MANILA CITY, Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) and the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), chartered a comprehensive roadmap to revolutionize the wholesale and retail trade sector.
In the monumental collaboration, the DTI underscored its commitment to empowering the sector by bridging the gap between technological advancements and economic opportunities.
“This is a significant moment for the industry,” declared DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque. “By uniting the DTI, PRA, and SCMAP, we’re charting a new course for collaborative development. The Job Blueprint is a strategic framework to create a thriving job market, ensuring that innovation and technological advancements translate into more opportunities for every Filipino,” the trade chief furthered.
The significant thrust is projected to benefit a population of over 10 million Filipinos within a key industry that accounts for a considerable PhP4.4 trillion of the national gross domestic product.
To ensure the productivity of the blueprint, the DTI hosted a series of focus group discussions and guided surveys at the UP Law Center on 08 and 09 October 2024.
The discussions brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including supermarket representatives, specialized retailers, major consumer goods distributors, automotive stores, and even sari-sari stores, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of industry perspectives.
Moreover, the participants addressed key industry issues, encompassing workforce development, digital transformation, supply chain optimization, and the regulatory landscape.
The DTI remains dedicated to collaborating with wholesalers, retailers, and public sector stakeholders to ensure that the Job Blueprint effectively addresses the challenges and opportunities in industry.
Aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a “Bagong Pilipinas,” the Job Blueprint aims to harmonize the sector’s growth trajectory with the goals of inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and global competitiveness.
The strategic plan aims to transform the wholesale and retail trade sector into a key driver of job creation and economic prosperity, significantly contributing to the realization of Ambisyon 2040.