Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, June 11, 2025 – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, has launched today, the Shared Service Facility (SSF) for the Expansion of the Ilocos Norte MSME Incubation Center (IN-MIC) to boosts local economy.
According to DTI, the ₱3.5 million project—funded and facilitated by DTI—provides ICT tools, exhibit materials, and office equipment to strengthen support for local entrepreneurs. The upgraded center will offer enhanced co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and exhibit equipment to serve more micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Photo Credit: DTI Ilocos Norte
The event was graced by Hon. Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, Hon. Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos, DTI Region 1 Regional Director Merlie D. Membrere, and DTI Ilocos Norte Provincial Director Amelia E. Galvez.
DTI mentioned also that this initiative reflects continued commitment to boosting the local economy and empowering MSMEs through innovation, enterprise development, and strong local partnerships.
The Department of Trade and Industry E-Commerce Group, in partnership with the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) and Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), has organized the 2024 Wholesale and Retail Trade (WRT) Forum that will be held on December 2, 2024, at the AIM Convention Center, Makati City.
The significance of the wholesale/retail trade sector cannot be ignored. Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Section G of the Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC), referring to “wholesale and retail trade” accounted for 18% of the country’s total GDP in 2023, amounting to Php 4 trillion, and 23% of total employment, equivalent to 10.3 million employed in the sector.
The WRT Forum is a follow-through from the series of Focused Group Discussions (FGD) held last October 8 and 9, 2024, aimed at engaging the ecosystem in formulating the sector’s roadmap. Dubbed as Section G: Job Blueprint for the Wholesale and Retail Trade, the job blueprint is a sectoral roadmap that seeks to identify key strategies to increase competitiveness of the wholesale and retail trade sector, future proofing the sector to maximize the opportunities under a digital economy by addressing issues and concerns identified by the stakeholders themselves. The collaboration between manufacturers, logistics providers and wholesaler/retailers including sari-sari stores in the roadmapping initiative ensure a comprehensive plan.
Building on previous FGDs, this forum will spotlight key themes critical to the sector’s future growth and competitiveness in the digital economy. We will delve into these spotlight issues:
Labor Policy, Skills, and Workforce Development: DOLE x TESDA
Ease of Doing Business: ARTA
FDA policy for restaurants, groceries, drugstores: FDA
Trade Facilitation and Taxation: DOF, BOC, BIR
Consumer Protection and Intellectual Property Protection: DTI x IPOPHL
Innovation and Digitalization: Private Sector
These segments include an interactive Q&A session, offering a valuable opportunity to engage with industry leaders and share insights into the sector’s growth.
The participated of the participants would not only contribute significantly to wholesale and retail sector initiatives but also expand your professional network and uncover new business opportunities. This forum will underscore how public-private partnerships can shape a sustainable future for the industry.
Reference:
Mary Jean T. Pacheco, CESO II Undersecretary, DTI E-Commerce Group
DTI Office of Supply Chain and Logistics E-Commerce Group / Bagong Pilipinas
Center for Innovation and Technology Enterprise (CITE) Department of Trade & Industry (DTI)-National Capital Regional Office (NCRO) has partnered with Barangka Credit Cooperative – Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BCC-MPC) to host an online training session entitled “Digital Marketing” that was held on August 17, 2024. The session was led by Ms. Florlynn B. Dela Peña, an experienced business consultant, certified PCE-GO Negosyo Mentor, and a frequent resource speaker for the Department of Trade and Industry.
The online training session has focused on competitive strategies in the business world in relation with the advancement and challenges of technology for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including start-up entrepreneurs, to enter and stay relevant in the market.
According to DTI, “The online training has benefitted nearly a hundred participants, including aspiring entrepreneurs and representatives from various Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The session promoted active participation, highlighting the importance of digital marketing in today’s business environment, exploring various strategies, and addressing the potential risks involved. As the discussion progressed, participants became increasingly engaged, asking questions, and sharing suggestions and recommendations with their fellow attendees. This collaborative interaction highlighted the success and purpose of the session.”
In general, the participants learned about the Distinctions between Digital Marketing, E-Marketing, and Social Media Marketing; How to incorporate Digital Marketing into one’s business; and social media in business marketing.
I participated the online training session on Digital Marketing as part of my continues training and education that is relevant in the market of the diverse business digital landscape in the community, this day.
Supported by Bagong Pilipinas and DTI’s SME Roving Academy (SMERA). SMERA is a continuous learning program for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to become competitive in the domestic and international markets.
An integrated public policy information portal measuring the impact of the coronavirus pandemic developed by Filipinos won the Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge in the best use of data, the solution that best makes space data accessible, or leverages it to a unique application. Using Earth observation, in-country economic and human mobility data, and global infection case counts, data analysts Nick Tobia, Helen Mary Barrameda, Kristel Joyce Zapata, Theresa Rosario Tan, and Miguel Oscar Castelo from CirroLytix created a dashboard for policy makers and economic planners to show the impact of COVID-19 on various countries and effects on the economy and environment.
