The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) breezed through budget approval after the agency told the congressional hearing on Wednesday it does not need intelligence fund to pursue its mandate especially on enforcement activities related to prices and supply of basic and prime commodities.
“I already said we’re not asking for one (intelligence fund),” said
DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual in a chance interview yesterday.
DTI asked for P21 billion but was hoping to get P3 billion to P5 billion more
Pascual did not disclose the final amount approved but welcomed the support of congressmen in funding the DTI’s wishlist of projects that need to be funded.
These include the Internet Transaction Act which Pascual said he hopes to be passed soon; the Export Development Plan, the action agenda for food logistics; the development of micro, small and medium enterprises particularly for the construction of additional shared service facilities (SSF) among others.
Pascual said DTI hopes to get P800 million for SSFs although the National Expenditure Plan (NEP) set a P500 million budget.
Pascual added the DTI seeks funding for Halal development after the agency formed a six-man task force for the industry.
According to Pascual, the DTI sought for a P1 billion fund for the creatives sector.
“We wanted a P500-million fund to support enterprises that will go into the creative industry….not (to) give away money, (but) either investments or loans to enterprises. We need this to be able to support those who will venture into the creative industries like game development animation, software development,” he said.
Other items in the list are : implementation of the safeguard measures; the competitiveness enhancement measures program; the digital trade and market access solution for MSME development through an electronic commerce platform; the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research, etc.
