The Committee on External Staff Training (CEST) is pleased to announce that invitations to scholarships and foreign training programs for DTI employees can now be regularly accessed through the DTI Website. Interested applicants may get in touch with their respective CEST Representatives for the application process. CEST Application Forms can also be downloaded by clicking the icon on downloadable forms.   

CWTRG CEST REPRESENTATIVE

Atty. Pedro Vicente C. Mendoza
Philippine Shippers' Buerau
Te. No.  751-0384 loc.  3304, 751-3306
Fax No. 751-3305

Asst. Director Cirila S. Botor (alternate)
Bureau of Product Standards
Tel. No. 751-3126
Fax No. 751-4706

IIG CEST REPRESENTATIVE
Dir. Virgilio P. Fulgencio
Center for Industrial Competitiveness / National Industrial Manpower Training Council
Telefax: 890-4889

Exec. Dir. Efren V. Leano (alternate)
Board of Investments
Tel. No. 896-5167
Fax No. 897-5334

ITG CEST REPRESENTATIVE
Asst. Director Michael Dodjie Fabian
Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BETP)
Tel. Nos. 890-4727

TSO Nicanor Bautista (alternate)
Foreign Trade Service Corps
Tel. No. 897-9659
Fax. No. 890-4747

PPCG/MSSG CEST REPRESENTATIVE
Dir. Ma. Lourdes A. Yaptinchay
Ms. Abigail R. Zurita (alternate)
Office of Policy Research
Tel. No. 890-9334
Fax. No. 896-7889

ROG CEST REPRESENTATIVE
Ms. Conchita Lacsamana
Tel. No. 896-3302
Fax. No. 890-4685

Asst. Reg. Director Myrna Pablo
DTI-Region 2
Tel. No. (078)846-4635
Fax No. (078) 846-4637

SMEDG CEST REPRESENTATIVE
ED Adelaida L. Inton
Ms. Elizabeth M. Manuel (alternate)
Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC)
Tel. Nos. 834-1344 to 49
Fax. No. 834-1343

DTI E.U. CEST REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. Neil Catajay
Office of Operational Planning
Tel. No. 890-5128
Fax. No. 890-4954

Mr. Leo Pedro (alternate)
General Administrative Services
Tel. No. 751-0385 loc. 2424

 Attached Agencies' Employee Association

CEST CHAIRPERSON
Maria  Lourdes T. Baua
Director – Human Resource Development Service (HRDS)
Assistant Secretary – Management Support Services Group (MSSG)
Tel. No. 751-3134
Fax. No. 751-3133

CEST Secretariat
Eden A. Villena
Hazel Joyce L. Doplito
HUman Resource Development Service (HRDS)
Tel. #751-0384 loc. 2612/3136

POST TRAINING REPORTS
 
AMEICC TRAINING PROGRAM ON ENERGY CONSERVATION FOR CENTERS EXCELLENCE
31 July – 11 August 2006/Japan

Grantee :  Marie Kristine Estrella
                   Philippine Trade Training Center

Brief Description of the Program

Objectives of the program were as follows:
1. Understand the need for energy conservation
2. Acquire the Ability to Develop an energy conservation training program in order to enhance the understanding of energy conservation in the participating countries.
• The two-week program, participated in by 24 representatives from 7 Asean countries, outlined the following topics:
• Current situation on energy conservation in Japan, including the country’s government policy
• Overview of energy management and energy conservation technology in the industrial sector and in the commercial/residential sectors
• Activities to promote energy conservation
• Successful cases of energy management and conservation in Japanese companies
 
Participants were grouped by country and were asked to present a report detailing the situation in their respective nations.  As a culminating activity, each group likewise presented an action plan on how to promote energy conservation.
Aside from the lecture-discussions and the workshops, another highlight of the program are the trips to companies that have successfully implemented energy conservation programs, such as:
• Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., manufacturer of home appliances;
• Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., makers of health drinks;
• Yokohama Landmark Tower, an environment-friendly building, Yokohama’s tallest structure;
• Yodobashi Camera, a shop promoting energy-efficient products.
Participants were also given an excellent opportunity to interact and share information regarding their respective experiences.  This exchange enhance the consciousness and understanding regarding the issue, enabling them to formulate appropriate and relevant plans of action that may be implemented by participating institutions.

