Gov't allocates P15-B for One-Town-One-Product program
San Jose, Antique -- The Arroyo government has intensified the implementation of the One-Town-One Product (OTOP) program through a P15-billion credit fund this year, in its effort to promote entrepreneurship through the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise and create more jobs in the country.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will endorse OTOP / individual micro, small and medium entrepreneurs to Development Bank of the Philippines for loan evaluation and funding assistance under the pre-determined risk acceptance criteria. This will stimulate local economic activity and sustain the anti-poverty thrust of the present administration.
Locally, the DTI is continuously supporting municipalities actively participating in OTOP program. Among the identified products in different municipalities are, buri craft for Tobias Fornier, bamboo craft for Barbaza and banana chips for the town of Hamtic. The towns of Tibiao and Culasi, have ventured into fishery products while the island town of Caluya has engaged in aqua marine products but with focused on sea weeds production.
The province' banner product muscovado sugar remain on top of DTI's assistance where upgrading of muscovado sugar mills and strengthening of federation of sugar millers were given priority. Other promising industries in the province include vegetables and high value crops production, bariw handicraft and development of eco-tourist destinations.
The municipalities of Tibiao and Barbaza have established an OTOP center to showcase best products from each municipality. Tibiao recently launched its Information, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center while Barbaza inaugurated its OTOP center last year to serve as venue to market local products and facilitate linkages with other entrepreneurs.
The OTOP program, a priority project of President Arroyo, is a convergence of services where local executives leads in identifying, developing and promoting a specific product of competitive advantage within their jurisdiction.
(PIA)