ILOILO CITY – Micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) were encouraged comply with the requirements of countries that import goods by implementing best business practices.
In an interview following the opening of the 2018 “Panubli-on” regional trade fair on Nov. 14, Robert Young, president of the Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (FOBAP), said MSMEs should try to improve their products.
They must implement best practices to easily sell their products to other countries, he added.
These best practices include proper waste disposal, compliance with labor standards, proper packaging, and labeling, among others.
“Without these, I don’t think they will be given permit to export,” he said. “Everything that will go into the importing countries will be subjected to this compliance ruling already. This has been enforced five years already.”
In his message before some 160 exhibitors from the six provinces of Western Visayas, he said that “we have to aim higher,” adding that the country is experiencing “trade imbalance.”
This means that the import is “very high” compared to export.
“We need to export for funds to come in to the country. Philippines can do that because we have been doing that and we have done that. In the past 15 years, we were number one in handicrafts, housewares, garments, furniture, food,” he added.
To reignite exports, he said the FOBAP is holding a corporate social responsibility (CSR) roadshow all over the country in cooperation with the PhilExport and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
During the roadshow, MSMEs are taught how to become compliant with requirements by giving lectures, tips and advises.
FOBAP will resume with the roadshow with Iloilo as one of the target areas, after having gone to Cebu, Pampanga, Bataan and Davao.
Young said the regional trade fair is improving compared with the last three years when he attended the similar event.
“The Panubli-on is improving a lot. I can say the quality itself of the content is export quality. However, we need to improve on the presentation, packaging and the pricing,” he said, adding the need for the SMEs to also work on their productivity or the capability to produce the demand.
Constancia Atijon, one of the exhibitors selling hablon (hand-woven) products from Miagao, Iloilo, said she is employing 20 workers in their town but the entire Miagao Weavers Association, of which she is a member, has more than 120 workers.
“We are very thankful that DTI has helped us revive this dying industry. For every hablon that you buy, you help feed one family in Miagao,” she said. A piece of shawl costs around P400.
Hand-woven products used to be a dying industry because there are no more weavers and supply of cotton. DTI provided the weavers with training on upgrading, management and bookkeeping, among others.
One of Atijon’s big clients is the University of the Philippines (UP) that annually orders 5,000 pieces of “sablay” for use by graduating students.
Another exhibitor, Joey Benliro from Capiz, is into shellcraft production. Like Atijon, he also receives assistance from the DTI.
Currently, his product line includes lamps, mirrors and flower arrangements.
“We came from the town of Pilar, which is abundant in shell and marine products” Benliro said, adding that they supply their products to hotels, souvenir shops and foreign buyers.
Meanwhile, Young urged exhibitors to take advantage of the “coming bright scenario” for Iloilo.
“Iloilo is a bright spot. There is a plan to have a PHP5 billion worth of port. Once this opens, there is no other way but to go up. Iloilo will be number one for sure, you have the proper airport already and you have a very good governance,” he said.
The trade fair will run until Nov. 18 at the SM City Iloilo activity center. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
