Intertek Philippines Signs an MOA with GTEB on CTPAT Assistance Program
Intertek Philippines Signs an MOA with GTEB on CTPAT Assistance Program
Intertek Philippines established a joint cooperation with the Philippine’s Department of Trade and Industry through its garment regulatory agency – the Garments & Textiles Export Board (GTEB). This partnership is geared towards the promotion of the United States program on Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) certification as one of the keys in order to develop, enhance and maintain effective security guidelines and procedures among the Garment Manufacturers and Exporters (GMEs).
Intertek (Labtest) Philippines Manager, Miss Sandy Bucao, and GTEB Director, Serafin Juliano, have signed a Memorandum of Agreement and Terms of Reference in the dissemination of information about the CTPAT program among all the GMEs in order to establish a high awareness level of the program’s objectives and primary benefits, memberships requirements and basic elements of compliance to attain a competitive advantage in the global market, particularly that of the United States. This will be done through a series of orientation sessions among the GMEs in various regions throughout the country.
The orientation sessions were scheduled as follows :
September 9, 2004 - for exporters located in the National Capital Region (Metro
Manila area), Region 3 (Bulacan) and Region 4 (Rizal)
September 28, 2004 - for exporters located in Region 4 (Cavite & Laguna)
October 13, 2004 - for exporters located in Region 3 (Pampanga, Tarlac, Clark EPZ)
October 21, 2004 - for exporters located in Region 3 (Bataan, Zambalez, Subic EPZ)
October 28, 2004 - for exporters located in Region 7 (Central Visayas/Cebu)
The logistics, training venue and meals for all participants were sponsored by GTEB.
GTEB perceives the program as a route to speedy entry of Philippine garment exports to the US through reduced inspections by US Customs for Philippine garment companies certified to CTPAT. It shall also give the GMEs a market advantage over other vendors or manufacturers who are not certified to CTPAT. It is also seen as an avenue towards improvement of the factories and instilling best practices on security aspects.
After these sessions, more and more companies are expected to show a keen interest and enthusiasm towards CTPAT verification.
For enquiries, please contact Intertek Philippines at Tel: (63-2) 819-5841/-7, Fax: (63-2) 817-2994, E-mail: labtest.phils@intertek.com.