The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has allocated some PHP40 million for the construction of its permanent field office here.

DTI officials led by Secretary Ramon Lopez led here on Wednesday morning the groundbreaking for the five-story building, which will be built in a 600-square meter property donated by the city government at the corner of Roxas Avenue and Matalam Street in Barangay Dadiangas East.

In his speech, Lopez said the agency pushed for the project to further improve the delivery of services for their clients here and nearby Sarangani province.

“This is not just a concrete structure but can be considered as a building of service,” the official said.

He specifically cited services under the agency’s mandate of “enabling businesses and empowering consumers,” through their flagship “Trabaho, Negosyo at Konsyumer” strategy.

Lopez said he is hoping that more local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will take advantage of their services and eventually develop into “smarter enterprises.”

DTI-Region 12 Director Dorecita Delima recalled that the city government donated the lot for their building as early as 2001.

In 2004, she said they submitted a plan for the construction of an office building to then-Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. but the project did not materialize.

The five-story building, which is due for completion by early 2021, will have a conference room, Negosyo Center, exhibit room and other modern amenities.

Delima said the construction of their field office building is part of the city’s development plan.

Following the groundbreaking ceremony here, Lopez and other top DTI officials proceeded to Koronadal City to inaugurate its PHP35 million regional office building situated at the Prime Regional Center site in Barangay Carpenter Hill.

The three-story building, which sits in a 1,364-square meter lot donated by the city government of Koronadal, has a floor area of 1,595 square meters.

The building, constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways, initially opened to the public last June 10.

Delima said the completion of the building, which will undergo further expansion, was a major boost to their operations and delivery of services to local consumers as well as more than 30,000 MSMEs in the region. (PNA)