President Marcos has ordered the reorganization of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem) to ensure an "integrated approach" in the country's export marketing.
Through Executive Order No. 75, the Citem shall now be governed by a Board composed of executives from various government agencies, with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) secretary as the chairperson.
Other members of the Board include the secretaries of Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST),Department of Tourism (DOT); president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS); representatives from the Office of the President (OP) and the private sector, who will be appointed by the President.
The Board shall have regular meetings once every quarter and such special meetings as may be called upon by the Chairperson when deemed necessary.
The Board's functions include planning and implementing trade fairs, missions, and other export promotional activities to showcase Philippine products and services, and promote the country's participation in overseas trade fairs. It will also implement industry development programs for export products and services, including merchandise and technical assistance programs.
Within six months from the effectivity of order, the Citem shall come up with a roadmap that will detail the strategic plans and programs to further strengthen its mandates.
Citem, formerly Philippine Trade Exhibition Center (PTEC), is under the DTI.
Its reorganization was ordered as the President deemed that "there is a need to revisit and strengthen the organizational structure of the Citem to ensure integrated approach in export marketing towards attaining the objective of reinforcing the country's posture as a leading producer of quality export products and services."
The EO was signed on Nov. 22.