Gov’t to revive mfg sector

MANILA, Philippines - The government is set to revive the Industry Development Council (IDC) to implement the Comprehensive National Industrial Strategy (CNIS) next year as it seeks to revive the manufacturing sector.

“We are targeting first quarter, we are able to form the IDC that will have government and private sector representation,” Trade undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. told reporters.

The IDC will be chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and include representatives from other government agencies such as the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Finance and Department of Agriculture, as well as representatives from the private sector, will work on policy interventions needed in line with the country’s industrial strategy.

The IDC was created during the term of President Fidel V. Ramos, but it stopped convening at least a decade ago.

“We’re just reviewing the old executive order (for the IDC). Whether there is need, we will reactivate it,” Cristobal said.

He also said that the government intends to start the implementation of the CNIS for the manufacturing sector next year.

The CNIS will be the blueprint for the overall industrial development strategy of the country.

The crafting of the CNIS which was commissioned to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, will take into account the road maps submitted by the different industry groups to the DTI as well as the manufacturing industry road map.

The DTI launched the industry road map initiative in January last year.

The initiative involves industry groups crafting road maps containing their goals, strategies and required interventions from government to achieve growth.

Cristobal said there are currently 23 industry groups which have already crafted their respective road maps, and at least 10 which have expressed interest to come up with one.

The industry road map initiative is being implemented as the government intends to boost the manufacturing sector to create more jobs.

“We really want to grow further the manufacturing sector,” Cristobal said.

The manufacturing sector has been posting impressive growth rates, expanding by above nine percent since the first quarter of this year.