Named G.I.D.E.O.N. (Global Impact Detection from Emitted Light, Onset of Covid-19, and Nitrogen Dioxide), the portal uses news feeds, Google mobility data, and coronavirus cases revealing the multi-dimensional impact of lockdown and other interventions. Night lights from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and nitrogen dioxide levels from Sentinel-5P show current impacts and forecast effects of lockdown. Google’s community mobility reports, global infection data from Johns Hopkins University, and nitrogen dioxide data reveal pollution levels produced by human activity, and monitor which countries keep air quality under control as they bounce back from lockdown and pave the way for the “new normal.”
Data analysts Nick Tobia, Kristel Joyce Zapata, Theresa Rosario Tan, Miguel Oscar Castelo, and Helen Mary Barrameda from CirroLytix won the Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge.
Aside from having a global winner, two Pinoy teams made it as global finalists too.
Inspired by social isolation experienced by astronauts in space, Snail Space (A wordplay for snail’s pace) is an app giving a “safe space” by providing mental care and comfort during times of social isolation brought by COVID-19 pandemic. It was developed by Celestial Snails team comprised of Arturo Caronongan III, Kevin Olanday, In Yong Lee, Mary Anne Dominique Casacop, and Gabriel Santiago from De La Salle University.
With public health in mind, Sentinellium leverages user data sent through SMS and chat, and space assets like population density, urbanization, and aerosol to provide a more accurate prediction of developing epidemics. This was done by Harlee Quizzagan, James Andrew C. Cornes, Angela Chua, Alaica Mariño, Joal Rose Lin, and Mohammad Ashraful Mobin, in which their group was formed during the hackathon period.
“The use of these modern and advanced technologies will be crucial, especially as the world navigates the fourth industrial revolution. Using big data, cloud, and AI applications for instance, could help us understand the severity of the disease and aid in delivering measures to mitigate its impact,” according to the Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Dr. Rafaelita “Fita” M. Aldaba. “This really fills me with great optimism that our young and talented startups and Filipinos have so much to offer and contribute to our efforts to provide solutions to address health and economic crisis,” she said.
Last May 30-31, 2020, coders, entrepreneurs, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, artists, and technologists have been invited in an all-virtual, global hackathon by the United States space agency National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), along with the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) of France, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA). During a period of 48 hours, more than 15,000 participants from 150 countries created more than 2,000 virtual teams. Participants used Earth observation and other open data to propose solutions to one of twelve challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pinoy mentors during the hackathon. Top: Michael Lance M. Domagas, Elymar Apao, and Janyl Tamayo. Middle: Chi Señires, Aldrich Tan, and Andresito de Guzman. Bottom: Dominic Vincent Ligot.
During the virtual bootcamp one week prior to the hackathon, Ellison Castro, Cara Patricia Canlas, and Arlo Jayson Sabuito from STAMINA4Space discussed the capabilities of microsatellites in determining the height of clouds and forest fire mapping using support vector machine. During the hackathon, Aldrich Tan, Elymar Apao, Chi Señires, and Janyl Tamayo from UXPH helped participants in designing and bringing user experience to their projects. Andresito de Guzman of PWA Pilipinas taught participants on developing progressive web applications. 2019 global winner in the best use of data Dominic Vincent Ligot from the Analytics Association of the Philippines and Data Ethics PH brought inspiration by emphasizing the importance of data analytics for social good.
G.I.D.E.O.N. is one of the six global winners selected by NASA, ESA, JAXA, CSA, and CNES, and one of the three teams shall have special access to the Euro Data Cube environment. If travel is deemed safe, winners shall also be invited to visit a NASA site to view a spacecraft launch. However, travel, accommodation, and food costs are not included. Lead organizer Michael Lance M. Domagas appeals support for the current and past winners, finalists, and especially to the four-year community who worked so hard in bringing honor for the country. “After being recognized by five leading space agencies of the planet, its time for our own country to show appreciation and give support for those who are stepping forward in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects in our society today to defeat our common enemy,” he said.
Top: 2019 winner Dominic Vincent Ligot, Nick Tobia from G.I.D.E.O.N., and Harlee Quizzagan from Sentinellium. Bottom: Lead organizer Michael Lance M. Domagas, and Arturo Caronongan III from Celestial Snails.
Previous Pinoy hackathon winners are Project AEDES (2019), using satellite and climate data to pinpoint possible dengue hotspots, and ISDApp (2018), which uses citizen science data to inform fishermen the right time to catch fish.
The Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge is a special edition of NASA’s annual Space Apps Challenge, an international hackathon that takes place around the world and online every October. Since 2012, teams have engaged with NASA’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space. Space Apps 2019 included more than 29,000 participants in 71 countries, developing more than 2,000 hackathon solutions over one weekend. This NASA-led initiative is organized in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, and SecondMuse. The next annual Space Apps Challenge is scheduled for October 2-4, 2020 in a virtual format. Registration opens August 15: https://2020.spaceappschallenge.org/locations/manila
About Space Apps
Now in its 9th year, Space Apps is an international hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and others in cities around the world, where teams engage with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space. Space Apps 2019 included over 29,000 participants in 71 countries. In May 2020, the virtual-only Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge concluded with over 15,000 participants from 150 countries. Space Apps is a NASA-led initiative organized in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, SecondMuse, and the NASA Open Innovation Applied Sciences Program.
