MikeLigalig.com

By Loy Palapos
Sunday Post Columnist

These are hard times, with poverty among the populace still a mammoth problem, with soaring prices of basic commodities and inflation causing nightmares, plus a political scenario that leaves a lot of things to be desired; thereby necessitating the government bureaucracy to double its effect in order to maintain an equilibrium, an upset of which could spell disaster. Consequently, various government agencies have alerted themselves to prove equal to the tasks at hand. One of the most concerned is DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), which has a big role to play in turning back the tide and make a dint in paving the way to extricate the country from total catastrophe.

  Heading the Central Visayas DTI hierarchy is Regional Director Asteria Cabagnot Caberte (ACC). On her shoulders has fallen a burden she has no intention of denying nor running away from. As far as this gutsy Lady is concerned, she is ready to take the bull by its horns.

 This interview took place at ICM’s Prawn Farm (the latest attraction in fine dining), during a Press Conference to launch the July 23-27 Sandugo Regional Product and Raw Material Showcase.

 LMP: How long have you been with DTI?

 ACC: I started in 1979 when I was a MASICAP scholar.

 LMP: Was being a member of the MASICAP program the reason you joined DTI?

 ACC: It was not really intentional. I was immediately absorbed by DTI after I joined the program. From there, tuloy-tuloy na.

 LMP: How long will you be working with DTI?

 ACC: I still have to consider a lot of choices with my career path. DTI is not the only option but there are still a lot of things to do here.

 LMP: Does that mean that you have found fulfillment with your job?

 ACC: Yes, definitely. DTI has helped me a lot as a person and as a career woman. DTI is a no-nonsense organization.

 LMP: How long had you been the Provincial Head of DTI?

 ACC: I had been the Provincial Head for 3 years.

 LMP: The moment you joined DTI, did you already have an idea about the responsibilities you were going to handle?

 ACC: To be very honest, I never thought I would reach this far in the organization. I started with the lowest position, a Researcher. I had to go out the rocky terrain to do researches. I was promoted to Analyst, then Senior Specialist. I’m so lucky because unlike other employees, I had the chance to be exposed to everything. DTI is into development and marketing function. I also became Chief for Enforcement before here in Bohol. Eventually I became the Provincial Director. Every year, I always learn new things.

 LMP: If you are going to asses the function of DTI from the first years that you have been with the agency up to now, would you say that it has accomplished a lot?

 ACC: Yes, definitely. DTI is an organization which gives you opportunity to grow and learn new things. The agency gives us freedom to be creative and it’s just so inspiring. We launched our scheme projects like the one we have now. This is a livelihood project in different areas. The residents noted it and gave me additional instructions to send the products out from the country. This is our target for exports. How we do these things, it’s up to us. Along the way, models are identified. We replicate these models in other regions.

 LMP: Most of the things duplicated are from the Central Visayas?

 ACC: Yes. It has been a very successful year for me. We just had a National Business Economic Forum in Region 7.

 LMP: Since you became associated with DTI in 1979, what would you consider as some of the projects that are so memorable to you?

 ACC: We had this showcase of products from Inabanga. Before, we used to display the products sa Agora. Look at us now… the partnership with the LGU is so effective. The Sandugo Product Showcase is now on its 20th year. We started at Plaza Rizal, maglisod pa gyud mi kay kon mag-uwan, bisan asa na lang ibutang ang mga produkto. My biggest accomplishment as far as product showcase is concerned is that we used to be highly subsidizing this showcases; now the stakeholders are on their own.

 LMP: How about the enthusiasm of those who are not yet involved with DTI? Is this something that is generating cooperation?

 ACC: This time, it’s an easy ride. We are getting distributors from other regions. During my meetings, it’s a different mode na. We are getting so much support and the public believe in what we are doing.

 LMP: We have mentioned last time that materials from Bohol are being smuggled to Cebu. Is this still happening?

