Nearly 200 industry stakeholders across Mindanao gathered in Davao City for the Tatak Pinoy Act (TPA) regional forum organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Aug. 28, 2024.
The two-day event aimed to address critical challenges and outline strategies for enhancing productivity and competitiveness across various industries under Republic Act No. 11981, also known as the Tatak Pinoy Act.
DTI chief of staff Blesila Lantayona highlighted in her keynote address the importance of the TPA in driving the country’s economic complexity by promoting higher-quality, more complex products and services.
She said the law would uplift local industries, create high-paying jobs and strengthen the Philippines’ position in the global market. “By identifying the challenges and tapping into regional strengths, we can significantly enhance the global competitiveness of our industries,” Lantayona said.
Stakeholders from the cacao, palm oil, coffee, coconut, information and communications technology (ICT) and creative industries participated in breakout sessions to discuss their respective challenges and propose solutions.
The cacao industry identified insufficient raw material supply, a preference for international buyers and a need for entrepreneurial development among farmers as major obstacles.
Participants proposed establishing a consolidation system and creating a Mindanao Cacao brand to address these issues.
High logistics costs and limited technology adoption were cited as significant concerns in the palm oil industry.
Stakeholders suggested promoting local fertilizer production and enhancing farmer capacity through training programs.
Meanwhile, the coffee industry is faced with low productivity, capital shortages and intense competition from international products. Participants proposed creating a Coffee Excellence Center and leveraging technology to improve coffee plantation management.
The coconut industry, on the other hand, deals with aging coconut trees and a lack of manufacturing facilities.
To resolve these, stakeholders called for government intervention to support infrastructure development and boost productivity.
