DTI-NCR Forges Partnership with Canadian Experts to Level Up Operations.

As the commercial, financial, and industrial center of the country, the Department of Trade and Industry-NCR intensifies its strategy to accelerate economic growth in the Region by signing a 3-years partnership with the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO), an international development organization that has been collaborating with DTI for over ten years.

Figure 1: DTI-NCR forms synergy with CESO. Ma. Lourdes Dela Paz of Marikina-LGU, Lito Lopez President of PFFI, DTI-NCRO Regional Director Anacleto C. Blanco, Jr., and Lead VA Bruce McPherson signs 3-years patnership

In the Entry Meeting with CESO, a memorandum of understanding between DTI and CESO was signed, allowing CESO to provide technical advisory services strategically identified for DTI MSME clients and SSFs. In a matter of weeks, CESO will be deploying highly-skilled professionals Volunteer Advisors (VAs) who will advise, mentor and share strategic and technical expertise with partners and clients throughout their assignments.

CESO will work together with DTI-NCRO in drafting a Partnership Action Plan that will be a basis to address the major needs of the National Capital Regional Office, six of its local Shared Services Facilities (SSFs), and its two key sub partners— the Philippines Footwear Federation Inc.(PFFI) and the Marikina Local Government Unit (LGU).

The CESO-DTI PAP objectives will focus on three key areas of capacity development: (1) Strengthening the Partner DTI and local governments units (LGUs) institutional capacity to deliver business development services (BDS) to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with a view to creating a strong enabling environment for private sector development; (2) Assessing and strengthening the organizational effectiveness and sustainability of Shared Services Facilities (SSF) cooperative production centers that have received machinery or equipment; and (3) Revamping of the footwear sector with a particular focus on the upgrade on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Philippines Footwear Federation Inc. (PFFI) to generate revenue and provide a range of employment opportunities for both men and women.

In a series of meeting from June 28 to July 7, a SWOT session with the business cooperators from Area 1-4 was facilitated by CESO Lead VA Mr. Bruce McPherson to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats of each sector.

The attendees were grouped into 9 groups: the Philippine Footwear Federation Foundation, Inc. (PFFI) as one group, the Marikina LGU as the second group, the six SSF projects as group 3-8, and the DTI-NCRO as the last group. Through the discussions, CESO was able to identify the needed assistance and propose assignments for every group.
The identified assistance include Strategic planning, Systems development, Management, Website development, Financial Management, Business development, Production management, Curriculum development, and Product development. Assignment schedule will start on August.

Director Noy Blanco expressed his optimism that everyone will participate in the accomplishment of this project. Meanwhile, completion of the CESO Application for assistance will be spearheaded by DTI NCRO—which will be forwarded to each Area Coordinator.

The identified assistance include Strategic planning, Systems development, Management, Website development, Financial Management, Business development, Production management, Curriculum development, and Product development. Assignment schedule will start on August.

Director Noy Blanco expressed his optimism that everyone will participate in the accomplishment of this project. Meanwhile, completion of the CESO Application for assistance will be spearheaded by DTI NCRO—which will be forwarded to each Area Coordinator.

The identified assistance include Strategic planning, Systems development, Management, Website development, Financial Management, Business development, Production management, Curriculum development, and Product development. Assignment schedule will start on August.

Director Noy Blanco expressed his optimism that everyone will participate in the accomplishment of this project. Meanwhile, completion of the CESO Application for assistance will be spearheaded by DTI NCRO—which will be forwarded to each Area Coordinator.