Garments exporters urge review of roadmap targets

MANILA, Philippines — The Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (FOBAP) is urging the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to review the targets under the roadmap for the garments industry to take into account the impact of the pandemic.

FOBAP president Robert Young said in an interview the roadmap for the garments industry needs to be reviewed to check if the targets still hold given the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis.

“It must be reviewed and updated to be attuned to the times,” he said.

Under the roadmap to revive the textile and garment industry launched in December last year, the Philippines is aiming to be among the top 10 garments exporters in the world by 2026 to 2029.

To achieve this goal, Philippine garment exports would have to grow 45.8 percent per year in the three-year period.

For the medium-term covering 2023 to 2025, the target is for the country to make it to the top 15.

To get there, garment exports would need to increase 21.7 percent annually.

In the short term or until 2022, the goal is to be among the top 20 garment exporters in the world through an annual growth of 12.3 percent in shipments.

Philippine Statistics Authority data showed the country’s garment exports reached $906.29 million last year, down seven percent from $974.44 million in 2018.

As of end-October, the country’s garment exports fell 32.5 percent to $535.11 million from $793.31 million in the same period last year.

Among the strategies identified to achieve the targets under the roadmap is to address smuggling, as well as the sale of ukay-ukay or second-hand apparel, provide capital and land, and grant incentives.