RATIONALE

When the new Administration assumed into office, the new buzz word akin to President Estrada is "Kaunlaran para sa lahat. Mahalaga bawat isa." The entire bureaucracy took it as a new economic battlecry meant to accelerate economic and employment growth biased towards giving a preferential option for the poor.

To support the national goal, DTI will coordinate a countryside - centered, market - driven, agro - industrialization program. This thrust will strengthen the domestic base to maintain industry’s global competitiveness and at the same time create more opportunities for both small & medium business entrepreneurs, especially those in the province. Hence, the birth of DTI banner program dubbed as D.R.I.V.E. (Developing Rural Industries & Village Enterprises) Program.

PROGRAM THRUST

The emphasis is to encourage and develop entrepreneurs through various identified interventions depending on the specific needs of the area. Rural industries and village enterprises will be linked to large and long-term projects to effect full economies of scale.

WHAT IS A "RURAL INDUSTRY"?

A Rural Industry may be composed of a distinct group of similar enterprises located in the province which are engaged in the same or are related line of economic activity. It may also cover a cluster of municipalities within a distinct geographical area where the processing activities provide the anchor to increase value added to the raw materials readily available in the area.

WHAT IS A "VILLAGE ENTERPRISE"

A Village Enterprise is usually a small, micro, or cottage-based business whose capitalization is lower than P15 M as defined in the Magna Carta for Small Enterprises.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

• Marketing - includes securing market agreements, promoting franchising and licensing, encouraging subcontracting, product branding, and provide assistance to distribution channels in support of the established market networks through the regular Trade Fairs and Market Weeks.

• Production - includes programs like Productivity Improvement, Product Development & Design, Technology Transfer, Craft Villages Development, One-Barangay-One-Product, Industry Clustering and Small Business Consultancy.

• Financing - includes establishing close interaction with banks, a Guarantee Program for Countryside Development, and the possibility of setting up an SME capital market under the Philippine Stock Exchange to address the need for alternative sources of financing.

• Human Resource Development - entails the strengthening of the Provincial Small & Medium Enterprise Development Councils, revitalizing of key industry sector associations, refocusing of training based on actual business needs, and the strengthening of the Entrepreneurship Development Program.

D.R.I.V.E. PROJECT CRITERIA

• composed of small & medium enterprises
• producing one or similar products
• has economies of scale
• has clearly defined market
• uses the right technology, efficient production methods and strict quality control
• has a lead, champion, integrator, or big brother who can provide assistance in production, marketing, finance, and human resource development training

D.R.I.V.E. COVENANT GROUP

• Marketing

• Production

• Finance

• Human Resource Development

Dept. of Labor & Employment
Technical Educ. & Skills Dev’t. Authority

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

D.R.I.V.E Program will be coordinated by the DTI regional and provincial offices, under the guidance of the National and Provincial Small and Medium Enterprise Development Councils (SMEDC), and with the participation of other government agencies, local government units and the private sector.

View D.R.I.V.E Head Office

For inquiries, pls. contact :

Mr. Elias Tecson
THE DEPT. OF TRADE & INDUSTRY-CPO
3/F, LDM BLDG., COR. LEGAZPI & M.J. CUENCO ST., CEBU CITY
TEL. NO. 255-7083 TO 86
FAX NO. 255-7609