MANILA — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are targeting to further strengthen linking industries through public infrastructure.
DTI and DPWH held their second national meeting for Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade (ROLL IT) Program on Monday to evaluate, monitor, and plan industry-developing infrastructure projects.
During ROLL IT Program’s National Meeting, DTI and DPWH focused on improving criteria in the approval and implementation of future local road projects.
It was in November 2016 when DTI and DPWH forged a partnership to create a convergence program on road connectivity for industry and trade development.
The ROLL IT Program leverages on the success of DPWH’s partnership with the Department of Tourism for the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP), which upgrades roads leading to tourist destinations.
Under the ROLL IT Program, DTI and DPWH jointly undertake planning, budgeting, advocacy for legislation, identification, evaluation, prioritization, regulation, supervision, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of industry-developing infrastructure projects in priority economic and manufacturing zones in the Philippines.
The program also aims to fast-track industry and trade growth as the Duterte administration embarks on the golden age of infrastructure in the country.
In the third quarter of 2017, manufacturing and trade were among the main drivers of the 6.9-percent economic growth for the said quarter.
Industry recorded the fastest growth of 7.5 percent.
The DTI targets an annual manufacturing growth of more than 10 percent until 2022.
Likewise, domestic and external trade improved last year. (PNA)