 ACC: We’re very lucky with the strategic partnership with our local and provincial governments. There is a provincial ordinance banning the shipping out of our fibers.

 LMP: Is that also true with the other regions?

 ACC: Dili kayo scarce ang fibers sa ubang regions, dinhi sa atoa ra.

 LMP: What happens if there are no more raw materials?

 ACC: I hope not. We are having a replenishment program and we’re very serious with it. The industry spearheads it itself. We go in tandem with the other stakeholders in the industry and they are successful in doing so. We are planting buri in Tubigon and Inabanga. So I don’t see any possibility that we will run out of this kind of material.

 LMP: How successful is OTOP now?

 ACC: It has been really successful in Bohol compared to other regions.

 LMP: How many are existing right now?

 ACC: Although not all of them are functioning, we have Inabanga being the model, with Tubigon and Danao.

 LMP: What is the product in Danao?

 ACC: They have organic vegetables, which have been there for a long time. Ang akong role na lang is to connect them to the market.

 LMP: Is there a time limit for OTOP?

 ACC: It is already on-going. As long as the needs are there, which I’m sure will always be there, it will continue to go. It is one of the programs which I really believe in.

 LMP: There are some government agencies which, in a way, have the same objectives with DTI. For instance, the program of the Department of Agrarian and Reform. How do you coordinate with them?

 ACC: OTOP is not only a DTI program. In a town for example, it should be initiated by the local government. All the other agencies concerned should be the first to suggest that their program should be for OTOP.

 LMP: We understand that OTOP is successful here in Bohol, how about in other regions?

 ACC: They also have very successful OTOPs like that of Paete, “kape” in Batangas, the “saging” of Davao and vegetables of Bukidnon.

 LMP: Let’s talk about the economy of the country. There is an on-going crisis. How does it affect DTI?

 ACC: As far as our consumer protection is concerned, we see to it that the laws we created are imposed and complied with. Kay high prices pa gani, sakyan pa gyod sa ubang pagsaka.

 LMP: We understand that the responsibility of DTI is tough and could be complicated. What keeps you going?

 ACC: I always maintain a good team. I am managing 212 different personalities in the region. I have to be cohesive in handling my team. They know me as a leader; they know my personality also. We shout during meetings, but at the end of the day, we make up. My way of relaxation is going home to my hometown.

 LMP: What can you say to the local staff, most specifically in terms of propelling DTI to gather heights?

 ACC: I always say this to my colleagues in the DTI, “review what you have done the whole day”… in fact, when I go home after a long day, I would ask myself, “have I done a good deed today? Was I able to do a good job?” I always check if I have accomplished something despite my being busy. No one can check you at the end of the day but yourself. 

       Regional Director Aster Caberte understands the current problems the country is now immersed in; but unlike the freshmen and sophomores being unnerved by recent negative developments; and she is uncowed and still on top of the situation. She has figuratively rolled up her sleeves to sit to work and face the problems brazenly without a tint of trepidation. Ever-optimistic, Director Aster Caberte has high hopes things will turn out right. But, of course, she knows it cannot happen overnight, and without the converted efforts of all concerned.

       The annual Showcase spearheaded by her Department started in 1988 when she was still with DTI-Bohol. This is her 20th year to use the Sandugo Festival to market local products. For the past 20 years, her efforts had not been in vain, although the climb to the top is still on-going.

       The present economic set-backs caused by the soaring prices of basic commodities (spurred by oil products), the unemployment rate steadily increasing, inflation at its highest in years, a political atmosphere that is chaotic (to say the least), and a President with the lowest acceptance rating since 1986… all these could have intimidated government agencies directly concerned. But DTI, Region VII still retains that optimism that characterized achievers. And at its helm in Central Visayas is Regional Director Aster Caberte, still in full control of the situation, and unperturbed in her determination to pursue with her plans. And like her previous commitments, Lady Aster will succeed.                                                             

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