More
regionally tailored industry roadmaps need
to be put in place to strengthen the viability of local businesses and
industries in light of the impending economic integration of the ASEAN
economies by 2015.
This was revealed at the
regional workshop and consultations on the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) held
at the cities of Cebu, Davao, and Butuan in 2013 and early part of 2014 with
research fellows from state think tank Philippine Institute for Development
Studies (PIDS) as resource speakers. The AEC forums were organized by the
National Economic and Development Authority’s Regional Offices 7, 11 and
Caraga, in cooperation with the regional development councils and PIDS. The
Institute’s participation in these regional forums is part of its outreach and
extension program.
PIDS Fellow Dr. Rafaelita
Aldaba noted that “there is a need for a specific roadmap for each region.
There are lots of potentials that can be tapped. The regional development
plans may be updated and transformed into a roadmap similar to what the DTI is
doing. This will provide regional content or regional dimension to these
roadmaps. “
“There are cases when a
particular sector is seen as promising but is not taking off because of certain
government policies. These are part of coordination failures or market
failures that are present and which government should need to address. These
are also one of the areas where roadmaps are focusing right now,” Aldaba who is
concurrently Assistant Secretary for Industry Development of the Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) added.
She said government is
focusing on job and employment creation and inclusive growth. Even though
economic growth has been remarkable in recent years, she noted that in order to
sustain this at a high level, “it has to be inclusive and hence the focus on
creating jobs”.
Aldaba noted that regional
consultations are needed to touch base with regional industry officials. These
exercises are important “in assessing coordination failures, issues that
government should address”. She added that this helps in the
process of formulating the industry roadmaps. “It is important that not only
the manufacturers are consulted but the agriculture sector as well,” Aldaba
said.
Meanwhile, PIDS Research
Fellow Erlinda Medalla assuaged fears about the possible negative impacts of
ASEAN integration on local businesses. She explained to regional industry and
business leaders that “integration has been going on and there is nothing to
fear with the coming AEC in 2015.” Presenting an overview of the economic
integration and trade facilitation, Medalla described economic integration as a
“work in progress”. “The concept or idea of an ASEAN Economic Community
started a little over two decades ago. AEC has been part of the
Philippine trade reality for the past two decades,” she said.
Other PIDS research fellows
who presented in the regional AEC seminars with Aldaba and Medalla were Dr.
Adoracion Navarro (Infrastructure and Logistics), Dr. Roehlano Briones
(agriculture), and former PIDS president Dr. Josef Yap (Manufacturing Sector
and Inclusive Growth).
Recent reports say an executive
order for the roadmaps is set to be signed by President Aquino anytime
soon. Industries that submitted roadmaps were the auto assembly and auto
parts, copper, chemical, paper, cement, ceramic tiles, iron and steel,
biodiesel, electronics, creative, bamboo, shipbuilding, garments and textile,
mining, medical travel, processed-food, furniture, mass housing, and
IT-BPM.
Tapped by the DTI-Board of
Investments, PIDS led in the formulation of a comprehensive industrial roadmap
that will facilitate the integration of these different industries, including
small and medium enterprises, and transform manufacturing into a major source
of growth and employment. (PIDS)
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