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Philippines, Canada link up on creative services

Around 90 stakeholders from both the Philippines and Canadian creative arts industry gathered in a two-part event comprising of a webinar and three (3) simultaneous workshop sessions entitled “Linking the Creative Economies of the Philippines and Manitoba” on 4 and 10 November 2021, respectively. The successful event was organized to provide an overview of the continue reading : Philippines, Canada link up on creative services

Export Congress to push export recovery under ARISE theme, programs

Poised to sustain and increase the growth momentum, stakeholders of the export industry will virtually gather again in a series of activities to share and discuss ways forward from this pandemic. Under the theme “A.R.I.S.E. Exports: Accelerate Rebuilding, Innovation, Support and Empowerment of Philippine Exports”, the National Exporters Week (NEW) will feature a series of continue reading : Export Congress to push export recovery under ARISE theme, programs

DTI cites sustained export growth rebound

Even in the face of the rising wave of new COVID-19 cases globally, Philippine exports grew by 17.6% in August 2021 bringing cumulative exports to USD 48.9 billion for the first eight months of the year. The year-to-date August figure is 19.6% higher than the USD40.9B recorded during the same period last year and continue reading : DTI cites sustained export growth rebound

Virtual MIHAS 2021 features PH Halal Products

Certified-Halal exports from the Philippines are now featured in the first ever Virtual Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2021 that runs today until 31 December 2021 ( www.mihasvirtual.com.my ). Malaysia hosts the World’s Largest Halal Exhibition – a vibrant marketplace for both international and local manufacturers of Halal-Certified products and services. MIHAS offers opportunities beyond continue reading : Virtual MIHAS 2021 features PH Halal Products

Construction industry contributes 16.6% to GDP amidst pandemic

On the second quarter of 2021, Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) posted an 11.8% growth, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The construction industry is one of the main contributors to the growth together with manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade as well as repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles. Among the major economic sectors, continue reading : Construction industry contributes 16.6% to GDP amidst pandemic

DTI urges exporters to participate in the UK public consultation on the generalized system of preferences (GSP) scheme

118 PH enterprises join the second ASEAN Online Sale Day, 8 – 10 August 2021

Brunei Darussalam Consumer Goods Biogenic by Cosmetique Asia Silka x Lazada by Cosmetique Asia Silka x Shopee by Cosmetique Asia Jegen Swe Enterprises Crafts Wovencrafts, Inc. Tagolwanen Women Weavers Association, Inc. (TWWA) Enterprise E-marketplace Shopee Philippines Fashion Puyo Handicrafts YHF House of Fashion Suyen Corporation – Bench Siklo Enterprises Food continue reading : 118 PH enterprises join the second ASEAN Online Sale Day, 8 – 10 August 2021

June exports expand 9.49%, as gains for the first half of the year climb

Total Philippine exports surged to an almost double-digit increase in June this year by 9.49% and gaining USD563.9M. The growth is attributed to the reopening of the global markets like US, China and EU, as well as the continuing policy to keep the export operations at full capacity despite the lockdowns. Meanwhile, imports grew slower continue reading : June exports expand 9.49%, as gains for the first half of the year climb

MSMEs encouraged to join the ASEAN Online Sale Day to expand online reach

MANILA—The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), will be participating in the second ASEAN Online Sale Day (AOSD) which will be held on 8-10 August 2021. The AOSD is held annually on the occasion of the ASEAN Founding Anniversary to boost online consumer trade in the region and enhance stronger collaboration between continue reading : MSMEs encouraged to join the ASEAN Online Sale Day to expand online reach

PH exports continue recovery with a robust 29.8% growth in May 2021

Philippine exports led the way to the continued expansion of global trade, spurred on by the gradual opening of major economies abroad as it contributed USD 5.89B to total trade or a 29.8% growth for May 2021, over the previous year’s USD 4.54B. This effectively shrunk the Balance of Trade by USD 329.9M from April continue reading : PH exports continue recovery with a robust 29.8% growth in May 2021

[su_lightbox type=”inline” src=”#bles”]Blesila A. Lantayona[/su_lightbox]

Undersecretary and Supervising Head
Regional Operations Group (ROG)

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Undersecretary Blesila A. Lantayona is the Supervising Head of the Regional Operations Group (ROG). As member of the Department of Trade and Industry Executive Committee headed by DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque, she is expected to contribute among others, to policy formulation in the development of the country’s MSME sector, trade and industry particularly bringing to core the regional/provincial viewpoints.

