1st Iloilo City sari-sari storeowners convention held
The Iloilo City Government and Mayor Jerry P. Treñas through the Iloilo City Task Force on Economic Promotion chaired by Hon. Jed Mabilog together with the Department of Trade and Industry, ABS-CBN TV 10-Iloilo, JCI-Iloilo Ilang-Ilang Jaycees and H.A.L.I.G.I. Foundation, Inc, held the 1st Iloilo City Sari-Sari Storeowners Convention last February 10, 2007, at the 3rd level of SM City-Iloilo. The theme of the convention was "Working towards Sari-Sari Store Competitiveness" and the objective was to provide sari-sari store owners the venue to establish networks of linkages with potential markets and suppliers; and, to provide opportunities for micro-scale businesses in the barangay level to be recognized and be given the necessary technical support for business development.
The one-day even has brought together more than one thousand sari-sari store owners in Iloilo City who listened to talks on relevant topic like, Sari-sari Store Mechandising and Profitability, How to run a Profitable Sar-sari Store Business, How can Sari-Sari Store Survive in today's market, Fair Trade Laws, Food Safety and Product Packaging and Labeling, Micro-financing Programs for Sari-sari Store Business, and other related topics. The gathering also served as venue to develop and strengthen the relationship among sari-sari store owners and suppliers as the activity included a showcase by 14 different suppliers/dealers of sari-sari store products.
The opening ceremony started with a ceremonial cutting of ribbon attended by Congressman Raul Gonzales, Jr. Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, Hon. Jed Mabilog, Antonio Jon of Iloilo Business Club, Diosdado Cadena of the Department of Trade and Industry, Desiree Bretaña of ABS-CBN, Hon. Jam-Jam Baronda, Hon. Merci Garcia and Mrs. Ellen Ledesma of Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo City and members of Iloilo City Task Force on Economic Promotion.
In his message, Mayor Jerry Treñas pointed out the role of Sari-sari store in the economic development of Iloilo City. The Mayor commended the efforts of Iloilo City Task Force on Economic Promotion chaired by Hon. Jed Mabilog being the first in the Philippines to have held such convention for sari-sari store owners .
"There is an urgent need to create a link between sari-sari store owners and suppliers and financing institution in order for them to become competitive. The abrupt drop in the number of Sari-sari Store Owners in the country from 430,000 in 1990 to 250,000 in 2002 due to establishment of shopping mall has prompted our city government to find ways to help our sari-sari store owners in Iloilo City" Mabilog said.
The suppliers that participated in the convention are: Coke Phils. Beverages, ARJ Marketing, Trans-Visayan Marketing, Inc., Colgate Palmolive Phils., Purefoods Hormel, New Iloilo Supreme Marketing (Procter & Gamble), Titanium Supply Chain, Nestle Phils., Team Sales and Promotions, Inc. (Uniliver) Pepsi Cola Phils., Iloilo Society Commercial, EON Phils. Industries Corp., Mongol-Lotus/Amalgamated specialities, Inc. ,San Mig Coffee, EXA Distributors and LEMACEL Trading Corporation.