DTI 6 finalizes three-year export roadmap for Western Visayas

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 6 is finalizing the Western Visayas Export Development Roadmap for 2026-2028, a strategic three-year plan designed to transform the region into a resilient and competitive global export hub.

During a workshop held at Citadines Amigo Iloilo on Feb. 19 to 20, a diverse group of participants, including indirect exporters and would-be exporters, representatives from the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PhilExport), and DTI export focal persons, gathered to unify provincial outputs into an inclusive regional strategy.

The roadmap directly addresses identified gaps in export awareness, readiness, and sustainability while aligning regional economic goals with actionable provincial plans to ensure local micro, small, and medium enterprises can compete globally.

The workshop was moderated by Francis G. Gentoral, provincial economic and development officer of Guimaras, who facilitated the integration of specific provincial outputs into the regional framework.

The initiative aligns with the vision of DTI Region 6 to increase the sales and profitability of exporters while providing direct access to new markets. The output of the collaborative session is expected to be officially completed within the first semester of 2026.

The roadmap is anchored on a “core” perspective to boost production and a “support” perspective to build enabling business systems.

DTI Region 6 proposes to launch a unified “Western Visayas Global Brand” to make products easily recognizable abroad and a Regional Export One-Stop-Shop to drastically reduce the time spent on complicated paperwork.

The plan also includes the establishment of the Western Visayas E-Export Academy to teach business owners how to master online international sales and digital marketing.

The strategy also leverages the new Visayas Container Terminal in Iloilo as a critical gateway, aiming to reduce regional shipping costs by 15 percent through consolidated freight services.

Each province has identified its unique strengths and strategic directions to drive regional growth.

Aklan is focusing on scaling its nito and piña crafts for container-level shipments to reach markets in Europe and Japan, while Antique plans to transition its coco-based products and muscovado sugar into export-ready organic goods.

Capiz aims to secure investments for high-value exports like cut foliage and fresh or dried seafood, while Guimaras is centering its efforts on its famous mangoes by using Geographical Indication branding to enter premium markets in South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

Iloilo targets becoming a regional hub for high-quality seafood, specifically premium crab meat, as well as specialty muscovado and chocolates for global wellness markets.

The next step involves a formal presentation to the Regional Development Council before the second quarter of 2026 ends to secure the policy support needed to navigate industry challenges.

Once the plan is finalized, a dedicated Technical Working Group including the DTI, provincial economic and development offices, the Bureau of Customs, the Food and Drug Administration, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Science and Technology will convene to turn the strategies into reality and work toward significantly increasing the income of the region’s exporters by 2028.