CV to impart SPIN program to other regions

CEBU, Philippines - Central Visayas is now ready to share its success in the Sub-contracting Partners for Innovation Network (SPIN) program to other regions in Southern Philippines.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) regional director Asteria Caberte said that her agency will facilitate the aggressive roll out of SPIN program in Davao, Caraga region, Bukidnon, General Santos, Camiguin, and Cagayan de Oro (CDO), as it has proven a positive effect in Region 7, after it was launched in the second semester of 2008.

Surprisingly, despite the slowdown of home furnishing market in the world, some exporters in Cebu need more sub-contracting jobs, especially weavers, which the 2,500 beneficiaries of SPIN Central Visayas cannot entirely accommodate, Caberte said.

Following the order from President Gloria Arroyo, Caberte said she was tasked to share the SPIN success to other regions, not only providing jobs for “rebel returnees” and idle rural residents, but also for the handicapped.

Central Visayas will act as the role model for this innovative program to other regions in the Southern Philippines. Caberte will then work closely with DTI provincial offices in the above mentioned provinces to achieve a similar level of success.

Barely nine months after the implementation of SPIN program, it already generated total purchase orders worth f P43.5-million for Central Visayas, with Bohol accounting for P41.1-million.

“This program has provided positive impact to them [especially the rebel returnees]. It is a reality to them, it immediately provides ‘food on their table’,” Caberte said expounding that exporters who are participating the SPIN programs are paying the SPIN beneficiaries outright after they finish a job order.

SPIN program, which was initially created to provide livelihood opportunities for rebel-returnees in "cleared-conflict" areas are now also giving livelihood to ordinary residents including the handicaps in different barangays. — Ehda M. Dagooc (THE FREEMAN)