At the recent 1st Philippine Auto Parts Exhibit 2017 or PhilAPEX 2017 at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City, local auto parts makers and truck body builders gathered to showcase local manufacturing and Filipino ingenuity.
The parts makers exhibited locally manufactured auto parts and components to supply the government’s Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program of the government. On the other hand, the truck body builders with their platform suppliers showcased sixteen different prototypes of the modern PUV. These were built in conformance with PNS 2126:2017 of the Bureau of Philippine Standards covering the dimensional limits for the modern PUV. These will provide the vehicle solution to the government’s PUV Modernization Program.
In his keynote address, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Mon Lopez mentioned that local manufacturers should take advantage of the gradual depreciation of the Philippine Peso. “We will just allow natural market forces to determine the exchange rate. Thus, even a depreciation will be beneficial to exporters as they stand to earn more. This will give natural protection to domestic manufacturers since it will now make imports expensive. This will encourage more local production and an increase in production capacities that will allow us to export more in the future”.
His message adds on to the positive vibe that abounded during the PhilAPEX event with the theme Gawang Pilipino Para sa Pilipino as everything that were exhibited were locally manufactured and assembled auto products.
Engr. Ferdi Raquelsantos, President of the Philippine Parts Makers Association, the lead organizer of PhilAPEX, said that the event showcased the country’s automotive manufacturing capability and highlighted the Filipino technician’s innovativeness. “It was also intended to show that the local auto parts making industry can keep pace with the expected growth of the domestic auto industry, given the impetus for local assembly required in both the CARS and the PUV Modernization Programs”.
Jerryme Garcia, COO of leading truck body builder Centro Manufacturing Corporation said that he agrees with the views of Secretary Lopez. “We are happy that our economic managers are managing well the gradual devaluation of the Peso. We are further elated that our DTI Secretary is pushing for the resurgence of local manufacturing and assembly. He mentioned that the manufacturing sector has increased by 17% and we ourselves have felt that in Centro. As a testament to our support to local manufacturing, the DTI’s Eco PUV Program and the PUV Modernization Program of the DOTr, we have displayed seven Eco PUV prototypes, two of which were electric jeepneys. We hope that local manufacturing continues to increase in the Philippines and that there is no turning back from here”.
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