Learning from the Program
1. Energy conservation may be promoted through:
• Enhancement of energy management to improve operation
• Improvement and additional installation of energy saving equipment
• Changes in process, and the introduction of high efficiency equipment

2. As always, the government has to ensure that the clear guidelines/ regulations are in place.  Voluntary efforts of the private sector to conserve energy and protect the environment is also key to the success of the energy conservation program.

3. Another critical component that is very relevant to PTTC is the implementation of a public awareness education program, for SME’s and the residential sector, as these sectors also consume a considerable amount to energy.

4. Small group activities such as QC circles are effective means in eliciting from employees practical and appropriate measures on saving energy.

Recommendations
1. Continuing education for participants regarding the subject matter
2. Implementation of similar programs in the Philippines, particularly those that will address concerns of SMEs.

 
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WELFARE IMPLICATIONS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRY FLEXIBILITY PROVISIONS IN THE WTO DDA Negotiations
June 20 – June 24, 2006/Australia

Grantee : Raymond H. Batac
                  Foreign Trade Service Corps

The course was composed mainly of lectures from country experts and group exercises involving the participants’ experiences in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines with regard to the use of flexibilities under the Multilateral Trading System (MTS).  The course advocated the lesser use of flexibilities under the MTS because these did not necessarily have the best implications to developing economies as well as the other members of the World Trade Organizations (WTO).

Majority of the presentations were generally citations of WTO S&D provisions discussed alongside standards economic arguments geared towards further trade liberalization anchored on achieving economic efficiency.  The presentation on Malaysia hinted of a carefully crafted government intervention strategy to shift the economy  away from plantations to a service-oriented economy.  While the Philippine presentation attempted at coming up with a practical index to weigh between market access and policy space.

The participants all agreed that flexibilities are needed especially by the developing countries as a way of helping our economies adjust to the commitments under the Multilateral Trading System. I also took note of the comments from Vietnam, who is an acceding member, and as they mentioned, have given “everything” in order to be a member of the WTO. The continued use of WTO flexibilities would also force members to further trade liberalization.

The group exercise involved the same analysis of hypothetical case countries.  Participants, however, were not required to negotiate but rather to simply present their views on each country’s situation.  The participants were given countries with different products and services and we were allowed to come up with possible negotiating scenarios (if-and-then situations)
This exercise was very useful because of the exchange of views by the speakers and the participants on factors, including economic and non-economic, taken into consideration when actually negotiating or implementing trade policy.

I would like to recommend that DTI officials involved in the actual WTO negotiations be encouraged to participate in similar courses in the future as courses such as these will allow them to learn from developing countries as well as gaining knowledge from experts in the field of the WTO to help them in future negotiations.
 

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4th Seoul International Competition Forum and the 11th International Workshop on Competition Policy
September 5 – 7, 2006 / Korea

Grantee : Director Victorio Mario Dimagiba
                   Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection

I. The Seoul International Competition Forum

Discussed 3 major points
1. Discussion on what Korea had achieved in enforcing competition laws and policy and how to refine them.
2. Relationship of Competition laws and policies have with consumer law and policies, remedy market failure and consumer welfare
3. Relationship between Regional Trade Agreement and Implementation laws and polices

II. International Workshop on Competition Policy

The International Workshop is the 3rd of a 5 part workshop worldwide hosted by UNCTAD to assess the UNCTAD Book of Competition Provision in Regional Trade Agreements and Development.