Under her supervision are some of the key bureaus and offices at the Head Office including the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED), the Bureau of Market Development Promotions & OTOP (BMDPO), the DTI-Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Management Office, and the Negosyo Center Program Management Office. She supervises as well the Department’s 17- Regional and 81- Provincial Offices ensuring that the policies, programs and projects of DTI are understood and effectively implemented at the local level where our offices serve as the face of DTI, providing critical frontline services to its customers as they personify the agency’s core values of Passion, Integrity, Creativity, Competence, Synergy, and Love of Country.

Prior to her appointment as Undersecretary, Usec. Lantayona held various technical and managerial positions within the Department. She started in DTI Region XI (Davao Region) as technical staff, then moved up as Provincial Director of DTI- Davao Del Sur and Assistant Regional Director of DTI Region XI. She was eventually promoted to Regional Director in DTI Region III (Central Luzon) and Assistant Secretary of the DTI- Regional Operations Group based at the Head Office.

From 2019 to 2023, she was designated as Acting Chairman of the Small Business Corporation, Ex- Officio Board Member of the Cooperative Development Authority, Board Member of the Philippine Guarantee Corporation and the DTI GAD Focal. In 2023, Usec. Lantayona served as the Chairperson of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSME (ACCMSME), a body comprised of high-level representatives from ASEAN Member States tasked to formulate policies, programs and activities on SME development and reports to the Senior Economic Officials Meeting under the mandate of the ASEAN Economic Ministers.

She also served briefly as Chief of Staff at the Office of the DTI Secretary under the leadership of Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque. Recently, Usec. Lantayona was

designated as the Supervising Undersecretary of the Rural Agro-Enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project, a value chain-based and market-driven initiative of the DTI, funded by IFAD.

Usec. Lantayona holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, Major in Economics (Cum Laude) from Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro City; and an MBA in International Business from the European School of Management (Ecole Europeene des Affaires) in Paris, France as scholar of the EU-ASEAN Scholarship Program.

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[su_lightbox type=”inline” src=”#ablan”]Atty. Michel Kristian R. Ablan[/su_lightbox]

Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head
Management Services Group (MSG)

Department Legislative Liaison Officer
Liaison Office for Legislative Affairs (LOLA)

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Kristian Ablan is a career public servant, having been in government service for 18 years. He currently holds the post of Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head of the Management Services Group.

Prior to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
Mr. Ablan was undersecretary for administration at the Department of Education (DepEd), and assistant secretary and undersecretary at the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

His other government stints were at the Commission
on Elections (COMELEC), Public-Private Partnership Center (PPP Center), Provincial Government of llocos Norte, and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

Mr. Ablan concurrently serves as alternate director at the National Development Company (NDC), and the Philippine Guarantee Corporation (PHILGUARANTEE).

Kris is a lawyer by profession, and holds degrees from Ateneo de Manila University, the University of the Philippines, the University of Auckland, and the National Defense College of the Philippines. Kris holds the rank of CESO I and is a 2021 Presidential Career Executive Service awardee for his work in freedom of information (FOl). [/su_lightbox_content]

[su_lightbox type=”inline” src=”#roque”]Ma. Cristina A. Roque[/su_lightbox]

Secretary
Department of Trade and Industry

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Ma. Cristina A. Roque currently serves as the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), where she is responsible for advising the President on trade and investment matters, establishing policies, supervising departmental activities, and ensuring effective operations across all DTI offices and attached agencies.

Ms. Roque’s leadership is characterized by her unwavering commitment to the growth and development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), recognizing their essential role in the Philippine economy. Her extensive experience in government and a 30-year entrepreneurial career uniquely position her to lead projects that foster a more inclusive and prosperous business environment for all Filipinos.

Before becoming the Secretary, Ms. Roque made significant contributions as Trade Undersecretary from February to July 2024. She led the MSME Development Group (MDG) and was instrumental in advancing MSMEs through various initiatives. She also managed key bureaus, including the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED) and the Bureau of Marketing Development and Promotions (BMDPO), as well as the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Program Management Office and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Management Office (CARP-PMO). In addition, she supervised the Small Business Corporation (SBCorp), the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC).

