DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY HISTORY
Established to address local industry and foreign trade growth, The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) traces its history back to the creation of the Department of Commerce in 1898. At the time, its primary mandate involved supporting the Department of Agriculture and Commerce towards developing national trade and industry. Nearly 75 years following its inception, changes in government and agency functions would make possible the establishment of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and, following the People Power Revolution, the Department as it is presently known.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (1901)
The Philippine Commission established the Department of Commerce (and Police). After World War II, President Manuel A. Roxas issued Executive Order (EO) 94 on 04 October 1947, creating the Department of Commerce and Industry (DCI). Cornelio Balmaceda, a much sought-after Economics Professor and Bureau of Commerce (BOC) Director, was appointed Acting Secretary of the newly created Department of Commerce and Industry. Prior to EO 94, the Bureau of Commerce was tasked to develop and promote the trade and industry of the country under the overall supervision of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce (Act 4007 on 05 December 1932 by the Philippine Legislature.
OUR BEGINNINGS (1898)
The DTI had its beginnings on 23 June 1898 when President Emilio F. Aguinaldo formed four government agencies, namely the Departments of Navy, Commerce, Agriculture, and Manufacturing.
AFTER 25 YEARS (1972)
DCI had grown into a big organization with 10 regular bureaus and 22 agencies under its direct supervision. The DCI was mandated to promote, develop, expand, regulate, and control foreign and domestic trade, industry, and tourism.
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY(1987)
Drastic changes followed after the People Power Revolution. President Corazon C. Aquino signed on 27 February 1987 EO 133, reorganizing the Ministry of Trade and Industry and renaming it the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (1981)
Drastic changes followed after the People Power Revolution. President Corazon C. Aquino signed on 27 February 1987 EO 133, reorganizing the Ministry of Trade and Industry and renaming it the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
DTI’S OFFICIAL ANNIVERSARY (2006)
In 2006, Secretary Peter B. Favila issued a Department Order officially declaring every 27 July of each year, the date and month the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Industry was first merged, as the DTI anniversary.
DTI GOES ONLINE (2009)
As the Department aims to reach more of its stakeholders, the Department launched its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages which contains relevant information regarding the services that DTI offers.
STREAMING OF BUSINESS REGISTRATION (2010)
In a step to improve the ease of doing business and pursuant to the Republic Act No. 9845 otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA), DTI localized the business registration process making it more efficient, effective, and easily accessible for local enterprises. LGUs and other government agencies were enjoined to align their business permits licensing system with the joint memorandum circular entitled “Guidelines in Implementing the Nationwide Upscaling of Reforms in Processing Business Permits and Licenses in All Cities and Municipalities in the Philippines”.
PERFORMANCE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM AND THE GOLD GOVERNANCE TRAILBLAZER SEAL (2011)
In 2011, DTI adapted the Performance Governance System (PGS), as a response to the increasing demands of its stakeholders. The PGS is a performance management and measurement tool based on Harvard Business School’s Balanced Scorecard. It is also during this year when DTI received the Gold Governance Trailblazer Seal conferred by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia recognizing the Department as a global model for public transformation and sustainability.
AGENCY ROADMAPPING PROJECT (2014)
To forge strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders, particularly, the private sector, DTI-BOI crafted the Industry Roadmapping Project which contained the Department’s vision, goals/targets and strategies for various industries.
MOST SINCERE GOVERNMENT AGENCY (2012)
In 2011, DTI adapted the Performance Governance System (PGS), as a response to the increasing demands of its stakeholders. The PGS is a performance management and measurement tool based on Harvard Business School’s Balanced Scorecard. It is also during this year when DTI received the Gold Governance Trailblazer Seal conferred by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia recognizing the Department as a global model for public transformation and sustainability.
ESTABLISHMENT OF DTI-NEGOSYO CENTERS (2015)
In line with the passing of the Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo act which aims to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Department launched the DTI-Negosyo Centers nationwide. The presence of Negosyo Centers in municipalities and provinces provided financial assistance, management guidance, and facilitate marketing access and linkaging services for entrepreneurs.
PHILIPPINE QUILL AWARDEE (2016)
The country’s most prestigious awards program in the field of business communication, the Philippine Quill Awards, has bestowed its seal of approval to DTI for utilizing effective corporate communication in conveying the core messages of the Department’s programs and for its use of various media channels to communicate to its key audiences.
CONSUMER CARE and 1-DTI (2018)
Committed to the safety and protection of the consumer public, Secretary Ramon M. Lopez facilitated on 09 August 2018 the establishment of the DTI Consumer Corner and the 1-DTI (1-384) hotline which attends to important consumer concerns regarding consumer rights and responsibilities.
