Trade Secretary Cristina Roque on Wednesday admitted that the country’s packaging industry is significantly behind its ASEAN counterparts. She stated that her department is working hard to fill the gap by pushing for the Shared Service Facility (SSF) project, which would assist the industry and Filipino businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“We need to buy upgraded machines for the industry, but my basic requirement when buying machines through the SSF is that they must have repair and after-sales service. Sometimes, these machines break down, and no machine parts are available in the country,” said Roque in an ambush interview after the opening of the 5th edition of ProPak Philippines in Pasay City, an event dedicated to showcasing the latest innovations in processing and packaging technologies essential for advancing the Philippines’ economy.

As MSMEs lack access to innovative techniques and advanced technology, which hinders them from realizing their full potential, breaking into bigger domestic or international markets, and growing in a highly competitive environment, the DTI launched the SSF Project aimed at improving MSME productivity and efficiency through better access to technology.

“We also need to constantly train the MSMEs and the people who use these machines. The DTI has a budget for SSFs to buy machines under the GAA 2025, which is around P600 to P800 million,” Roque disclosed.

She said exhibitions like ProPak are a great avenue to showcase advanced machinery for the packaging industry, which is lagging compared to neighboring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

“Even if we have the machines, if there are no after-service providers, the business will be stalled. So, the machines being bought under the SSF should have after-sales service located in the country, as importing machine parts takes time and is very costly. That is why we are lagging,” Roque explained.

Earlier, Joseph Ross Jocson, president of the Asia Packaging Federation, called for government support for their industry, describing it as a missing link needed for the industry to progress.

The DTI said that as of November 2024, the government has allocated a total of P3.7 billion since 2013, funding the establishment of 3,611 facilities and assisting over 700,000 MSMEs and other users, generating 300,000 jobs nationwide.

The SSF has served key industry clusters such as processed food, coffee, cacao, dairy, coconut, abaca, bamboo, GDH, metal, and rubber, among others, and is present in all 17 regions, according to the DTI.

ProPak 2025, with the theme "Investing in the Future of Sustainable Packaging and Processing through Technology, Innovation, and Thought Leadership," underscores the critical role of both the government and the private sector in driving economic growth and sustainability.

The event attracted over 250 exhibiting companies from 25 countries, including international pavilions from Italy and Taiwan.

These exhibitors showcased cutting-edge innovations in processing and packaging technologies and were expected to engage with over 12,000 trade buyers throughout the three-day event.

ProPak Philippines emphasizes knowledge sharing and networking, featuring over 40 industry-focused conference and seminar sessions in collaboration with esteemed organizations such as the Australasian Institute of Packaging, the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability, and Prestige Paper Products, among others.