PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the Tatak Pinoy Strategy (TPS), a multiyear national industrial roadmap that aims to ‘strengthen’ key sectors, create jobs, and lift Filipino products to global standards, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Signed through Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 104 on October 24, the measure directs all government agencies to give preference to local products and services in their procurement.
In a statement on Monday, DTI explained that under the Strategy, local suppliers can be awarded contracts if their bids are within 25 percent of the lowest foreign offer.
‘This measure ensures that the government’s purchasing power directly supports Filipino enterprises,’ added the Trade department.
DTI, the agency leading the program, said the TPS serves as a ‘national framework for industrial transformation’ anchored on five pillars: people, infrastructure, technology and innovation, investments, and sound financial management.
For her part, Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque, who also chairs the Tatak Pinoy Council, said the Strategy opens new opportunities for local industries to scale and compete globally.
‘The TPS empowers our MSMEs and industries to innovate with purpose, produce with pride, and compete globally with confidence. We thank the President for his swift approval of this landmark policy that will boost our economy and generate more jobs for Filipinos,’ Roque said.
According to DTI, plans and priorities are ‘clearly outlined’ in the TPS framework to help domestic enterprises become more globally competitive, including nine priority sectors identified for their potential to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth and industrial development.
The nine priority sectors under the Tatak Pinoy Strategy are: IT-BPM; Food and Agro-processing; Cement, Steel, and Construction Materials; Semiconductors; Electronics and Electrical Devices; Automotive, E-Vehicles, and Automotive Components; Pharmaceuticals, Diagnostics, and Health Products; Defense Manufacturing; Chemicals and Industrial Inputs.
According to the TPS, these sectors were selected based on their export potential, domestic value-added, employment generation, and alignment with global value chains.