DTI further strengthens SPIN

Two years after the Subcontracting Partners for Innovation Program (SPIN) was launched, close to seven thousand beneficiaries of SPIN programs in Central Visayas have produced products for exporters worth P97.030 million.

This year, the Department of Trade and Industry Central Visayas office (DTI-7) is further strengthening the SPIN program, despite the change of leadership in government.

According to DTI Central Visayas regional director Asteria Caberte,  the DTI 7 aims to provide further training for more weavers, and also extend the program to other areas.

In year 2010, 163 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have benefited from the program. Around 23 trainings have generated 4,048 jobs. 

Despite the drop of exports' orders since the global recession started, Caberte said orders are still increasing because participating export members of this program is largely coming from the gifts, toys, houseware products, and home furnishings.

Last September 9, DTI 7 conducted a Subcontracting Forum in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental with 12 exporters joining the activity including 33 Point 3 Exports, Jincastler, Prissan, AH Designs, Arden Classic, art n’ Nature, Heldred, Regalos Exim, Tambuli Fashion, Linda Colin, amer Trading and Bon Ace. 

The Negros Oriental producers are now working on the purchase orders worth Php 210,000 from 33 Point 3 Exports and Php 132,000 from AH Designs.

The SPIN program, a government-private sector undertaking conceptualized in Cebu, not only generates employment for weavers but likewise assists exports in increasing production volume of exported products.

Under the program, the weavers in the countryside are made to undergo skills training on weaving and craftsmanship after which, their hand-made products are brought by the exporters once these passed quality standards.

In this way, rebel returnees and indigents can immediately earn an income after a hard day's work with their earnings dependent on the number of products they make, Caberte said.

SPIN trainings are focused on a "market driven" scheme wherein the products to be made by the trained group are actual export orders. Most exporters who do not have enough workers to do the job orders of their clients subcontract some of these processes.

Initially implemented in Central Visayas, the program started in June 2008 with only P500 thousand budget. It now benefits thousands of people and families from nine regions in the country, including regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, CARAGA and CAR.

Cebuano exporters mostly from the GTH sector are currently sourcing their order requirements from marginal communities around these regions, Caberte said.

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