Bureau of Export Trade Promotion gave an update regarding Kuwait's Implementation of International Standard for Phtosanitary Measures on Wood Packaging Materials (SPM15).

According to the BETP Circular, all wooden packaging materials imported into or transiting Kuwait should go through the approved ISPM 15 measures of heat-treating or chemical-treating and bear the marking and stamp from the country of origin it went through appropriate procedures.

If the importer refuse to abide by the required procedure, the wood packaging materials shall bve disposed of or its entry to the country shall be refused and the importers shall afford all administrative expenses.

For inquiries, please contact the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion through telephone nos. (632) 890-4723 and 896-3251.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will resume public hearings for the Philippines Accession to the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) upon resumption of sessions in April 2009, as President Macapagal Arroyo favorably endorsed to the Senate the revised Instrument of Accession to the RKC last March 16, 2009.

"We will endorse to Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago the resumption of public hearings on the matter either on the last week of April or first week of May 2009 immediately after the said instrument is read on first reading in the plenary ", Atty. Fatima Lipp Panontongan, Deputy Chief of Staff of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, announced during the RKC Advocacy Strategy Workshop. She also announced that the said treaty is now a top priority of the the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations which is chaired by Sen. Santiago. EDC conducted the said workshop last March 26, 2009.

Source:EDC Informs March 2009

The House of Representatives approved on 2nd reading last 4 March 2009, House Bill No. 5241 or the Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives which adopts the retention of incentives to the jewelry industry. The Jewelry Industry Development Act of 1998 grants the following incentives to BOI registered jewelers: entitlement to excise tax exemption; zero duties on imported capital equipment & raw materials; and deduction from taxable income of 50% of expenses incurred in training.

The other EDC position adopted in the approved bill includes the continued Income Tax Holiday incentives to exporters and the domestic enterprises.

EDC, in partnership with PHILEXPORT and the jewelry industry, will pursue advocacies in the Senate upon resumption of sessions in the 3rd week of April 2009.

Source: EDC Informs March 2009

In line with the conduct of Bijoux Cebu 2009, we are pleased to invite you to the One-on-One Product Development Consultancy with Mr. PJ Arañador scheduled from March 22-25, 2009 at FAME Foundation, Costume Jewelry Center, DOST Compound, Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.

The One-on-One consultancy will focus on Product Collection Mechandising Program Spring-Summer 2010 in conformity with the Bijoux 2009 Creative Matrix.

A minimal fee of Five Thousand Pesos (P5000.00) will be charged for the development of four (4) collections with six (6) products per collectin and with product expansion for free.

There will also be a free Trend Seminar for Spring-Summer 2010 on March 26, 2009, 2pm.

For further inquiries of the scheduled one-one consultancies, please contact FAME Secretariat at telephone # 255-0851/61 or thru email: info@cebufame.com.ph.

IMPLEMENTORS: NAGKAHIUSANG MAG-UUMA SA CATMON-DAAN (HIMASACA), DENR-7 ERDS and Cebu FAME (Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters) Foundation

FUNDING SOURCE: Go Green Philippines Project Donors through Cebu FAME Foundation

COOPERATING AGENCIES: FMS-7, PENRO Cebu, CENRO Carmen, and LGU Catmon, Cebu.

PROJECT DURATION: 5 Years

RATIONALE

The Cebu-FAME Foundation in partnership with DENR-7 and Peoples’ Organizations ventures into a Go Green Philippines Project. The project goals are: 1) to help the government in greening and reforesting the degraded forestland of the country and contribute in the abatement of global warming with special consideration in the development of areas awarded with Community Based Forest Management Agreement by DENR, 2) enhance the quality of life of project beneficiary thru the employment generated in project implementation and the livelihood opportunities that will be implemented in the future, and 3) to provide sustainable supply of raw materials for the Philippine costume jewelry industry by establishing tree plantation species for costume jewelry. Financial requirement of the project will be coming from Cebu FAME Foundation, source out from the donations of foreign buyers of Cebu-FAME members’ products.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

1. To establish tree plantations of preferred species for costume jewelry industry as future source of quality and cheaper raw materials.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. To propagate and establish plantation of FAME tree species in Central Visayas in partnership with CBFM Peoples Organization.
2. To conduct support R & D activities for some tree species for costume jewelry industry to enhance propagation and utilization of the same.
3. To provide technical assistance and continuing capability building/strengthening to selected People Organizations.
4. To generate employment and provide livelihood to selected CBFM POs.

MILESTONES IN CY 2008

A. PO Mobilization, Site Selection and Arrangements

1. Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma Sa Catmondaan (HIMASACA) represented by its President Ms. Mercedita Molina is the CBFMA holder recommended by CENRO Carmen to be the beneficiary of the project.
2. Dialogue with the PO together with Cebu-FAME and DENR followed by orienting them about the project and the benefits they will be receiving.
3. Site identified by the PO for the 10 has. Pangantoon Plantation is at Sitio Ilum, Catmondaan, Cebu part of their 229 has. CBFM area. This was done together with Cebu-FAME and DENR representatives.
4. PO members and representative from Cebu-FAME where then re-orient by DENR on the methodologies of the nursery operations, plantation establishment, maintenance and protection.
5. A tripartite Memorandum of Agreement where then executed by Cebu-FAME, DENR-7 and HIMASACA spelling out the obligations of the three parties and the commencement of the “Go Green Philippines Project”.

B. Nursery Operation

1. PO-HIMASACA was able to establish a nursery which could accommodate the 25,000 seedlings targeted for production on top of the fence and shades they have also put up.
2. The PO was able to produce and maintained a total of 26,128 pangantoon seedlings and wildings.

C. Plantation Establishment, Protection and Maintenance

1. The PO was able to conduct stripbrushing, staking and hole digging activities to a total of 10 hectares.
2. The PO was able to establish the 10 hectares Pangantoon Plantation. Planting started in August 2008 until September 2008 at a planting distance of 2 m x 2 m.
3. Maintenance have not yet been undertaken, although protection is continuously undertaken by the PO.

D. Technical Assistance and Other Arrangements

1. Technical assistance through coaching was provided by DENR for the PO to be able to produce quality planting materials during seedling production and during the plantation establishment activity of the PO.
2. Technical assistance through suggested recommendations was also provided to Cebu-Fame on strategies to fasttracked project operation. DENR also assisted Cebu-FAME in the timely evaluation of PO’s accomplishment for payment.
3. Technical assistance was also provided to the project by mapping of site for development (Annex 4a) and eventually the charting of GGPP Donors’ areas
4. Cebu-FAME was able to provide necessary inputs such as plastic bags, pangantoon seeds and fertilizer to the PO.
5. Cebu-FAME was able to provide the financial requirement for the PO to continue with their activities.