‘BUY LOCAL’ LAW UP FOR STUDY

THE City Council committee on trade and commerce chaired by Councilor George S. Goking is set to discuss the proposed institutionalization of the Buy Local Advocacy Program in the procurement of goods and services of local government units.

This, after the committee received a copy of the letter of Dir. Almer R. Masillones, Provincial Director of the Department of Trade and Industry, to Mayor Rolando Uy enjoining the city to pass the Buy Local Ordinance.

According to Director Masillones, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a critical role in nation-building by generating jobs and employment, and income for the Filipino people.

She said Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution also recognizes the role of the state to promote the preferential use of Filipino labor, domestic materials, and locally produced goods, and to adopt measures that help make MSMEs competitive.

Section 4 of RA 9501 provides that eligible MSMEs shall be entitled to a share of at least ten percent of the annual total procurement value of goods and services supplied to the government, its bureaus, offices, and agencies.

The DTI-10 is urging the city government to adopt a policy in its procurement activities to prioritize the sourcing of products and services from local MSME suppliers within the area of its operation subject to existing procurement laws and regulations.