DTI to finalize nine industry road maps this year

MANILA, Philippines - The drafts for nine industry road maps, with seven focused on food, are expected to be ready within the year, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

Trade Assistant Secretary Rafaelita Aldaba told reporters that nine industry road maps covering carrageenan, condiments, cacao and chocolates, processed shrimp, processed meat, processed fruit focused on mangoes, processed fish, IC design and shipbuilding are being crafted.

“Before the end of the year, there should be draft road maps (for these industries),” she said.

For the seven road maps focused on food, the official said she is hopeful the drafts will be ready by September.

With food seen to account for the biggest share or 50 percent of manufacturing, the DTI decided to choose seven which are seen to have huge growth potential.

Aldaba said the growing local market presents opportunity for the seven food industries.

“You know that there is a big market. There is an opportunity and there is demand so might as well address that,” she said.

After growing and serving the domestic market first, she said the next step will be to produce goods for export.

As the seven road maps focused on food are being crafted, she also said the agricultural sector is seen to benefit as strategies will be promoted to increase competitiveness and improve productivity.

The DTI launched the industry road map initiative in 2012 as it seeks to grow specific industries as well as the entire manufacturing sector.

The road maps are seen to serve as building blocks of the country’s manufacturing industry road map and the Comprehensive National Industrial Strategy, which serves as the country’s blueprint for overall industrial development.

To date, 24 road maps have been completed and submitted to the DTI.