Bright future for franchising sector - Phil Franchise Assn
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, June 16 (PIA) -- The Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) sees a very positive outlook on the future of the franchising industry with the growth of the country’s economy as it launches its Cebu office.
“The good news is that the Philippine economy grew by six percent which is the fastest in Southeast Asia and next only to China,” said PFA Chairman Robert Trota, adding that this is an opportune time to exploit the advantage of expanding the business of franchising in the region and across the country and even in the global market.
Trota was in Cebu to announce the opening of the PFA-Cebu Office and induct its officers and new members.
“The ‘Ceboom’ is still a continuing phenomenon and with Cebu’s energetic economy, we see a vibrant emerging franchise culture ahead,” said Trota.
The PFA chairman said one of his advocacy is to bring Cebu’s businesses to the global market through the PFA’s international franchise affiliation.
According to PFA President Elizabeth Pardo-Orbeta, since the association was founded in 1995, it has since generated millions of jobs for Filipinos.
Currently, PFA has 187 company-members nationwide but 63 percent of these establishments are micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Orbeta said that 55 percent of the members comprised the food sector followed by the services sector with 23 percent and 22 percent for the retail industry.
Large-scale firms comprise 35 percent of the PFA members followed by 28 percent each for the small and medium scale firms and nine percent for micro establishments.
Philippine franchising before 1995 was only for foreign and large enterprises with a one percent average growth per year.
But the establishments of the PFA where its concept was introduced to the MSMEs, the average annual growth dramatically rose to 62 percent as franchising has become a preferred investment option by many.
“Our vision for the Philippines is to be the center of franchise development in Asia by providing the gateway to the entry and export of world-class quality brands, products, and services from Asia to the rest of the world and vice versa,” said Orbeta.
The PFA meanwhile, is holding the Franchise Asia Philippines 2012, Asia’s biggest 4-in-1 Franchise Event on July 25-29 at the SMX Convention Center, adopting the slogan of the Department of Tourism “Franchising. More Fun in the Philippines.”
One of the featured highlights of the international franchise expo is the best of ‘Tindahang Pinoy’ in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, which will display One-Town, One Product (OTOP) goods. (RCR-PIA7, Cebu)