PACKAGING. Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez flashes the popularized “clinched fist” as he assures DTI support services for some 300 micro, small and medium entrepreneurs from the Calabarzon Region during the third pilot run of the two-day campaign “Pack! Pinas”at the San Lazaro Leisure Park Conference Hall in Carmona, Cavite on Tuesday (May 29, 2018). (Photo by Saul Pa-a
CARMONA, Cavite – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez on Tuesday urged some 300 micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) from the Calabarzon Region to go beyond traditional view of packaging as container and method of product protection are essential components of marketing.
Lopez was guest of honor and keynote speaker at the third and two-day pilot run of “Pack! Pinas” for Luzon offering seminars, mentoring and exhibition events in the Calabarzon Region comprising Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon themed “Panalong Packaging Para Sa Lahat” at the San Lazaro Leisure Park conference hall here.
Speaking before some 300 MSMEs, DTI regional and provincial officials, trade packaging and business marketing stakeholders, food commodities sector, partner government agencies and the academe, Lopez underscored that packaging, labeling and branding are essential components of marketing.
“Our products need to level up and that is why we have “Pack! Pinas,” the DTI chief said as he assured to sustain the DTI initiative with the necessary budget to fund the campaign in reaching out to MSMEs in the provinces and link them with packaging suppliers, relevant government agencies, and partners from the private sector.
“By changing the quality of our product, the value that contributes and the packaging could enhance the value of the product with the same or even less effort in finding a better brand, better way to process the product, better packaging and presentation of the product,” Lopez said.
He told the MSMEs stakeholders that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte directed him upon assuming as DTI Secretary to help the poor people, small businesses and address poverty, prompting the trade and industry department to intensify its services especially towards MSMEs to spur businesses and create jobs.
“This is my passion for 14 years. Naniwala po kami na ang sagot sa kahirapan at para lahat ay umangat sa buhay ay nasa pagbibigay ng oportunidad at abilidad para ang lahat po ay umunlad lalo na sa SMEs. (We believe that the answer to poverty and to lift up the lives of every Filipino is to provide them opportunity and ability so all will prosper, especially among the MSMEs),” he said.
According to Lopez, MSMEs comprise around 99.6 percent of all enterprises in the country where 70 percent of the employed people are in MSMEs as their contribution to the economy and shares around 35 percent of the country’s economy.
“It has been a challenge for us that we really have to help our MSMEs, that is why we are increasing financial assistance and all the technical support since it is important that we create smarter entrepreneurs – higher value-adding entrepreneurs,” the DTI chief said.
He observed that despite the benefits in having good and well-designed packaging, most MSMEs lack access to affordable packaging services – even as some suppliers tend to impose a minimum order requirement that may be costly for them.
He also described as a “wake up call” for the country’s MSMEs on their packaging improvements as other countries in the ASEAN like Thailand and Cambodia have good presentations of their products during his official visits to these countries.
“Products should be a show-stopper that could attract otherwise it is a waste in advertising if these products lack innovation” citing the DTI to come up with its strategy to promote the “Go Lokal!” to encourage locally-made products to be competitive in the market and provide free market space in the malls and supermarkets for these products to be displayed and sold.
He said that DTI has been conducting trainings and exposures as well as innovation programs like the “Pack! Pinas” through the technical working group for the MSMEs stakeholders in design through the Design Center Philippines and Center for International Trade, Expositions and Missions (CITEM) or even through the internet to address the problem in operationalizing.
Lopez encouraged MSMEs that unique packaging enables business to establish their identity and stand out in highly competitive markets.
He, however, assessed that one of the challenges they are addressing is making suppliers to businesses that need packaging solutions accessible and affordable to MSMEs as most packaging industry players are located in Metro Manila and other large urban areas.
“It is a convergence, with the DTI regional operations group, investment promotions group and the Design Center Philippines and CITEM to help in the design for the food and non-food items in labeling and branding,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, DTI Calabarzon Regional Director Marilou Q. Toledo thanked Carmona Mayor Dahlia Loyola as host venue befitting an occasion to be held in this Cavite booming and industrial town of Carmona, adjudged as the “most business-friendly municipality in the Philippines.”
“This is a momentous event, a gathering of the key players in the entire packaging sector in the value chain that will revolutionize the way our market – small and medium enterprises – that present their products to the domestic and ultimately to the international market,” Toledo said.
She also inspired MSMEs that certainly packaging is a big deal in the promotion of our products.
“The saying ‘don’t judge the book by its cover’ doesn’t seem to apply in packaging because packaging communicates brand image and provides consumer recall and this makes packaging a big deal especially in the Calabarzon region which ranks next to Metro Manila with the biggest number of MSMEs,” she said.
She said that most of the Calabarzon Region products are unique and equally distinctive products which could join the ranks if not outrank world-class products in the international market.
“Region 4a is extremely happy to be chosen for the pilot run of Pack Pinas as does not only unravel but also addresses the concerns of MSMEs, equip them with the latest trends and innovation of the entire packaging value chain,” she said.
She also said that the event provides opportunities for MSMEs to really come up with their best packaging by consulting with the exhibitors and expressed hopes the seminars, mentoring and exhibitions will redound to the benefits of the MSMEs. (PNA)
