CEBU CITY — DTI Philippines Sec. Alfredo E. Pascual joined the Cabinet Secretaries of the Economic Development Group (EDG), BSP Deputy Governor, key government officials, and representatives from the private sector at the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) – Cebu on Friday, 11 August 2023 at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

Sec. Pascual joined as panelist during the third and last discussion titled “Reinvigorate. Accelerate. Transform.” with fellow Cabinet Secretaries Christina Garcia Frasco of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Bienvenido Laguesma of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), as well as Undersecretary Marlo Iringan of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra of the Department of Agriculture (DA). Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Charles Kenneth Co also joined to represent the private sector.

During the session, Sec. Pascual presented the DTI MSME Development Programs which focused on access to technology, finance, market, capability and labor training.

“Our micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are not only the backbone, but the heart of the economy,” said Sec. Pascual as he asserted the vital role of MSMEs in the development and growth of the country.

He also discussed the agency’s Export Strategies for Visayas and its priority industry clusters which includes the Industrial, Manufacturing and Transport (IMT), Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT), Health and Life Sciences (HLS), and Modern Basic Needs, Resilient Economy (MBNRE).

With the theme, “Agenda for Prosperity: Economic Transformation toward Inclusivity and Sustainability,’ the event aimed at discussing the President’s pronouncements in his second SONA and provide updates on the implementation of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. ♦

Date of release: 14 August 2023