Statistics from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicated that the manufacturing sector in Central Luzon posted significant growth from negative 1.3 percent to 19.1 percent, but noted that unemployment in the region was at 8.8 percent.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) called on the private sector for a greater role in boosting further the manufacturing industry in Central Luzon.
In a forum here, DTI Assistant Secretary Rafaelita Aldaba said “both private and public sectors have to address this gap between industry and job creation. For example, we can explore linking the locators inside the Subic and Clark economic zones with our micro, small, and medium enterprises.”
“We are already experiencing a resurgence of the manufacturing industry and now, we have greater access to markets abroad. There are greater opportunities for industries already located here to expand and for those who are not yet here to consider investing,” she noted.
DTI noted that ASEAN member-nations enjoy zero tariffs for 99 percent of products traded in the region. The Philippines also has zero tariffs for more than 6,000 products exported to the European Union member-nations in conformity with the EU-Generalized System of Preferences Plus (EU-GSP).
The principle of GSP was agreed at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and is a facility granted to developing countries or “beneficiary countries” by certain developed countries or “donor countries.”
It is not negotiated with them, as the preferential treatment is non-reciprocal.
The GSP schemes offered by the various donor countries and their rules of origin differ fundamentally. Goods complying with the conditions of the GSP of the USA, for example, will not necessarily comply with the EU-GSP.
Special arrangements have been established in order to address the special needs of the least developed countries. Following the so called “Everything But Arms” (EBA) initiative introduced in 2001, the EC-GSP grants these countries duty-and quota- free access for almost all their exports.
