The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI), the largest organization of foreign and Filipino electronics companies in the Philippines, will present the Philippine electronic capabilities during the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2020) which runs from 7-10 January 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

The show is considered as the global stage for next-generation technologies which include Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), automotive, health and wellness, and entertainment content, among others.

“The CES 2020 is an ideal venue to engage with global electronics industry players and invite them to partner with the Philippines.  Promoting the Philippine electronics industry is part of the Philippine Export Development Plan 2018-2022, wherein the government focuses on developing industries where the Philippines has competitive and comparative advantages,” said DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.

“DTI is doing its part in improving the overall climate for export development. Moreover, we continue to strengthen existing prospective opportunities from trading arrangements, such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) with the US.  Trade deals like the GSP are part of the DTI’s comprehensive support to strengthen industries and create more jobs and employment opportunities for Filipinos,” he added.

In addition to Philippine government agencies, the business delegation is composed of Airfreight 2100 Inc., Airspeed International, De La Salle University, Integrated Micro-Electronics, Ionics EMS Inc., LGC Logistics, Macro Wiring Technologies Co. Inc., Meralco, PLDT, and Susumi Philippines.

“The Philippine electronics industry stands to leverage on the opportunities being showcased in this event. We have a strong trade relationship with the US, as the Philippines is a significant part of the product supply in the global electronics market.  Our industry offers full turnkey services from procurement to assembly, and is supported by a dexterity in supply chain management.  We have excellent quality management programs with a full range of certification in global quality standards.  We are delighted to present our seasoned engineering talent with highly skilled individuals who are productive, responsive and proficient in English. We have the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as a key industry enabler, together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the academe, and industry players collaborating in the Product and Technology Holistic Strategy (PATHS) roadmap to drive our industry up the value chain.” said SEIPI President Dr. Dan Lachica.

The key features of this mission are the Philippine Electronics Industry seminar and networking forum on 8 January at rooms S102 and S103, South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC) from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, and the Country presentation during the World Electronics Forum from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on 9 January, at the LVCC. Other components for the mission include individual client meetings, business forums, networking activities, meeting with government agencies, as well as company and facility visits in Silicon Valley, California.

The Electronics industry mission in the US is in collaboration with SEIPI and the electronics industry players in the Philippines, DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Los Angeles and San Francisco, with participation from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA).

In 2018, the electronics industry remained as the Philippines’s top exporter, which comprised 55 percent of the total Philippine merchandise exports amounting to $38.2 billion, and posted a double-digit compounded average growth of 9.26 percent for the period between 2014 and 2018. The US also ranked as the Philippines’ second largest market in 2018 with a growth rate of 12.69 percent, which was valued at $5.13 billion.

From January-October 2019, PH Electronic Products exports (56.3% of the total PH exports) obtained a positive growth rate of 2.7% from $32.34 billion in the same period in 2018. The USA also ranked 2nd largest Philippine market for electronics with 15.5% share amounting to $5.2 billion and grew 20.7% against January-October 2018 value of US$4.3 billion. DTI

Your country needs you.

The Philippine National Police is calling all able-bodied Filipino men and women aged 21 to 30 years old to take on the challenge to serve a noble career in the police service.

The National Police Commission and the Department of Budget and Management have authorized the PNP to fill-up 17,000 vacancies under its Recruitment Program for year 2020. These vacancies comprise the 10,000 annual regular recruitment quota and 7,000 additional quota to replace retired, deceased, dismissed, AWOL, and other separated personnel.

“We want the largest pool of applicants that we can muster from which to select only the best and most qualified candidates that will be recruited into the police service,” PNP Officer-in-Charge, Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco F Gamboa said.

“The annual recruitment program has taken Philippine law enforcement to a higher level by closing the gap in the police-to-population ratio to within ideal limits set by law,” he said.

Gamboa said, successful candidates will be appointed to the initial rank of Police Patrolman with a gross monthly salary of P29,668.00 with other mandated allowances and benefits.

PNP Director for Personnel and Records Management, Police Major General Lyndon Cubos advised all prospective applicants to make ready with their clearances, certifications and other documentary requirements to facilitate speedier processing of applications when the recruitment will eventually commence in the coming weeks.

Cubos said applicants must be:
1. A citizen of the Philippines;
2. A person of good moral character;
3. Must have passed the psychiatric/psychological, drug and physical tests to be administered by the PNP;
4. Must possess a formal baccalaureate degree from a recognized learning institution;
5. Must have any of the following basic eligibility requirements:
– PNP Entrance (NAPOLCOM)
– RA No. 1080 (Bar and Board Examinations)
– PD No. 907 (CS eligibility to College Honor Graduates)

6. Must not have been dishonorably discharged from military employment or dismissed for cause from any civilian position in the government;
7. Must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving moral turpitude;
8. Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62m) in height for male and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57m);
9. Must weigh not more or less than five kilograms (5kg) from the standard weight corresponding to his/her weight, age, and sex; and
10. Must not be less than twenty-one (21) or more than thirty (30) years of age.

Cubos said all applications for recruitment may only be filed thru the PNP Online Recruitment Application System (ORAS) portal at www.pnporas.pnp-dprm.com

“We have adapted this digital information system in recruitment application to level the playing field for all applicants by eliminating opportunities for third party intervention in the rigid selection process,” Cubos said.

“Under this system, all applicants become nameless and faceless entries represented only by barcodes while going thru all the mandatory procedures of tests, interviews, and physical and psychological examinations,” Cubos explained. PNP

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign the P4.1 trillion budget for this year on January 6, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said on Friday.

In a text message to reporters, Avisado said his office as well as the Office of the Executive Secretary has completed the review of the enrolled General Appropriations Bill.

“January 6 is what I know but the final say is the OP (Office of the President),” he said of the scheduled signing of the new national budget for 2020 by the President.

He said he was not aware if Duterte will veto any item in the enrolled bill.

“He (Duterte) has the final say regardless of our recommendation and we cannot second guess him so it’s better to just wait,” Avisado said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier hoped that the President would exercise his veto power on the insertions allegedly made by the House of Representatives in the 2020 budget. Celerina Monte/DMS