Samar OTOP advocates meet; thresh out issues

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
November 24, 2007

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Samar assembled the province’s One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) advocates from Calbayog to Basey on Friday at the Fame Hotel, this city.

In the meeting, DTI said that Samar’s OTOP has generated jobs in the countryside both directly and indirectly and has also pushed the development of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises in the different towns of the province.

A report showed that 42% of Samar’s OTOP is inclined in Aquamarine as Samar is considered with rich marine resources.

However, DTI admitted that only 55% yet of Samar’s 26 municipalities have already identified their OTOP. DTI Provincial Director Ruthelma Samonte said that it is the Local Chief Executive (LCE) that identifies the OTOP taking into considerations some parameters for the choice.

Some members of the audience could not hide their distaste over the power of the chief executives over the choice of OTOP. They expressed that LCEs may not include them in the financing scheme as they may not share the political color of the LCE.

One LGU staff of Jiabong (with Mussels as OTOP) stood to defend her mayor whom she said would rather not involve herself in relending funds for small businessmen.

The DBP expert replied that the mayor has to get involved to help the constituents grow and develop.

For the choice of OTOP considerations include abundance of raw materials, availability of skills and services present in the locality, among others.

Issues that came out about financing were answered with the presence of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) James Laniwan who oriented his audience about the financial assistance of the bank. He also told them that he could assist in the formulation of project proposals. He just told them to be sure of the project one proposes.

Laniwan reminded his audience to ensure that the project proposed is financially, economically, environmentally and technically feasible.

DTI Jeremy Balondo of the so called Rural Micro Enterprise Program shared that the program will finance micro businesses through their conduit lending partners like Samar Micro Credit Cooperative (Samico) based in Samar’s capital city of Catbalogan and Biatongan Multi purpose Cooperative in Calbayog City.

Other agencies offered technical expertise, trainings and other assistance like Bureau of Fisheries – Regional Training Center (BFAR-RTC), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and others.