General Membership & Fora

The General Membership Meetings (GMMs) are attended by CEOs, Presidents, Vice Presidents and General Managers to address various industry concerns. Top-level executives network, partner and exchange information on the current state and trends in the global and Philippine semiconductor and electronics industry. It also aims to build confidence among the multinational companies who have invested in the country and created thousands of jobs, and to encourage partnership between the industry, which acts as the driver, and government, as the enabler, and to keep up with the growth of Asian semiconductor and electronics industries in the region.

The first SEIPI (formerly known as SEIFI) GMM was held in January 15, 1985. During the initial year, the GMMs were held every month and then a year after, it became an annual event. In 1998, it has been institutionalized and has since been held every quarter.

• The January GMM is the first meeting of SEIPI every year and it has become the industry’s New Year’s Annual Ball. It is also the venue for the Partner of the Industry Awards (PIA), an annual ceremony to acknowledge outstanding individuals and institutions that have supported and contributed immensely to the development of the Philippine electronics industry.
• The next two (2) GMMs are held outside Manila where most SEIPI members are located. The April GMM is traditionally held in Baguio City and highlighted by the election of the SEIPI Board of Trustees and Induction of New Members. Cebu is the regular site of the July GMM and both meetings have the added component of learning sessions geared for the industry leaders.
• SEIPI celebrates the “Philippine Electronics Industry Week” every last week of October every year under Proclamation No. 184 signed on September 30, 1999 by the former President Joseph Estrada. It also coincides with SEIPI’s Founding Anniversary on October 29. The GMM is organized with learning and networking activities to underscore the significance of the semiconductor and electronics industry. One of the activities is the CEO Forum, an annual business and technology forum of CEOs together with the Philippine President, a practice hich started in October 29, 1999.

GMM Milestones 

SEIPI has established itself as the voice of the industry and has provided an avenue for interaction among its stakeholders. It has successfully completed projects and improved processes in cooperation with government as well as private sector groups.

4. Government tie-ups and ventures for the interest of its members:
   • Amendments of the Omnibus Investments Code and the current InvestmentsPriority Plan to protect the industry such as the:
     1. Modernization or expansion as IPP area.
     2. Extension of tax and duty free importation of equipment up to December1994.
   • Bureau of Customs rule to authorize industry’s backdoor releases after office hours, Sundays and holidays; and deputize company warehousemen as customs representatives to sign export papers in the absence of customs employees.
   • Extension of the tax and duty-free exemption on capital equipment.
   • Re-enactment of the Pollution Law of the Country (RA 6969), which is the first law on environmental protection in the country; as well as the Export Development Act.
   • Foreign Exchange Liberalization
   • Representing the Semicon and Electronics Industry in public hearings andconsultancy works in Congress.
   • Potential investors are also frequently referred to SEIPI by the national government.
   • Tie-ups with counterpart associations in Japan, Germany, France, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, etc.
5. Exemptions from:
   • SGS for raw materials and supplies only granted in 1987 and then complete exemption from the industry in 1992
   • 9% Import Levy as well CISS; helped eased up and improved bureaucracy process in some government agencies by drafting position papers and procedures on joint venture effort
   • Packaging materials from 10% VAT
6. For Learning and Competency Development:
   • Technician Training Program:
     1. Funded and launched the “Train the Trainors” and “Industry ImmersionProject” with National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC) wherein 5 instructors underwent a 120-hour training program with different semiconductor companies.
     2. SEIPI candidates also undertook a 6-month scholarship program and later expanded with Dualtech Training Center where all qualified graduates have been hired by SEIPI member-firms.
   • Funded an in-depth study on the medium-term development of the semiconductor and electronics industry.
   • Publishes and distributes news on a regular basis to industry members, the government and private sectors.
   • Established a technical library which makes available updated reference books and video training materials.
7. Projects participated in:
   • An investment promotion project under the auspices of the ASEAN Trade of Japan and the Board of Investments Promotion Bureau.
   • A joint project with the Board of Investments (BOI) to study government incentives; participated in the investment promotion projects of the BOI Promotions Bureau.
   • Actively participates in the activities of the Group 11 (G-11) and participation in the investment promotion activities and trade missions abroad of the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI.
   • Established an ITDI-SEIFI calibration project.
8. SEIPI actively worked for the Power Reform Bill that was finally signed into law in June 2001.
9. SEIPI lobbied for the successful deferment of the DENR DAO 2005-06 Mandatory Environment Insurance Coverage (MEIC) Law, and RA9280 Customs Brokers Act.
10. The Department of Justice (DOJ), through the Bureau of Immigration, has also given recognition to SEIPI’s role in the country’s development by agreeing to special procedures for the issuance of working visas of SEIPI-affiliated expatriates.