DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 17 Feb) – The Department of Trade Industry (DTI)-11 has already mobilized its program office in Davao Occidental two years after the passage of Republic Act (RA) 10360, a measure that created the region’s fifth province when it was enacted on July 23, 2012.
In an interview during the DTI-11’s Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and Stakeholders’ Consultation on Tuesday at Park Inn Hotel here, Regional Director Maria Belenda Ambi said that the DTI-11’s program office would just be temporary while awaiting for a legislation institutionalizing the creation of the agency’s DavOc provincial office.
Davao Occidental province covers the municipalities of Sta. Maria, Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, and Sarangani, according to Sec. 2 of RA 10360.
She said the DTI-DavOc office is located in Malita, the capital town and seat of government of the new Davao province, which was carved out of the southern part of Davao del Sur.
The program office has initially received a P2-million budget out of the DTI-11’s share of P120,270,000 from the approved national budget to jumpstart the operations of the agency’s new program office with Eugologio C. Orevillo as program manager with five other staff.
The new province has yet to elect for the first time its governor, vice governor, and regular members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan this coming 2016 national and local elections on May 9.
“All programs of DTI-DavOc have to be aligned with the regional thrust,” Ambi said.
She added that Davao Occidental is still a developing province with great potentials on crops such as rubber and coffee, which she described as a challenging area for development.
Last year, the DTI-11 established a Negosyo Center in Malita, along with five others in Davao City, Tagum City in Davao del Norte, Mati City in Davao Oriental, Digos City in Davao del Sur, and Nabunturan in Compostela Valley.
The centers are aimed at assisting budding entrepreneurs start a business and promote job generation and inclusive growth through the development of SMEs.
Under Sec. 3, it states that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Council will supervise the Negosyo Centers.
It also states that the MSMED Council will encourage public-private partnerships in the establishment and management of Negosyo Centers.
