Samar to join OTOP Visayas Fair 2006

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
November 20, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  The municipalities of Daram, Marabut, Basey, Jiabong, Calbiga and the City of Calbayog from Samar will join One Town One Product (OTOP) Visayas Fair 2006 on November 22-23, 2006 at the SM Trade Halls, Cebu City.

This was bared by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Samar, Officer-in-Charge Ruthelma Samonte to PIA, today.

The lady director added that regions 6, 7 and 8 have pooled their resources together to support the big trade fair.

Similarly, the six LGUs of Samar have shown interest to showcase their OTOP and hopefully gain significant sales and exposure in the event.

Based on a letter to local chief executives of the participating LGUs, DTI Undersecretary Carissa Cruz-Evangelista stated that OTOP Visayas Fair is a product showcase and trade fair highlighting the OTOP Philippines Program, a flagship project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with the LGUs as its lead implementing arm.

It further mentioned that OTOP’s aim is to strengthen countryside development by promoting entrepreneurship and creating jobs. The letter further stated that no less than PGMA will grace the event as a staunch advocate of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the regions.

The trade fair also aims to generate significant sales; train producers in dealing and negotiating with local and foreign buyers and exporters and develop 5 new exporters from among the participants.

When asked if Daram’s dried squid stands a chance as against Cebu ’s products, Samonte said that all Samar OTOPs stand a chance.

Samar OTOPs that will join the trade fair besides Daram’s squid are the flourishing tourism in Marabut; Tikog and Gifts and Toys Handicrafts (GTH) of Basey; Mussels in Jiabong; Pili based products from Calbiga and Tinapa from Calbayog City. Others SMEs who have also signified willingness to join and sponsored by the Advocates for Philippine Trade Fair Inc. (APFTI) are the Quiseo of Mayet’s food product from Gandara and Basey Handicrafts from Basey, Samar.