Cebu maps out tourism value chain

The Department of Trade and Industry-Cebu Provincial Office (DTI-Cebu) and the Department of Tourism Central Visayas (DoT) 7 is set to join forces in mapping out a more comprehensive tourism value chain in a move to maximize tourism in Cebu, which is the province's major economic driver.

DTI Cebu Director Nelia Navarro said both agencies will allocate P50,000 to fund the collaboration.

Both agencies are mandated by the present administration to form an alliance working closely to boost several industries in Cebu through tourism, she said.

Initially, Navarro said the two agencies may use the existing study made by the DoT that showed some suggestions on how to take advantage of tourism to boost small industries and residents in tourist attractions.

DTI-7 Director Asteria Caberte said that in the regional scope, the partnership will also make use of its own trade and tourism value chain through the help of the German Technical Cooperation — Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (GTZ-SMEDSEP).

“The value-chain roadmap will identify the trail of tourism destinations in these regions at the same time discover the best products that will be sold to tourists in each destination,” Caberte said.

The initial plan for the tourism-value chain is to encourage the establishment of “souvenir shopping malls” in growth centers to serve as the major venue for souvenir products in the region.

“Tourism is the big market left untapped by our producers especially in the countryside areas,” Caberte said.

According to Caberte, this initiative will pave the way for a tremendous growth of the souvenir industry sector, and would encourage countryside residents to start off a promising souvenir business.

Part of the roadmap is also to provide training for rural folks on how to maximize tourism as a market for their local productsb — good packaging, improved quality and product presentation, among others. (Manila Bulletin)




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Development of Dumaguete as top BPO site pushed

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Association is intent on promoting Dumaguete City as a prime outsourcing destination in the country.

ICT Council Secretary Danah Fortunato cited Dumaguete City as one of the country's top ten outsourcing locations in 2010 with an overall 74 percent score amongst the list of next wave cities graded.

Meeting recently with local stakeholders, the ICT official said business process outsourcing (BPO) companies here hit the 6,000 mark in terms of workforce last year, which is enough to sustain the local economy and social development in the city.

However, ICT stakeholders may be pushing for Dumaguete to be an IT-BPO destination of choice in the country because of its university town status, but Fortunato has doubts about the city’s power supply reliability.

She said her group plans to discuss with officials of power utility firm how best to address power shortage or reduce brown outs so not to interrupt ICT operations in the city.
However, Provincial Governor Roel Degamo, citing in particular the dismantling of aging power plants, said the power supply problem cannot be linked to Noreco alone, but also to the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and the National Grid Corpora-tion of the Philippines (NGCP). (Manila Bulletin)

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Philconstruct highlights latest industry trends, technology

In an effort to bring the latest technology and trends in construction to other parts of the country, a trade show that has been held only in Manila for the last 20 years held a separate show in Cebu.


The Philconstruct Visayas is the first of its kind to be held in the province, event organizers reported.

Aside from an exhibit of 300 booths from exhibitors from different stakeholders in the construction industry, simultaneous discussions were held for the three-day event, which opened on Sept. 9.


Bernard Vonn Sia, chairperson of the Philconstruct Visayas 2010, said they wanted an exhibit that had “function, not just form.”

This prompted members of the Cebu Contractors Association (CCA) to communicate with the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) to come up with the trade exhibit.

Aside from the booths that showcased various construction products and services, the event also coincided with the Visayas International Heating, Ventilating, Air-Conditioning, Refrigerating, Pumps, Valves and Pipes, Filtration and Purification Technology Exhibition, which are all part of construction.


The United Architects Association of the Philippines (UAAP), Philippine Institute of Interior Design and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) also held their own sessions while a Technoforum with different topics was held simultaneously.

Topics during the Technoforum Visayas 2010 included concrete technology, the implementing rules and regulations of the Government Procurement Reform Act, the Government Electronic Procurement System or e-bidding, green building and safety with lifting equipment and rigging works.

While the technoforums were ongoing, other sessions were held by the (PICE), National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines and the UAAP.
Manolito Madrasto, executive director of the PCA, said the Philconstruct show is the only one that is owned by an industry association.


For his part, Philconstruct 2010 overall chairman Felizardo Sevilla Jr. said this was a way for suppliers to get closer to the buyers, adding that there is continuous development in Cebu.

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US investment firm bankruptcy won’t affect Marriott Cebu: exec

A HOTEL investment company, Innkeepers USA Trust, has filed for bankruptcy protection after its room revenue fell and debt payments rose.

Bloomberg News said the Palm Beach, Florida-based company with stakes in 72 U.S. hotels owes more than $1 billion, Chapter 11 documents filed last month in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan indicated.A plan supported by franchiser Marriott International Inc. will let Innkeepers keep its properties as it reorganizes, Innkeeper’s chief financial officer Dennis Craven said in reports.

Craven attributed the financial difficulties of the company to the slowdown in travel amid the economic slowdown, compounded by higher fuel prices and an oversupply of new hotels.

Marriott is the franchiser of 44 Innkeepers hotels. In exchange for Innkeepers’ improving 23 of the Marriott-branded hotels, Marriott will maintain the branding. (Sun Star Cebu/ August 2, 2010)

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Seaweed producers project zero growth in three years

CEBU, Philippines – Seaweed producing countries, of which the Philippines is one, now project a zero growth rate in the next three years due to the lingering effects of the global economic crisis made worst by the substitution of carrageenan with other hydrocolloids.
Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP) president Benson U. Dakay, made this projection in his speech held in Indonesia recently during the Seaweed Business Forum.
Dakay, the president of the world's largest carrageenan supplier, Shemberg Marketing Corporation (SMC), called other Asian producing countries to unite and start collaborative efforts to fight the odds of the seaweed industry. (The Freeman / August 2, 2010)


No. 2 * 08.5.10