OTOP displays towns’ best products, helps push economy
The One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) is a government program aimed to support local entrepreneurs develop their markets in order to help push both the local and national economies.
Director Diosdado Cadena, Jr. of the Department of Trade Industry (DTI)-Aklan Provincial Office disclosed in a PIA interview, that under the OTOP program, DTI is helping the local government units establish a market base for their products.
One of the venues, Cadena said, is the conduct of trade fairs where the products are showcased not only to domestic markets but also to foreign investors.
Currently, the DTI and the Hugod Aklanon Producers Association, Inc.,and the Provincial Government of Aklan, is conducting a 7-day Aklan Product Showcase 2009 at SM City Iloilo.
“Aklan’s best products and the OTOP of our Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs and LGU partners are displayed and sold. These include Aklan’s famous loomwoven fabrics and wearables, nitocrafts, processed meat products and delicacies,” Cadena said.
He further said that other products included in the showcase are abacacrafts, bayong, clay-based products, hand-made paper arts, furnishings, vermicast fertilizer, and ornamental plants.
The DTI-Aklan director said that the “Aklan Product Showcase is now on its 7th year, with pina loom-woven fabrics, nito and abacacrafts,processed meat products, bakery and specialty delicacies as the exhibit’s main attractions”.
Last year’s showcase brought in some P2.4 million cash sales and booked orders, Cadena said as he expressed confidence that despite the economic slowdown, the product showcase will generate some P2.5 million in sales.
This particular government’s program is really giving stimulus to our entrepreneurs to help our economy as it likewise opens employment opportunities in the countrysides, Cadena concluded. (PIA6/T.Villavert)
