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The Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Retailers Association, and Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines signed an MOU aimed at addressing critical challenges and laying out a roadmap for the wholesale and retail sector’s continued growth
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The MOU embodies a “shared commitment to nurturing a dynamic resilient and competitive wholesale and retail sector,” acting Trade secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said during the November 7 MOU signing
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The changing landscape of the wholesale and retail industry with evolving technological advancements such as automation and the growth of e-commerce prompted the collaboration, said PRA president Roberto Claudio, Sr.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), and Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP) recently signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at addressing critical challenges and laying out a roadmap for the wholesale and retail sector’s continued growth.
The MOU embodies a “shared commitment to nurturing a dynamic resilient and competitive wholesale and retail sector,” acting Trade secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said in a speech during the signing ceremony on November 7.
“This partnership with PRA reinforces our shared commitment to fostering a competitive retail market that values innovation, enhances consumer experience, and upholds fair trade practices. Meanwhile, with SCMAP, we are advancing logistics practices that make retail more accessible and efficient, ensuring that our supply chains are reliable and resilient,” Roque added.
SCMAP president Dennis Llovido said they see the partnership “as a take-off point to further make our retailing sector, as well as the manufacturing and logistics sectors, competitive and… keep pace with the evolving needs of the Filipinos, our consumers.”
PRA president Roberto Claudio, Sr. said the MOU “underscores our shared vision to strengthen and elevate our industry.”
The collaboration was prompted by the need to keep up with the changing landscape of the wholesale and retail industry—or the channel of distribution—with evolving technological advancements such as automation and the growth of e-commerce, and how these affect jobs in the industry, Claudio said.
He explained the industry “is no longer operating in the way we saw what channel of distribution was before” and that “technology is key to staying competitive.”
He noted, “We had to really look at the different jobs that will be lost or jobs that we can reskill so that we can adapt to the changing environment.”
As part of the MOU, DTI, PRA and SCMAP are formulating the Section G: Job Blueprint for the Wholesale and Retail Trade Sector, which will outline strategies to enhance workforce development, promote innovation and champion economic growth across the sector.
Llovido in an interview with PortCalls at the sidelines of the signing said SCMAP—whose members are experts in warehousing and logistics—can “influence” or provide job descriptions for PRA members to make the warehouse and distribution process faster and more efficient.
Also under the MOU, the parties will implement market access initiatives promoting local products in the domestic market while also establishing initiatives to institutionalize knowledge sharing, collaboration, and coordination among the participants.
This will include regular meetings, joint research initiatives, and the exchange of industry insights and best practices to sustain sectoral growth and development.
The three organizations will conduct a Wholesale and Retail Trade Conference and Job Fair in March 2025 to engage international stakeholders, the general public, and industry experts pertinent to the sector to present the Job Blueprint. – Roumina Pablo
