Business

DTI Reports: Aklan Industry Sectors

Help Generate Employment

By Venus G. Villanueva

A total of 5,722 Aklanons were able to get jobs in Aklan’s industry sectors in 2007, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Kalibo, Aklan.

The figure was included in the State of the Province Address (SOPA) of Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez delivered recently at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall, Kalibo, Aklan. The figure represents a positive growth of 40 percent vis-à-vis annual target of 4,073, which, when compared to 2006, an increase in incremental employment at 14 percent.

According to the DTI report, the sector that generated the most employment is the loomweaving, followed by the food processing and gifts and housewares.

The total incremental investments for the period amounted to P1,424,279 million or an increase of 187 percent over the year’s target of P495.9 million, and 49 percent over 2006 performance of P958.6 million. The sector that generated the most investment is the food processing sector with an aggregate incremental investment of P7.29 million.

Export performers for year 2007, according to the DTI report, were still the nito craft producers and the loomweavers. Both sectors posted positive growth over its target for the year despite the appreciation of the peso. Gifts and houseware posted 168 percent growth while loomweaving industry sector registered a growth of only 5 percent. The total export sales performance for year 2007 amounted to US$0.4054 million overshooting its target for the year by 91 percent, and performance of 2006 (US$0.2357 million) by 72 percent.

Domestic sales of monitored firms in the four (4) priority industry sectors reached P183.544 million or 7 percent over the target for the year and 6 percent over the 2006 performance. Food processing sector generated the most sales of P97.271 million, followed by the loomweaving sector with P66.2828 million.

Business Name (BN) registrations processed for the period numbered to 1,205 or 195 less than last year’s registration of 1,400. However, investments generated by the BN registrants totaled P631,271,000.

The most recent activity the DTI spearheaded in Aklan was the Kalibo Ati-atihan Product showcase, in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan and the municipal government of Kalibo. That was an opportunity for the local industries like loom-weaving, food processing, gifts and housewares and furniture sector to show and sell their products to visitors, guests and revelers of the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Festival.

The DTI has also a list already of Aklan towns’ OTOP (One Town, One Product), a priority program to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs in the countryside through identification and promotion of specific products or services with competitive edge. /MP