Ms. Roque introduced groundbreaking initiatives like the OTOP Retail and Learning Center, transforming OTOP hubs and Go Lokal stores into dynamic spaces that blend retail with mentorship. She is a champion of the DTI’s 5-Point MSME Agenda that advances digitalization, market diversification, enhanced access to financing, franchising, and a strong focus on mentorship and training. Her efforts are reshaping the MSME landscape, driving innovation and creating more export opportunities for the Philippine market.

Expanding market opportunities for local MSMEs, Ms. Roque pushed for digitalization and e- commerce in the DTI-Bagong Pilipinas National Food Fair and Trade Fair in 2024. She also launched the first-ever Beauty Fair organized by the DTI, offering new support and opportunities for MSMEs in the beauty and wellness sector.

As Chairperson of the Small Business Corporation, Ms. Roque implemented new policies to make SBCorp’s financing programs more accessible and beneficial for MSMEs. She also launched the DTI-Bagong Pilipinas Marketplace, the country’s largest B2B e-commerce platform, which promotes Filipino MSMEs’ products and services both locally and globally.

Looking ahead, she plans to establish more SME hubs through the Philippine Trade and Investment Centers and in close collaboration with our Embassies worldwide. These hubs will serve as platforms to showcase and market Filipino products to international audiences, thereby stimulating the manufacturing sector and contributing to job creation.

Ms. Roque holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management Engineering with a minor in Chemical Engineering from De La Salle University.[/su_lightbox_content]

Portrait of ASec. Nylah Rizza D. Bautista

[su_lightbox type=”inline” src=”#nylah”]Nylah Rizza D. Bautista, MBA[/su_lightbox]

Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head
Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG)

Supervising Head
Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM)

Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP)

Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)

Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC)

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ASec. Nylah Rizza D. Bautista brings over 15 years of expertise in commercial retail management, operational strategy, and stakeholder relations. As a former executive of Ayala Land and the Ayala Malls Group, she led transformative initiatives that enhanced foot traffic, optimized operational expenses, and drove sustained revenue growth across multiple commercial centers and malls. Her strategic approach to tenant relations and marketing consistently exceeded annual sales targets.

An advocate for sustainability and innovation, ASec. Bautista spearheaded redevelopment and renovation projects that enhanced customer experiences while driving overall revenue growth. Known for her organized, results-oriented leadership style, she thrives in dynamic and fast-paced environments, delivering measurable outcomes with a focus on excellence.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from De La Salle University Manila and a master’s degree in business administration from Ateneo Regis, Rockwell. Dedicated to public service, ASec. Nylah Rizza D. Bautista combines her professional expertise with a commitment to fostering a balanced and active lifestyle.

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[su_lightbox type=”inline” src=”#uvero”]Atty. Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero[/su_lightbox]

Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head
Fair Trade Group (FTG)

Supervising Head
Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP)

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Agaton Uvero is currently an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in charge of the Fair Trade Group as well as the Supervising Head of the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP). He has previously worked in various capacities in the House of Representatives, Senate, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Finance (DOF).

Early in his career, he worked as an international trade manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers before setting up a consulting partnership which specializes in international trade, logistics and supply chain. He has provided advisory services and training for many of the Top 1000 corporations, multinational firms, professional and industry associations and business chambers.

He has worked on various technical assistance programs funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and USAID. In 2017, he authored the book “Understanding International Trade, Tariffs and Customs”. A lawyer and a licensed customs broker, he has degrees in Philosophy and Law (Juris Doctor) from UP Diliman and is an alumnus of East West Center (New Generation Program). He is a lecturer at the UP Law Center and Ateneo School of Law (MCLE Program) on topics such as international trade, tariff and customs.

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[su_lightbox type=”inline” src=”#gepty”]Atty. Allan B. Gepty[/su_lightbox]

Undersecretary
International Trade Group (ITG)

Supervising Head
Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC)

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Allan B. Gepty is the Undersecretary for International Trade Policy Group (ITPG) at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) where he supervises the Bureau of International Trade Relations, Bureau of Import Services, and the Strategic Trade Management Office. From December 2018 to November 2023, he was the Assistant Secretary of the DTI’s Industry Development and Trade Policy Group (IDTPG) where his main portfolio was on trade policy and trade negotiations at the bilateral, regional and multilateral level. He is the country’s Senior Economic Official at the ASEAN.

