A Business and Entrepreneurship Student’s Reflections on the Tatak Pinoy Summit
Tatak Pinoy (TP) Summit, themed “Tatak Pinoy Strategy: Catalyzing Industrial Transformation,” took place on December 4, 2024, at the Sheraton Manila Hotel. Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the event convened professionals, government officials, and key stakeholders to exchange insights and provide updates on the implementation of the Tatak Pinoy Act—a landmark initiative promoting industrial transformation and Filipino innovation.
DTI Usec. Rafaelita Aldaba (middle) and former DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez (leftmost) are joined by some of the speakers from the Tatak Pinoy Summit including Dr. Gonzalo Varela, World Bank lead economist (2nd from left), Mr. Samuel K.W. Ang, Senior Social Sector Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (third from right), and other business leaders and experts.
The Tatak Pinoy Act (R.A. 11981) is a recent legislation that outlines the country’s industrial policy, aiming to support and promote the production and provision of Philippine products and services by domestic enterprises. The act emphasizes enhancing diversity, sophistication, and quality to foster global competitiveness (Section 2). At the Summit, speakers discussed the Tatak Pinoy Strategy (TPS), which is organized into five key pillars: human resources, infrastructure, technology and innovation, investments, and sound financial management. These pillars provide a framework for implementing the goals of the act.
The first pillar, human resources, focuses on the development of a skilled and adaptable workforce, as mentioned by DTI Usec. Rafaelita Aldaba. The second pillar, infrastructure, is particularly focused on investments for innovation, infrastructure, and facilities for advanced research and incubation. This includes investments towards more national and regional hubs including technology centers. The third pillar, technology and innovation, involves scientific and technological innovations that drive economic growth, research and development (R&D), and commercialization of R&D investments. The fourth pillar, investments, particularly includes the TPS priority industries. Finally, the fifth pillar, sound financial management, ensures the inclusion of the TPS in expenditure priorities and fiscal programs of the national government. This pillar also gives emphasis to the importance of environmental sustainability, responsible consumption and production, and the adoption of green technologies in the production process.
As a senior high school student studying Business and Entrepreneurship, I see the Tatak Pinoy Act as a significant step in strengthening the Philippines’ long-standing participation in the global market by enhancing the competitiveness of local products and services.One of the takeaways for me from this summit is the realization that the starting point of our country’s industrial growth could lie within our micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). By offering incentives and providing our local enterprises with tools and an environment for growth and development, the Tatak Pinoy Act may serve as the bridge to the development of local products and services and means of increasing their market share internationally.
The act can also help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) address common challenges they face. One of the challenges faced by MSMEs is the limited access to technological capabilities and quality technologies. The Tatak Pinoy Act can help by facilitating exposure to capacity-building and training programs that will boost technological capabilities and competitiveness. These programs could equip MSME owners with knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions, improve productivity, and foster innovation.
One challenge mentioned by Dr. Adrian Mendoza, Assistant Professor and Associate Director for Research at the University of the Philippines School of Economics, is access to finance. He emphasized that some MSMEs lack awareness of the facilities and government incentives available to them. One solution could be conducting awareness campaigns through seminars and workshops to inform business owners about the resources they can access to ease operations, improve productivity, reduce costs, and expand their businesses. Collaborating with local government units (LGUs) to disseminate this information more efficiently could also help reach a broader audience.
Another area where the Tatak Pinoy Act can create an impact is education. As Department of Education Undersecretary Fatima Panontongan stated, “Education and industry go hand in hand—equipping our youth with future-ready skills ensures that they will not only participate in the workforce, but lead it.” Integrating entrepreneurship and technology into the curriculum will help prepare the youth to become business leaders. Collaboration between the Department of Education and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) can foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, potentially enabling the development of more complex and sophisticated products.
The Tatak Pinoy Strategy Framework presented by Usec. Aldaba shows that competitive and business-enabling environments will stimulate innovation, which in turn will propel productivity, ultimately leading firms to enter the export market.
The concept of economic complexity, which measures a country’s ability to produce a diverse range of sophisticated products, served as a key inspiration for the crafting of the Tatak Pinoy Act. Economic complexity highlights the relationship between a country’s knowledge base and its capacity to generate higher-value goods and services. By using this framework, the law aims to guide the design of the country’s industrial policy, focusing on upgrading local industries and aligning education and innovation systems to support the production of more complex and competitive outputs. This approach ensures that the development of future-ready skills is directly linked to advancing the Philippines’ position in the global value chain.
