Davao industry clusters assessment on April 12

LEADERS of the eight industry cluster teams of the Davao region will meet on April 12 in Davao City to present their accomplishments since the implementation of the Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP) in 2007.
The respective chairpersons of the teams, which represent the eight priority industries of the region – banana, mango, coconut, seaweed, wood, eco-tourism, mining, and information and communications technology (ICT), will report on the milestones, breakthroughs, and best practices they have experienced as they carry out their priority projects. These projects are part of the capacity-building intervention of the DICCEP, being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Under the DICCEP, the industry cluster teams have been provided the opportunity to strengthen the industry value chains through the projects which have been implemented.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 management support and special concerns division (MSSCD) chief and DICCEP manager Romeo L. Castañaga said the conduct of the Davao regional industry cluster forum will also be a venue where the industry cluster teams will exchange views on their varied experiences, best practices, learnings, and business breakthroughs.
Among the initiatives of the cluster teams were the pilot project for the enhancement of banana industry cluster in the municipality of Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte; mango production synchronization project which intends to address the low and erratic pricing condition of mangoes; building capabilities of the Davao region coconut industry cluster which aims to establish cluster-managed pilot  coconut farms which will demonstrate improvement  of production and  productivity,  strengthening  and capacitating  the cluster,  improvement of markets, and reduction of  production costs; establishment of seaweeds model coop farms in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, Digos, Davao del Sur; establishment of mnalapapaya (Polyscias Nodosa, family Araliaceae) nursery and plantation development in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte; web and text marketing and yourism databank project; and advocacy on responsible mining (ARM).  [dti11/jmm]