The European Union has committed EUR6.1 million (P327.4 million) in continued assistance to the Philippines’ effort to promote trade and investment for further economic development, inclusive growth, and poverty reduction.
The EU commitment is for the fourth phase of the EU-Philippine Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) program, which recently completed its third phase (TRTA 3) last March 28.
“We are committed to support the strengthening of Philippines’ integration into the world economy, and to contribute to the country’s inclusive growth goals,” EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen said.
The EU has supported the Philippines with trade-related technical assistance since 2005. TRTA 3, executed in 2014-2017, aimed to build capacity among stakeholders for the Philippines’ integration into the international and regional trading and investment system. The project components covered trade policy, competition policy, national quality infrastructure, sanitary and phytosanitary conformity, and trade facilitation.
“By working on trade-related issues through the project, the EU and the Philippines collaborated on strengthening the framework for trade policy for inclusive growth, and enhancing our capacity to implement a competition policy and a national quality infrastructure that would protect consumers and improve compliance with international standards,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said during the closing ceremonies of the EU-Philippine TRTA 3.
“This will also help increase our access to international markets, and facilitate cross-border movement of goods,” he added.
The trade chief explained that the program worked with both public and private sectors in helping the Philippines actively participate in global trade.
“Trade is a lever for economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction. As ASEAN chair in 2017, the Philippines also recognizes the strong implications of trade for regional cooperation and stability,” he said.
A highlight of the TRTA3 closing program is the launch of the Philippine Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (PhilRASFF), a state-of-the-art, web-based alert system for food authorities to immediately respond to food safety incidents. These include contaminated food products found in the Philippine market or at the Philippine border, as well as food-borne disease outbreaks involving marketed products.
In cooperation with the EU RASFF, ASEAN RASFF, and the International Network of Food Safety Authorities, PhilRASFF system enables competent authorities to file notifications and exchange information—whether as a result of inspections or through foreign notifications—on consumer complaints or companies reporting food safety incidents.
PhilRASFF will also strengthen the capacity of the Philippines to tackle food safety risks and to contribute to the overall safety of food marketed in the ASEAN. The PhilRASFF was implemented by the TRTA 3 in partnership with the Philippines Food and Drug Administration.
“A pro-active government, the collaboration of our development partners, and stakeholder participation in decisions that would affect trade, would combine to shape Philippine competitiveness,” Trade Undersecretary Rodolfo Ceferino, who was also TRTA 3 steering committee chairman, said.
The TRTA 3 covered a wide range of activities supporting the country’s priorities, including in developing the Philippine Export Development Plan, strengthening the capacity of DTI and relevant government agencies in trade policymaking and trade negotiations, as well as hands-on training and capacity-building for staff at the departments of agriculture, health (Food and Drug Administration), Justice (Office for Competition), and Finance (Bureau of Customs).
Image courtesy of jk1991 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
