In support of the government’s thrust to achieve inclusive growth, DTI formulated the Department’s PWD Economic Empowerment Program to help facilitate integration of PWDs into the mainstream of society. The program provides the following interventions: (i) enterprise level assistance, (ii) enabling environment, and (iii) policy advocacy.
The Department of Trade and Industry – Resource Generation and Management Service (RGMS), together with the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP), Knowledge Management and Information Service (KMIS), and the Regional Operations Group (ROG), launched on 30 July 2020 the very first Online Trade Fair for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) owned or managed by Persons with Disabilities (PWD).
In line with the celebration of the 42nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week, this Online Trade Fair gave PWD Entrepreneurs the initial exposure and experience to sell their products online through Facebook amid the pandemic. Nineteen (19) PWD-owned MSMEs participated in the online trade fair where they featured various products such as: fashion accessories and wearable items (e.g. bags, face masks); food (e.g. ice cream, sherbet, coco sugar, tofu) and; gifts (decor and houseware).
Supporting Filipino entrepreneurs, including PWDs, is one of the core mandates of the Department’s Trade Promotion Group. “With the indefinite postponement of national trade events such as the National Food Fair and National Trade Fair due to the pandemic, the Department has transitioned to online events such as this Online Trade Fair for PWD MSMEs to promote our Filipino entrepreneurs and their products,” said Trade Promotion Group Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman.
“We continue to give support to our persons with disability entrepreneurs in every way we can; the online trade fair we have developed especially for them shows that we acknowledge and value the hard work and dedication they put in creating their products/services; this online platform is critical for businesses to run smoothly during this pandemic and this is now being applied for our persons with disabilities entrepreneurs… together with Secretary Mon Lopez, I enjoin everyone to support this online trade fair showcasing the products and services of persons with disabilities,” said Asst. Sec. Ameenah Fajardo, DTI-PWD Focal Person.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez added: “We wish all the success to the Online Trade Fair for PWD MSMEs as it promotes inclusivity and empowerment for our differently-abled Filipino businesses. As we encourage small businesses to maximize the digital platform, we are glad to see that our PWD entrepreneurs are able to show their creativity and resiliency through this event.”
“With the PWD community by our side as we continue to promote and train MSMEs to go into the e-commerce industry, we will be able to not only adjust to the “New Normal” but thrive in a ‘Better Normal’,” the trade chief said. The Online Trade Fair for PWD MSMEs that generated Cash Sales of Php58,920 and Booked Orders of Php165,160 was held from July 30 until August 12, 2020.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
DTI Permanent PWD Focal Persons with Dr. Mark Gapultos and the RGMS Secretarat pose for photo opportunity.
Dr. Mark Gapultos as a resource speaker during the first day of the Seminar on Demystifying Organizational Stress for Higher Performance which was held on 17-19 July 2019 at the Summit Ridge Hotel, Tagaytay City.
Dr. Mark Gapultos, resource speaker, during the first day of the Seminar on Demystifying Organizational Stress for Higher Performance which was held on 17-19 July 2019 at the Summit Ridge Hotel, Tagaytay City.August
September – December
In a simple ceremony that took place on 15 July 2019, DTI ROG Undersecretary and Permanent PWD Focal Person Zenaida C. Maglaya provided Ms. Myrla P. Sedenio of the National Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA) with a copy of the DTI Manual on Disability Inclusive Governance. Witnesses to the said event were DTI-Resource Generation and Management Service staff led by Ms. Zenaida F. Pre and Ms. Aurora A. dela Rea, with Mr. Randy Calsena of NCDA. The ceremony was held at the DTI Main Lobby wherein the DTI Mural on Disability Inclusive Governance is displayed.
The DTI Mural on Disability Inclusive Governance features persons with disabilities/organizations in the various parts of the country that DTI helped through its programs and services.
Both the handover ceremony and the mural are part of the DTI Calendar of Activities in support of the 41st National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week Celebration this month. The celebration is geared “to strengthen national efforts towards disability prevention and rehabilitation to enable the effective integration of persons with disabilities into the mainstream of society”. The theme for this year–“Lokal na Pamahalaan: Kabalikat sa Pagtupad ng Karapatan ng mga Taong Maykapansanan”– focuses on regional/local efforts particularly of local government units in increasing awareness about persons with disabilities and promoting their rights.
2018 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES CELEBRATION
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated every 3rd of December across the globe. This year’s theme is “Empowering persons with Disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality” which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development “where no one is left behind.”
In support of the international theme, the Philippines has adopted as sub-theme “Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan Para Taong Maykapansanan” (Job, Enterprise and Livelihood for Persons with Disabilities).
In December 3, the Department of Trade and Industry, together with the New Vois Association of the Philippines, Inc. led the observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with the able support from the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and more than 100 guests from PWD organizations, various Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAOs), and other government agencies at the La Breza Ballroom, La Breza Hotel, Mother Ignacia, Quezon City.
Brother and sister team of Mr. Einstein and Ms Aika Rojas, representing New Vois Association of the Phils. Inc, acted as Masters of Ceremony.
Ms. Carmen R. Zubiaga, Officer in Charge of NCDA, welcomed everyone to the event. She thanked DTI for leading the celebration of the said event, and informed the audience that DTI has done a lot in terms of inclusion of PWDs in economic activities. DTI’s Negosyo Center Business Counselors were trained to assist PWDs which is very reassuring for any PWD client who would like to avail of their services/programs. Further, DTI is the first agency to come up with the Disability Inclusive Governance Manual which ensures full participation and equalization of rights and opportunities for PWDs. She also urged PWDs to form and grow self-help groups to be economically independent. Other agencies like TESDA and DOLE provide assistance through job fairs for PWDs such as the one to be held this week in Quezon City wherein 1,000 jobs are in the offing.
 |
| NCDA officer-in-charge, Ms. Carmen Zubiaga delivering the welcome remarks for the event. |
DTI Assistant Secretary Ameenah A. Fajardo delivered the inspirational message during the event. She underscored the capability, resilience and the potential contribution of Persons with Disabilities to the economy. She also shared that DTI continues to advocate the creation of an enabling environment that provides opportunities for the entrepreneurial development of PWDs to have productive and better lives and become mentors to others.
 |
| DTI Assistant Secretary Ameenah A. Fajardo delivering the inspirational message for the event |
She mentioned the programs and services that DTI offers like 7 Ms – mindset change, mastery, mentoring, money, machine, market access, and models of negosyo.
Right after, the entrepreneurship seminar was handled by Ms. Elizabeth Manuel, former Acting Deputy Director of the Philippine Trade Training Center and President of the Rotary Club of Meycauayan Uptown. She introduced and involved everyone to the “Best Game cum Entrepreneurship Challenge” for them to experience what it is like to be involved in a business – whether as a producer or retailer.
 |
| Assistant Secretary Ameenah Fajardo and Mr. Sean Ignacio manning the product clinic booth |
Meanwhile, DTI put up the Negosyo Center booth manned by DTI-NCRO Misses Dahlia Nuñez and Nerissa Sulib, and Mr. Sean Ignacio of the Office of Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga handled product clinic booth.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2016:
The Department of Trade and Industry is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the advancement, promotion, governance, regulation, management and growth of industry and trade.
Filinvest Bldg.,
387 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave.,
1200 Makati City, Philippines
1-DTI (384)
(632) 7791.3100
0917 834 3330 (SMS only)
