Budget for exporters' showroom approved

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu will soon have a permanent showroom for exporters to display their goods and inventories, as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) recently announced that P15 million has been allocated for such purpose.

“I have been informed that the P15 million budget to build a permanent showroom for exporters in Cebu has been recently approved. This will answer to the call of the export sector to have a permanent showroom facility,” said DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte.

In partnership with the Philippine International Trade Corporation (PITC), DTI will facilitate on the construction of exporters’ permanent showroom in Cebu. However, as of now, “we are still negotiating and looking for best location.”

“We’re trying to target the tourists. So, it is ideal that this facility will be located along the way to the airport, or near the airport in Mactan. But, we still have to look for a property,” Caberte said.

Ideally, DTI is looking at leasing or buying at least 1,000 square-meter property to be the site of the Exporters permanent showroom. The Mandaue North Reclamation Area is a good location, she said.

Supposedly, this project was targeted to be fully implemented this year, but due to some delays, Caberte said.

She clarified that this facility is different from the earlier announced Trading Center that will be opened by PITC in partnership with a Russian company Philippine Russia Inc. (PRI).

“This facility will be opened for everybody, and will also attract tourist-buyers. Cebu has become a well-known destination for good furniture and high-quality export products,” Caberte said.

While the establishment of the permanent exporters’ showroom is seen also to affect position of some exporters, especially if they are displaying their designs open for public, Caberte said “it’s already their call.”

She said exporters who may want to display their products at the showroom may adopt strategies that can not affect their market position and protect some of their designs from being copied.

What is important is that Cebu will have its own Exporters’ Showroom and that they can dispose their inventories all-year-round, not only during Exposition events.

Eric Ng Mendoza, president of Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) said what the exporters need right now, is the availability of permanent showroom facility.

Mendoza, who is also a furniture exporter said that it is more practical for exporters to display their products in a permanent basis, than having to participate local expositions with limited number of days, and will cost exporters’ much in terms of registration fee and logistics.

Caberte hopes that implementation of this project will start early next year.