The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2’s Buy Local Advocacy continues to soar high, this time as a springboard for mainstreaming women entrepreneurs in an attempt to institutionalize gender-responsive public procurement.

Atty. Michael Paggabao, SME Development Division Assistant Chief, representing RD Leah Pulido Ocampo, served as a resource person in the roundtable discussion organized by UN Women entitled, “Carving Pathways for Inclusive, Sustainable Public and Private Sector Procurement through Gender-Responsive Procurement,” on 12 August 2022, Friday, at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City.

Atty. Paggabao shared how Region 02’s advocacy has created a new meaning to the tagline “Buy Local” by targeting the government, instead of consumers, as the single biggest market for local MSME products and services.

“While there’s a law requiring the 10% entitlement of MSMEs to the government’s procurement value, Region 02’s advocacy seeks to institutionalize and enforce the same through the enactment of local ordinances and policies that would ensure our MSMEs are getting their fair share of the government resources which they well deserve,” Atty. Paggabao remarked.

This was also underscored by Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Blesila A. Lantayona, who proudly shared that DTI is now replicating the advocacy in other regions in order to maximize the opportunities it could bring to MSMEs nationwide.

The advocacy was lauded by commissioners and high-ranking officials from the Philippine Competition Commission, Government Procurement Policy Board, PhilGEPS, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Economic Development Authority, Philippine Commission on Women, UP Women’s Center, and the activity’s moderator, Ms. Pacita Juan of Echosi Foundation. ♦

Release date: 25 August 2022