I have attended some seminars related to entrepreneurship, and I can see and understand the value of having access to such opportunities. I believe offering free seminars would also make these resources more accessible to both aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, helping them grow their businesses without the burden of additional expenses. With the right guidance, resources, and a supportive and collaborative environment, MSMEs can thrive not only in the local market but also globally.
I also appreciate how the Tatak Pinoy Act promotes sustainable production and consumption, as mentioned in Sound Financial Management, Section 8e of R.A. 11981. Given the consumers’ increasing awareness of and focus on sustainability, local enterprises incorporating sustainable practices may also experience more stable growth, which in turn could have a positive ripple effect, contributing to the country’s overall economic improvement.
Three key takeaways from the summit really stood out to me. First, the importance of education was often emphasized or mentioned throughout the event, especially the need for collaboration between academe, industries, and the government. I also believe that the success of initiatives like Tatak Pinoy also depends on the quality of education we have. Education shapes the skills and values needed to drive change and innovation, and by including topics like science and technology, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and local pride in the curriculum, we can prepare the young generations to build and create innovative and globally competitive businesses.
Second, Atty. Alex Cabrera’s perspective on our available local materials was really eye-opening to me. I realized that if we keep exporting raw materials, we’re actually helping other countries grow and limiting our own potential on the other hand. Instead of sending raw materials or “semi-finished” products abroad, we should focus on creating value from what we already have. This way, we can reduce costs, have opportunities to innovate, create more jobs, and build up our own economy.
Lastly, the discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) also stood out to me. “AI is one of the most transformational technologies of our time,” Dr. Sebastian C. Ibañez from the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Research (CAIR) mentioned. AI has a big potential to improve many industries like agriculture, healthcare, and education by making processes more efficient and accurate. It is clear that investing in AI and research and development (R&D) is crucial for keeping up with the global trends and developing the technologies we need to help our industries grow, develop, and compete globally. I believe that we must also recognize that investing in R&D is also essential to creating better technologies and more efficient work systems, leading to the creation of more sophisticated and complex products.
These are the six top industries that would benefit from AI, as presented by Dr. Ibañez. They include agriculture, manufacturing, business process outsourcing, healthcare, retail and e-commerce, and education.
I am fortunate to be surrounded by people who are knowledgeable and aware of what’s going on around them. As a student in a school that nurtures both the heart and mind, I believe that my peers and I can contribute to the success of the Tatak Pinoy movement as future entrepreneurs.
Personally, I would focus on environmental sustainability by ensuring that my business operations are eco-friendly and efficient. I would also continue attending trainings and seminars to expand my knowledge and improve my products. I would also incorporate touches of our culture in my products as embracing culture and heritage in a business can help promote locally-made products worldwide.
Author Reine Cruz, (second from left), alongside her classmates from the Business and Entrepreneurship Track of the UP Integrated School, Batch 2025, presented their thesis on the effectiveness of women entrepreneurs in leading micro- and small-scale industries.
I have also seen local social enterprises partnering with other local businesses to support and uplift each other. This practice has inspired me, and if I have the financial resources and connections, I would collaborate with local manufacturers to create partnerships that align with my brand’s vision. These collaborations would help strengthen the local supply chain and empower fellow entrepreneurs. Finally, with its vast audience and reach, I would use social media to raise awareness and promote local businesses.
As part of the youth today, my peers and I can make an impact by encouraging collaboration, learning from industry experts and/or leaders, and supporting each other. By gaining knowledge and making smart decisions, we can lead by example and inspire change. I believe that as future entrepreneurs, we can create businesses that not only succeed, but also benefit our community by promoting and investing in our own local products. After all, as I’ve always believed, “If you want change for everyone, the change has to start with you.”
* Reine Margareth Cruz, a Grade 12 student at the UP Integrated School, completed the 80-hour internship requirement for the Business and Entrepreneurship strand at the UP Institute for Small-Scale Industries. UP ISSI regularly hosts interns from various schools and universities, offering them hands-on experience in its diverse programs and initiatives. These programs include projects centered on MSME development and entrepreneurship, designed to equip future entrepreneurs and researchers with essential skills and knowledge. This article was written under the guidance of Ms. Nova Navo from the UP ISSI Research Division.