What are the assistance provided in the program?
OTOP-Philippines offers a comprehensive assistance package for MSMEs and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through a convergence of services offered by local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), and the private sector. The package includes, among others, the following:
- Product design and development;
- Skills and entrepreneurial training;
- Marketing assistance; and
- Introduction of appropriate technologies
The Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) for 2004 to 2010 outlines the dual strategies of (A) credit provision and (B) product development to create six to ten million jobs during the six-year period. Under the plan, product development primarily involves the implementation of OTOP-Philippines. Financing assistance, on the other hand, is provided through the SME Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth (SULONG) program, implemented by the Small Business Corporation, a financing agency under the Department of Trade and Industry.
Who may avail of the assistance provided in this program?
The program targets MSMEs and OFWs as the focus of assistance. MSMEs, which account for 99.6% of the total number of established businesses in the country, are defined - in terms of asset size - as follows:
- Micro - P3,000,000 and below
- Small - P3,000,001 to P15,000,000
- Medium - P15,000,001 to P100,000,000
Who are the program implementers?
LGUs' leadership and active implementation of OTOP programs are critical to the success of OTOP-Philippines, particularly through ensuring an environment conducive for business and by prioritizing OTOP activities.
Local leaders' initiatives and decision making shall play a major role in motivating their constituents and in consolidating resources, both human and natural, to produce and sell locally and globally competitive products or services.
With the abundance of local raw materials and richness in inherent skills and culture of each town, LGUs, in fact, can develop and promote a local brand each town can identify with and claim as its own.
The DTI's Regional and Provincial Offices will assist LGUs in identifying the specific product or service and in pulling together all the required services in the local level. Moreover, DTI's SME development group will provide the complete package of assistance as mentioned above.
Support from other NGAs, particularly the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of National Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall also be sought for a complete and comprehensive package of assistance.
Partnership with the private sector will also be strengthened, especially in establishing a production base and in serving as a market for local products.
What are the criteria or the needed elements for OTOP to succeed?
OTOP's key elements are the following:
- Strong raw material resource base
- Inherent skills and rich culture
- High market potential of products/services
- Aggressive core of producers
- Willing and able LGU partner
- Convergence of government services
What agencies support the program?
With the LGUs as the lead implementers of OTOP-Philippines, the following government agencies/bureaus/offices can be tapped for various assistance:
DTI Regional and Provincial Offices
(Please check your respective areas)
Human Resource Development / Entrepreneurship Training
Philippine Trade and Training Center
PTTC Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
Telephone: (02) 834-1341 / (02) 834-1344 to 49
Fax: (02) 834-1343
Email: info@pttc.gov.ph
Skills Training
Cottage Industry Technology Center
20 Russet St., SSS Village, Marikina City
Telefax: (02) 941-4561
Email: citc_dti@hotmail.com
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
TESDA Complex, East Service Road South Super Highway
Taguig, Metro Manila
Telephone: (02) 893-2454 / (02) 818-8829
Fax: (02) 816-2480
Email : boboysyjuco@tesda.gov.ph
Marketing
Bureau of Export Trade Promotion
5F/8F New Solid Bldg.
357 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City
Telephone: (02) 890-5215
Fax: (02) 895-3654
Email: FPC@dti.gov.ph
Bureau of Domestic Trade
2F Trade and Industry Bldg.
361 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City
Telephone: (02) 751-3223
Fax: (02) 751-3225
Email: MOrbeta@yahoo.com
Department of Tourism
Product Development
Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines
CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
Telephone: 832-1112 to 18
Fax No: 832-3649
Email: pddcp@mozcom.com
Department of Science and Technology
