4-day Cebu Coconut Market Expo kicks off August 12-15

CEBU CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Region VII with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA-7) and the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) kicked off and opened today the 4-day 𝗖𝗘𝗕𝗨 𝗖𝗢𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗨𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗘𝗧 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗢 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, August 12-15 at the Main Atrium, Robinsons Galleria, Cebu to celebrate the gift of the coconut and to showcase the finest coconut products that are proudly Cebu.

DTI-7 acting regional director, Esperanza Melgar, in her opening message bared that the 4-day event is packed with activities including an interactive exhibit tour and booth contest on day-1, where booth representatives provide a 2-3-minute pitch about their products and enterprise story.

Day 2 brings in a whole-day coconut culinary showcase called “COCOLINARIA” which features various kinds of cooked our including baking and pastry and gourmet dishes showdown focusing on coconut-based main dishes and ingredients.

 

Day-3 is a series of lectures on food safety and coconut industry briefing including industry production, trends, exports and gaps; while day-4 is the stakeholders’ consultation, CFIDP guidelines presentation and awarding ceremony for best booth, outstanding coconut product innovation and ‘Cocolinaria’ winners.

Coconut industry development in Central Visayas

According to a report from the PCA in the region, the coconut industry in the Philippines, particularly in Central Visayas, is experiencing significant developments aimed at boosting production and export growth.

Key initiatives that push the industry’s growth include the establishments of Coconut Seed Farms in Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol and in Siquijor to promote high-quality coconut production.  Each seed farm receives ₱3 million in annual funding under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).

The PCA here has also put up three processing facilities for copra and virgin coconut oil that are being constructed in Corella and Mabini, Bohol, and Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.  Each facility costs ₱26 million, expected to benefit local coconut farmers' cooperatives.

Three Learning Sites for Coconut Farming have been established in Central Visayas to teach farmers innovative coconut farming techniques and technologies, aiming to increase production and trading, the PCA reports.

PCA’s collaboration with the CFIDP and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) bolster coconut farmers' productivity and entrepreneurship through shared processing facilities and training programs; and certification for coconut farmers, promoting best practices and sustainable farming methods.

According to PCA, the Philippines ranked second to Indonesia in coconut production in 2022, with 14.93 metric tons of coconut produced while Central Visayas is home to the biggest exporter of activated coconut carbon in the country and processes various coconut-based food products. (Photos: DTI/PCA FB/Google Images)

 

A US-based tech care giant to expand in Cebu, expected to create 500 new jobs

CEBU CITY – A US-based tech care giant, Asurion will soon open a new contact center in Cebu City that is expected to create at least 500 new jobs for Filipinos within the year.

 (From Left): PTIC-Washington D.C. Commercial Counselor Kenneth Yap, Asurion Senior Assistant General Counsel Grant Mullins, and Minister and Consul Hans Siriban. 

 The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Embassy welcomed Asurion’s latest expansion plans shared with DTI’s Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Washington D.C. (PTIC-WDC), Commercial Counselor Kenneth Yap and Philippine Embassy in Washington Minister and Consul Hans Siriban, through Asurion’s General Counsel Grant Mullins.

 “There is a welcoming environment for investors, especially with the support of the Marcos administration,” Mullins noted adding that Asurion successfully completed staffing for its call center expansion at the Clark Freeport Zone in 2024. 

Asurion’s expansion builds on its 16-year presence in the Philippines, where it operates across Manila, Clark, Laguna, and Iloilo. These sites facilitate key functions such as software development, mobile phone remanufacturing, call center, and technical support—employing skilled Filipino professionals.

The planned facility in Cebu will support the company’s growing US market, which currently provides smart device insurance, technical support, and repair services to over 100 million customers across one in three US households.

PTIC-WDC Commercial Counselor Yap highlighted that the Philippines is Asurion’s sole site outside the United States for cell phone remanufacturing. This facility employs around 1,400 skilled technicians who focused on repairing iPhones. 

Since launching its operations in 2009, Asurion Philippines has restored and shipped more than 10 million iPhones the US market. With the addition of the Cebu site, the company’s total workforce is expected to reach approximately 8,000 employees, Mullins said.

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Nashville, Asurion is the world’s largest tech care company, providing protection and repair services for a wide range of smart devices. It serves over 300 million customers worldwide through partnerships with global brands like Amazon, Samsung, and Verizon. (Photo: DTI7 & Google Images)

 

 

4th Visayas Shipping Conference/Exhibit slated in Cebu on Feb 27

 CEBU CITY –Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Region VII in partnership with PortCalls will hold the 4^th Visayas Shipping Conference and Exhibit on February 27 at the City Sports Club, Ayala Business Park, Cebu City with the theme, “Visayas Trade Logistics: Navigating a Competitive Landscape.”

DTI-7 regional director Ma. Elena Arbon said that about 150 shipping and logistics executives, manufacturers, importers and exporters, traders, and investors are expected to attend, providing valuable networking opportunities.

“The conference aims to address key issues facing the logistics industry and to highlight the Visayas region as a leading Philippine hub for logistics, trade, and investment and that DTI-7 plays a central role in the discussions,” Arbon bared.

Arbon added that the conference will also explore national and regional economic outlooks and their impact on trade logistics.  Experts will share insights on market trends and forecasts for the logistics industry as well as updates on Visayas infrastructure projects with a focus on developments in Cebu’s sea and air ports and their capacity to support economic growth.

DTI Undersecretary Mary Jean Pacheco delivers a talk on “Driving Supply Chain Efficiency/New Rules in Forwarding,” that would provide insights into policy updates, regulatory changes, and strategies for optimizing supply chain operations in the country.

Representatives from other government agencies, including the Bureau of Customs presents the ongoing trade facilitation initiatives, while industry leaders provide recommendations for optimizing logistics operations in Central Visayas.

Arbon on the other hand will also present “Recommendations for Improving Trade Logistics in Central Visayas,” sharing findings from a series of 2024 focus group discussions (FGDs) with logistics stakeholders in Cebu.

These FGDs engaged seven key industry sub-groups—manufacturers, importers, logistics service providers, shipping operators, government agencies, and consumer groups—to identify challenges, formulate action plans, and validate solutions to enhance trade logistics in Central Visayas.

Arbon will present data-driven insights and propose regional solutions to improve logistics efficiency, strengthen infrastructure connectivity, and enhance trade facilitation.

“Through collaboration between the public and private sectors, the Department aims to address supply chain challenges, advance policies that foster economic growth, and promote a more competitive logistics environment in the region,” Director Arbon said.

There is an accompanying exhibit to showcase innovative logistics solutions from companies, such as e-KONEK Pilipinas Inc., RAF International Forwarding Phils., and Barkota. The Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association, Inc. also supports the event. (Photos: DTI7/FB)