MANILA, Philippines — The government will maximize public-private partnership (PPP) in a bid to boost the productivity and efficiency of the industry and services sectors.

The Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 identified the commodities included in the priority industry clusters for the next six years.

In Luzon, these are the coffee cluster of the Cordillera Autonomous Region, milkfish of Region 1, dairy and dairy products of Region 2, and bamboo and logistics of Region 3.

The clusters also include the information communications technology (ICT) and IT-enabled services and logistics clusters of Region 4A, eco-tourism of Region 4B, wearables and lifestyles of Region 5, and health and wellness of the National Capital Region.

In the Visayas region, priority industry clusters are the gifts, toys and housewares (GTH), H&W, food, ICT and eco-tourism of Region 6; GTH, H&W, food, ICT and eco-tourism of Re- gion 7; and GTH, food and eco-tourism of Region 8.

Priorities likewise include industry clusters namely banana, mango, seaweed, wood, coconut, mining, eco-tourism and ICT of all regions in Mindanao.

On a larger scale, growth centers or regional hubs will be identified to synchronize the mobilization of public and private resources.

These hubs shall unlock productive capacity in the countryside by providing critical resources in support of private businesses even outside the capital, according to the MTPDP.

"The integrated international air and sea connectivity of Clark-Subic, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro (with the upcoming PPP project for the Laguindingan airport), and Davao shall be highlighted to enhance the profile of these growth centers among foreign and local investors," it noted.

For IT-enabled clusters such as technology business incubators, technology parks and clusters of knowledge-based industries, the country will promote the creation of shared infrastructure and the provision of business support services for innovators and developing entrepreneurs.

The creation of technology business incubators across the country will take into consideration commercial sustainability, careful matching of target markets with the strengths and ambitions of potential firms, and proximity and linkages to research institutions and universities.

"The provision of business support services shall be private sector-led and demand-driven. The clustering of knowledge-based industries through science and technology parks shall be stimulated," it added.

Industry clusters are geographic concentrations of competing, collaborating and interdependent businesses, working on a similar regional infrastructure and creating wealth of regions through exports.

These foster the transfer and adoption of new technologies, create risk capital and attract foreign investments.

Industry clustering has been made the central strategy for export development. This ensures that top export products or revenue streams are sustained through the development of its value chains down to the provinces and municipalities.

original source: Manila Bulletin