitiveness of MSMEs in both local and global markets.

Additionally, the Science 4 Change Program (S4CP) of the agency implements various programs for capacity building of Research and Development Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness. To create a synergistic academe-industry relationship to invigorate Philippine R&D DOST is implementing its Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippines Economy CRADLE) Program. DOST also has its Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry Program to facilitate the acquisition of strategic and relevant technologies by Filipino Companies to support R&D activities.

Moreover, Niche Centers in the Regions (NICER) for R&D serves to establish R&D Centers in the regions to promote regional development; and to Engage R&D experts to lead in strengthening the research capabilities of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Research Development Institutions (RDIs), DOST has its R&D Leadership (RDLEad) Program.  For more details on the initiatives, you may visit the DOST-PCIEERD website at http://pcieerd.dost.gov.ph. 

Such programs were highlighted by the DOST during the eFora on “Technology and Innovation: Crisis-proofing Businesses”, as part of the #ResilienceandRecoveryPH: An eForum Series organized by the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF).

For further details and information on the eForum series, email at communications@philexport.ph. PKC

In a Presidential Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 62 approving the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2018-2022, concerned government agencies are mandated to implement their respective programs, activities and projects (PAPs) relevant to the PEDP.

Specifically, these agencies “shall implement policies, programs, and action plans to boost export growth and ensure the free flow of goods, in accordance with the Philippine Export Development Plan and Philippine Development Plan (PDP)”.

The “PEDP is synchronized with the period of PDP to harmonize the implementation of programs and to the continuity and consistency of policies and innovative strategies for boosting export growth and increasing job opportunities for Filipinos”.

The Department of Trade, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Health, Finance, Information and Communication Technology, Interior and Local Government, Public Works and Highways, Transportation, Tourism, Labor and Employment, Tourism, TESDA, CHED, BSP and NEDA are among the agencies mandated to strengthen the implementation of the Plan.

On 26 June 2019, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the MC No. 62 approving the PEDP 2018-2022 and directing the foregoing agencies to ensure its implementation. PKC

PEDP 2018-2022 Stakeholders Engagement in CALABARZON

The CPRS is an application that  registers exporters to access the e2M system of the Bureau of Customs. Export transactions cannot be processed unless the exporter is registered in the CPRS.

Capacitating exporters through  trainings and seminars on domestic and international regulations, policies and trends  will also help exporters exploit existing and prospective bilateral, regional, and multilateral trading agreements.

The Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) and the Export Development Council (EDC) will hold a series of Stakeholders Engagements on the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2018-2022 in Regions. It aims to present the PEDP 2018-2022 and solicit commitments among stakeholders to implement the Plan. The first Stakeholders Engagement was conducted in General Santos City and Koronadal City for Region 12 last July 25-26, 2018.

Government agencies in Region 12 agreed on reported programs to align to the PEDP 2018-2022 Strategies. The agencies are committed on implementing the strategies as well as developing new programs that will help increase their region’s exports.

The Stakeholders Engagements will also serve as a venue to ensure an efficient, responsive and well-coordinated strategies among the concerned government agencies and entities that are directed to collectively work, review, institute reforms, and implement all relevant policies in harmony with the PEDP, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development Plan and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) to boost export growth.

The succeeding Stakeholders Engagements will be held in NCR and Region IV-B on August 15; Regions IV-A on August 31; Region VIII on September 5; Region X on September  7; Region XI on September 11; Region III on September 19; and Region VII on September 27.