The Samahan sa Pilipinas ng mga Industriyang Kimika (SPIK) held its 170TH SPIK General Membership Meeting (GMM) at Armada Hotel on June 22, 2023, with the theme: “Resiliency of the Chemical Industry in Meeting Regulatory Challenges through Partnerships, Innovations, and Technology”

VP-External Elsie David delivered the opening remarks to welcome the SPIK members and guests to the 170th SPIK GMM. 

SPIK President Gretchen Enarle presented the President’s Report to status of the Association as well as the ongoing programs and engagement with government agencies in its efforts of continuing discussion on regulatory matters, and future projects.

Dr. Lawrence Limjuco presented the progress on the updating of the Chemical Industry Roadmap project. The objectives of the association are aligned with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) covering the period 2023-2028. The PDP is a plan for deep economic and social transformation to reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by steering the economy back on a high-growth path. This plan comes at a time when the global Covid 19 pandemic is winding down as more people develop immunity from the deadly disease. 

However, the industry faced regulatory challenges strictly implemented by government agencies that have authority over the chemical industry. To address these obstacles to growth, the industry has developed and established partnerships with science-oriented organizations in both government and private sectors.

To give the industry a wide perspective and outlook in meeting challenges, SPIK invited Dr. Enrico Paringit, Executive Director of the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technologies (PCIEERD). Dr. Paringit organized a Policy Dialogue concerning the IRR on PNP Controlled Chemicals last August 12, 2022. SPIK is in partnership with DOST-PCIEERD in the roadmap updating. Likewise, PCIEERD is also helping many companies, especially SMEs, in complying with environmental regulations through novel, innovative projects in partnership with the academe.

In cognizance with the partnership with the Academe, we also invited Dr. Fabian Dayrit, ICP President, Academician-NAST and Professor, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU). Dr. Dayrit is a member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on PNP Controlled Chemicals that conducted the assessment, evaluation, and classification in a technical, scientific manner of the original list of controlled chemicals which covered more than one hundred chemicals. For the exemplary work of the TWG, the number of controlled chemicals was reduced to 32 (15 high-risk and 17 low-risk).

The Chemical Industry has shown it resiliency as the pandemic raged in 2020-2022, when the industry responded to the call of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to repurpose certain manufacturing processes to meet the demands for disinfectants and cleaning chemicals which in turn harnessed technology to provide the needed innovative new packaging materials, dispensers and receptacles for easy and convenient applications. It surprised everyone that the industry even grew during that period of economic dislocation.

The members of the Responsible Care Committee were also inducted into office by the RC Committee Chairperson, Director Joel Malaluan who administered the oath of office.

Overall, the GMM was a very productive and insightful SPIK activity that will reinvigorate and motivate the members in attaining the Vision, Mission, and Objectives of the Philippine Chemical Industry.