Exporters seek precision of export fund allocation

CEBU, Philippines - Exporters are now eyeing to get their fair share of the P1 billion export support fund allocated by the government and requests for transparency on the proper allocation of the budget to its appropriate recipients.

Philexport Cebu chairman Apolinar G. Suarez, Jr., who is also a member of the Export Development Council (EDC), said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced last April 30 that the government will be allocating P1 billion to help exporters cope with the impact of the global recession.

Formerly dubbed as the export development fund, the budget will no longer be limited for promotional purposes such as exposures in trade shows and exhibitions but will also cover developmental trainings for export-manufacturers, product development, among others, said Suarez.

Suarez said the amount that each sector will receive will vary upon the proposals being made.

“With the proposals of each sector, the allocated budget might even go up as high as P1.7 billion but we will still see what happens. The allocation for each sector will depend on the viability of their project proposals that were submitted last December,” said Suarez.

He said that the fund should be utilized by the export sector for a span of about two to three years.

Suarez said that the EDC is currently restudying the viability of the submitted proposal by the different export-oriented sectors nationwide.

Considering the amount of money allocated for the fund, Suarez suggested that the EDC must reorganize or put up a separate group or body that will monitor and examine the different project proposals.

“One billion is too much money so the council has to put up a body of professionals that will determine the viability of each proposal,” said Suarez.

The different export-related sectors that will receive fund allocations include: the IT sector, gaming and entertainment sector, mining, food and the creative sector composed of the gifts, toys and houseware exporters, furniture manufacturers and jewelry exporters.

“There is an open budget for every sector but the allocation will depend upon each project. The committee or the group should be the one to decide on how much budget will be allocated for each sector and what proposals to approve,” said Suarez. — Rhia de Pablo