 
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TRADE AND STUDY MISSION OF THE POTTERY EXPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
March 21-25, 2006/Vietnam

Grantee : Myra Gomez
                   DTI-Pampanga

Activities Undertaken
March 21 - Arrival at Kimdo Royal City Hotel
March 22 - Factory Visits to ceramics factories and showrooms in Binh Doung Province (K CERAMICS, Minh Phuong Ceramic Co., Ltd., Cuong Phat                           Ceramics Company Ltd.)
March 23 - Factory visit to Nam Hung Ceramics Co.
March 24  - Factory visit Nam Hung Ceramics
March 25 - Depart to Manila

Learning/Insights
• There are about 200 ceramic exporting companies in Bihn Duong Province alone, (smallest of whom has a capacity of 15 forty foot container vans per month)
• There is abundant deposit of red and white clay in the nearby places and can be sourced at a very low price
• Other major raw materials used are locally sourced such as the glaze materials while we import ours from Spain, China, Europe and Taiwan
• Salary of ordinary/unskilled worker is USD50/month while a skilled worker receives USD 160/month plus one free meal.  In Pampanga, the minimum wage is almost 0 even for unskilled workers
• Firing temperature is 1,160 C to 1,200 C compared to the 900 C of most Philippine companies
• Mono firing (single firing) of glazed items is performed
• Cheaper gas – Vietnam is a major oil and gas exporter
• Cost of packaging materials is 30- to 50% cheaper than ours, they only use wrap around with corrugated boards, plastic strap and pallet while we use shredded paper, bubble wrap, styrofore, brown paper and soft sheet
• We can’t compete in producing planters and big sizes of pots since they have the advantage of using mold.  Their only disadvantage is that they have limited shapes and designs
• According to our guide, who is the No.1 tour guide in Saigon, exporters who reach an annual sales of USDIm are given 5% incentives by the government
• The group believes the following should be performed or made to happen to at least narrow the gap being enjoyed by the Vienamese in our quest to be competitive.
• For the government like provincial governments to assist us in bringing down our quarry costs.  So much unnecessary, non-value adding costs do not benefit the government. We believe we have to pay the fees due the government as well as to protect the environment.
• Because our packaging costs comprise as much as 30% of our product costs and our packing materials are mostly imported, how can be government help us here?
• Consider giving similar incentives for a certain amount of sales.
 

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THE AMEICC TRAINING PROGRAM ON DISTIBUTION LOGISTICS FOR COE’s
October 25 – November 7, 2006
Japan

Grantee : Jeffrey Gumasing
                  Philippine Trade Training Center
 
Background of the Trip

The Association for Overseas Technical Scholarships (AOTS) has been conducting various technical and management training programs in Japan for the people of developing countries and regions.  The participants on AOTS program are playing very important roles in industry and contributing greatly to the economic development of their respective countries.

For the purpose of strengthening the functions of and the alliance among the Center of Excellence (COE’s) members and other institutions which PTTC was a member, AOTS conducted a series of seminars on Distribution Logistics form 2000 to 2002 and extended up to 2009.

Target vs Accomplishments

At the end  of the program, the participants were expected to be able to:
• Understand the usefulness of distribution logistics, and
• Acquire the ability to develop a distribution logistics training program to promote and disseminate distribution logistics in the participants countries.

Emphasis of the training is on how Japan made their Distribution Logistics successful to their country.  Speakers introduce the Electronics Data Interchange (EDI) on how to track the merchandise and easy to locate the items on and big volume delivery.  The Physical Distribution Cost Calculation, Transportation/Delivery System, Logistics Concept, Supply Chain Management, Environmental Management System, Japan Institute of Logistics System among others.

The visits to organizations further reinforce the classroom learning we have gained, as we are able to see how the theories learned and translated into actual operations.  The class visited and observed the following Japanese companies:
• Federal Express-Tokyo
• Shiseido Distribution Company
• AEON Department Store

Outcomes Achieved

The new, timely, and relevant information gained from the program will be used as inputs in my tasks of designing/developing, improving, and implementing the Distribution Logistics or Logistic Management program in our center.  With this learning the center would be able to strengthen its knowledge bank or the subject to help further enhance the trade efficiency of SMEs, in particular, and the country in general.  And it also help in one of the thrust of P/GMA’s 10 point agenda, especially transforming and developing Subic and Clark as prime logistics and transport hub in Asia Pacific.

Recommendations

• Integration of learning on the center’s course on Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management
• Apply the computerized tracking system done by Japanese Logistics companies in the Philippine Logistics companies.