Bringing the bounty and distinctive beauty of Central Philippines, the recently held 3rd Visayas One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) Island Fair in SM City Cebu highlighted the best products and services that Visayas can offer to both domestic and international market.
DTI representatives from Central Visayas (Region VII) and Western Visayas (Region VI) said that the OTOP Fair this year is bigger and better as they have more exhibitors.
The fair which started in November 12 and will end this November 16 have 170 exhibitors selling OTOP products ranging from processed food, gifts, toys, souvenirs, novelty items, furniture, furnishings, natural fiber, and fashion accessories such as bags, shawls, headgears, and footwear as well as tourist destinations.
The exhibitors came from different towns and municipalities in the three regions of Visayas: Region VI (Western Visayas) composed of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental; Region VII (Central Visayas) composed of Siquijor, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Cebu as well as Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) composed of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar, and Southern Leyte.
OTOP (One-Town-One-Product) is the priority program of the Arroyo administration to promote entrepreneurship in the countryside, create jobs as well as encourage patronage of native products and even enhance the tourism profile of the country, said Elias Tecson, DTI Region VII Business Development Division Chief.
He said that a town’s OTOP is identified, developed and promoted by the local chief executive of the area but its implementation is comprehensive as its assistance package includes the convergence of services from the LGU, national government agencies such as DTI, DOT, DA, DILG, DOST, TESDA and other GFIs as well as private sectors.
Tecson said that the OTOP program in the Visayas regions is well implemented because around 75 percent of LGUs in the Visayas have already established their OTOP programs and are now aggressively marketing and promoting these products and services.
He said that DTI provides assistance to the beneficiaries of the OTOP program such as business counselling, skills and entrepreneurial training, product design and development, appropriate technologies and marketing.
Right now, Tecson said that they are looking at packaging and labelling strategies that will lengthen the shelf life of food-based OTOP such as native delicacies and goodies.
In terms of economic impact, Tecson said that the OTOP program was able to create a multiplier effect in terms of income and job generation especially in the countryside.
Meanwhile, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who participated in the trade fair see the intra-regional exhibit as a good avenue to promote their products and services to the local market and even get contacts for export.
Christina Anggana of Hannah’s Handicraft based in Minglanilla, Cebu shared that she participated in OTOP Visayas Island Fair for three consecutives years now.
She said that last year in Boracay, she was able to generate 65 percent revenue out from the amount of goods show brought and this year she hopes to double her sales.
She said that her positive sales show that there is definitely a huge market for OTOP products even in the domestic market.
A buyer commented that fairs such as the recent 3rd Visayas OTOP Island Fair serves as an eye opener for Filipinos because they are able to realize the vast resources of our country and the beautiful products that can be derived from our own indigenous materials.
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