He also served as the country’s chief trade negotiator in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, considered as the largest free trade deal in the world. Prior to his appointment at the DTI, he was a Commissioner of the Philippine Tariff Commission. From 2010 to 2017, he served as Deputy Director General of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Philippines, and from January 2015 to October 2015 as its OIC- Director General. As such, he represented the country at the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He is a lawyer by profession with diverse experience in international trade, intellectual property, public international law, commercial law, and litigation.

He is a Senior Fellow in Public Service at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at The Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He finished his law degree from the San Beda College, Manila in 1997, and his Master of Laws degree from the University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2016. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce major in Economics from the same university, where he graduated Cum Laude in 1992. He is a member of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Sub Committee for the Revision of the Rules of Procedure for Intellectual Property Rights Cases. He is an active member of the Academe at the College of Law and Graduate School of Law. He is an author of a book, Intellectual Property Law Compendium. He is a recipient of many awards including the prestigious Presidential Medal of Merit from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and the Gawad Dr. Pio Valenzuela for Government Service both in 2023. He is a reserved officer of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) with the rank of Major.
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Address

[su_gmap address=”Metro House Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave Makati Metro Manila” responsive=”yes”]
2F Metro House Bldg. 345 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave., Makati City

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[su_lightbox type=”inline” src=”#Sunico”]Jose Edgardo G. Sunico[/su_lightbox]

Undersecretary
Communications Group (CG)

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Ed Sunico currently serves as the Undersecretary for Communications at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). In his capacity, he develops and implements strategic communication initiatives to promote the department’s policies and projects, enhancing the public image and reputation of DTI.

Since taking office, Usec. Ed Sunico has developed and executed the 1-DTI’s Communications Framework, guiding all departmental communications and aligning DTI’s leadership agenda with the country’s revitalized vision of a Bagong Pilipinas.

Undersecretary Sunico concurrently sits as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Board of Investments (BOI), the country’s primary industry development arm and lead investment promotion agency (IPA).

Prior to his current roles, Undersecretary Ed had an extensive career at Unilever, where he led the Communications and Corporate Affairs function across Southeast Asia. He was instrumental in positioning Unilever as a leader in sustainable business practices, driving growth, and fostering a purpose-led corporate culture.

Undersecretary Ed holds an MBA and a BS in Architecture from the University of the Philippines Diliman. He was recognized as a University of the Philippines Distinguished Alumnus Awardee for Corporate Social Responsibility in 2023, highlighting his significant contributions to both corporate and public sectors.

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[su_lightbox type=”inline” src=”#pacheco”]Mary Jean T. Pacheco[/su_lightbox]

Undersecretary
Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG)

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A highly motivated, dedicated Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) with significant contribution and experience in public sector management, specifically in planning, monitoring & evaluation, performance management, public administration, and public policy formulation. As a CESO, USEC Pacheco is a 2015 CES VIP (Very Innovative Person 2015) awardee for introducing innovation and institutionalizing good governance initiatives in the DTI and a Gawad CES nominee in 2023. Last 2021, she participated the Lee Kuan Yew Senior Fellowship in Singapore and became a Lee Kuan Yew Fellow. Lastly, on 2022, she received two significant awards from her alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas. First is the Commerce Outstanding Alumni 2022 by the College of Commerce Alumni Foundation (Cocafi) in the field of government service as a graduate the UST College of Commerce and Business Administration. Second as one Of the Most Distinguished Thomasian Alumna conferred by the UST Alumni Association and nominated by PMT/CAT alumni association. And just recently, she was an awardee of Institute for Solidarity of Asia’s (ISA) 2024 College of Fellows as champion and leader of governance reform.

Appointed last December 6, 2023 as DTI Undersecretary, Usec Pacheco now manages the DTI Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG).

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[su_lightbox type=”inline” src=”#nograles”]Atty. Amanda Marie F. Nograles[/su_lightbox]

Undersecretary
Consumer Affairs and Legal Services Group (CLG)

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Atty. Amanda Marie F. Nograles is the Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head of the Consumer Protection Group of the Department of Trade and Industry. Prior to DTI, she was also the Assistant Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs of the Department of Education.

Atty. Amanda graduated with second honors from Ateneo Law School. After taking the bar, she worked at Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & delos Angeles and thereafter at Nograles Law Offices.

She graduated from Ateneo de Manila, magna cum laude with a degree in Management Economics. She is set to complete her Masters in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines by June 2024.
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	628,937.3
Population (in thousand, 2015)

	USD 2,431,969M
GDP (current prices, 2015)

	10 ASEAN members
Members

	Jakarta, Indonesia
Headquarters