Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque on Monday underscored gains from approval by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the 10-year national industrial roadmap dubbed Tatak Pinoy Strategy (TPS).
The TPS, signed through Memorandum Circular No. 104 last Oct. 24, requires all government agencies to prioritize local products and services in their procurement.
It operationalizes the Tatak Pinoy Act, or Republic Act 11981.
Roque, who also chairs the Tatak Pinoy Council, said TPS allows local industries to further grow and have access to global opportunities.
“The TPS empowers our MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) and industries to innovate with purpose, produce with pride, and compete globally with confidence. We thank the President for his swift approval of this landmark policy that will boost our economy and generate more jobs for Filipinos,” she said.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in a press release, said the policy was formulated after 27 national consultations in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, calling for greater collaboration among stakeholders.
Roque said the strategy has nine priority sectors “identified for their potential to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth and industrial development.”
Based on the pre-publication copy of the TPS posted on the DTI website as of November this year, the nine priority sectors are information technology and business process management (IT-BPM); food and agro-processing; cement, steel, and construction materials; semiconductors; electronics and electrical devices; automotive, electric vehicles and automatic components; pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and health products; defense manufacturing; and chemical and industrial inputs.
DTI said memorandum circular allows local suppliers to be awarded contracts “if their bids are within 25 percent of the lowest foreign offer.”
“This measure ensures that the government’s purchasing power directly supports Filipino enterprises,” it said.
It added that the policy “serves as a national framework for industrial transformation anchored on five pillars: people, infrastructure, technology and innovation, investments, and sound financial management.” (PNA)