 |
The Department of
Trade and Industry’s Undersecretary for Regional Operations Zenaida Cuison-Maglaya graced the opening
ceremony of this year’s Kadagayaan Festival and 48th Araw ng Davao
del Norte as keynote speaker on June 24, 2015 at the Provincial Park and Plaza,
Capitol Grounds, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
In her speech, USEC
Maglaya congratulated the provincial government and all Dabaonons for the
progress that Davao del Norte is currently enjoying. She said that being a
Dabaoeña herself (she was born and raised in Davao), she felt proud every time
she goes back and see the developments happening in her hometown. She also
applauded the “madagayaon” spirit of the Dabaonons that has been displayed
countless of times in every difficult situation it had been through and that
essence of optimism and oneness that the people constantly exhibits which she
believes is the reason why “kadagaya” and “kasadya” is ever present in the province.
She also stated that what made it achieve glorious feats such as being the
banana capital of the Philippines to hosting the “best Palarong Pambansa ever”
is because the Dabaonons hoped, dreamed and worked together without losing that
“madagayaon” attitude.
Usec. Maglaya, also talked
about the ASEAN Economic Integration which as she say is already here even
before 2015. However, she clarified that December 2015 (when the integration
will be fully enforced) should not be considered a doomsday but merely a
deadline for achieving a 100% compliance on agreed ASEAN Integration targets
and since the country has opened its doors to international trade since 2010
with the lifting of tariffs on basically 99% of commodities coming from other
ASEAN-member nations, the competitiveness of local industries has greatly
improved enabling the country to adjust once ASEAN will formally enter the
process of becoming a regional economic bloc.
She also added that
for DTI’s part, it has partnered with various local government units and other
national agencies in implementing projects geared towards increasing product
quality, production capacity and investment promotion such as the approval and
implementation of investments and incentives code, adoption of streamlined
Business Process and Licensing System, Industry Cluster Promotion Program, SME
Roving Academy (SMERA) and Shared Service Facilities.
Usec. Maglaya
concluded by urging everyone from the SMEs, businesses and private sectors to
close ranks to ensure the benefits and sustainability of the reforms and
initiatives being implemented by the local and national government.
Governor Rodolfo P.
del Rosario, formally opened the 8-day Kadagayaan Festival, and toured the Agri-aqua
Industry Trade Fair with Usec Maglaya, Vice-Governor
Victorio Suaybaguio, Ms. Phoebe Orbe DA-RFO XI, and Mr. Romeo L. Castañaga of
DTI-DN. The group also got a sample of
what each municipality has to offer like New Corella’s fresh milk, San Isidro’s
cacao-based products, Carmen’s balut, Panabo’s bangus, IGaCoS’s mangoes,
Dujali’s black rice, Talaingod and Sto. Tomas’s fresh farm produce and Tagum’s
calamansi juice among others.
