By THEPHILBIZNEWS STAFF
With the bustling business in General Santos City, South Cotabato, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has proposed PhP40 million budget for the construction of its permanent field office in General Santos City.
Along with the other DTI officials, Secretary Ramon Lopez and Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona led the sod-turning for the five-story building, which will be established in a 600-square meter property donated by the local government, situated at the General Santos City Government Center, Oval Plaza along Matalam Street corner Roxas Avenue in Brgy. Dadiangas East.
Pushing the project to further improve the delivery of services to the clients, Secretary Lopez emphasized the Department’s mandate of enabling businesses and empowering consumers through the agency’s flagship “Trabaho, Negosyo at Konsyumer” or TNK.
“DTI ang tumutulong sa ating pamahalaan para lumikha ng mas maraming trabaho through investments, exports. At para naman sa mga walang trabaho, tutulungan naman natin sila na magnegosyo. Kasama ‘yan sa ating adbokasiya — ang palaguin ang mga micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) sa bansa,” said Trade Chief.
DTI vows to continue strengthening its services for MSMEs as they eventually develop into smarter enterprises.
“The Department is determined to provide all Filipinos a better quality of life, whether giving more jobs or equipping them to become successful entrepreneurs,” MSME Development Advocate Usec. Lantayona said.
Once completed the new five-storey DTI-XII General Santos City Office building is expected to contribute to the 2020 Budget Priorities Framework and to the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 strategy of enhancing the social fabric “Malasakit” by ensuring people-centered, clean and efficient governance, essentially responding to the needs of the public through better access to government facilities and services.
Aside from the regular function of DTI at the field level (Business Development & Consumer Protection), the building will also house the Negosyo Center GenSan at the ground level to cater services to public such as Business Registration, Business Advisory and Capacity Building for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Present also in the groundbreaking ceremony were Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga, DTI-XII Regional Director Dorecita Delima, other DTI officials across regions, media partners, representatives of the National Government Agencies, private sectors and LGU-GenSan officials.