DTI-7 earmarks P2 million for SPIN program expansion

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) is going to spend at least P2 million this year for the expansion of the Subcontracting Partners for Innovation (SPIN) program.

DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte told The Freeman yesterday that her office is requesting a budget of P2 million for the SPIN program, in order to train more workers for the increasing demand of GTH (gifts, toys and houseware) exports.

According to Caberte, DTI-7 has proposed a P2 million budget for SPIN, compared to P5 million it spent last year for training, as orders from exporting companies are starting to pick up.

“I’m glad the volume of orders is back. Now, we have to train more workers under the SPIN program,” Caberte said.

The SPIN program, a government-private sector undertaking conceptualized in Cebu, not only generates employment for weavers but likewise assists exports in increasing production volume of exported products.

Under the program, the weavers in the countryside are made to undergo skills training on weaving and craftsmanship after which, their hand-made products are brought by the exporters once these passed quality standards.

This way, rebel returnees and indigents can immediately earn an income after a hard day’s work with their earnings dependent on the number of products they make, Caberte said.

SPIN trainings are focused on a “market driven” scheme wherein the products to be made by the trained group are actual export orders. Most exporters who do not have enough workers to do the job orders of their clients subcontract some of these processes.

The program started in June 2008 with only P500 thousand budget, now benefits thousands of people and families from nine regions in the country, including regions, one, three, six, seven, eight, 10, 11 and 12.

Caberte said the program, will have to add more provinces to participate, such as Siquijor, Western part of Cebu, and Negros Oriental.

“Siquijor which started from zero, now has improving number of skilled weavers, which help exporters expand their sourcing and consider other indigenous materials common in a particular province.

Initially implemented in Central Visayas, initiated by the Cebu Gifts Toys and Housewares Foundation (GTH-Cebu), the program is now being adopted in the nationwide level.

Cebuano exporters mostly from the GTH sector is now sourcing their order requirements from marginal communities around these regions, Caberte said.

The P2 million proposed budget will be used to spend for training for more weavers in existing and new areas, she said.

Last year, the close to three thousand beneficiaries of SPIN programs has already produced products for exporters worth P67.16 million in purchase order.

Months after the SPIN program was rolled out to cleared conflict areas and marginalized sectors in Central Visayas, residents who have been beneficiaries of skills trainings conducted by DTI-7 GTH-Cebu and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), have already delivered the booked orders of exporters.

In Central Visayas alone, 45 municipalities have benefited from the program. Around 77 trainings have generated 1,791 jobs. Booked orders for hapao baskets, placemats, tip towels and trays have reached P59.8 million as of middle of 2009.