Purisima gives final push to DTI program

Even as he prepares to move over to the Department of Finance, Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar V. Purisima gave a final push for his "creative economy" program anchored on the designation of several provinces as creative centers.

Purisima convened the first Creative Economy Council last Dec. 24 and identified several provinces and regional centers for the program.

The Calamba-Los Banos hotsprings in Laguna, for instance, will be designated as the Wellness Capital of the Philippines. "We will turn Laguna into a spa center which will match its Thai counterpart, but with a distinct Philippine setting and flavor," Purisima said.

He added that training on massage therapy techniques rooted in Philippine culture and traditions would be offered to boost the manpower capability of the area. Moreover, the spas would use indigenous and organic products such as virgin coconut oil and essences of local flowers like sampaguita and ylang-ylang.

In addition, treatments would be given against the backdrop of Philippine folk architecture while local food delicacies and fruits would complete the whole package, Purisima said.

The council also agreed to transform Pampanga into a culinary mecca where culinary festivals, along with open house tours/visits would be organized to promote the province’s rich culinary heritage and talent.

"Through these programs, we can improve the local food industry and start developing our food and food presentation to widen the reach of our regional cuisine to cater not just to the local market, but also to foreign guests," Purisima pointed out.

There was also a proposal to promote Angono, Rizal as a visual arts hub where open studio tours and art exhibits would be organized to promote and showcase the artworks and paintings of talented local artists, and to bring in art collectors, enthusiasts, interior decorators, and local and foreign tourists.

Another area cited with a huge potential to engage in creative economy is Quezon province.

Due to the abundance of trees felled by the recent typhoon in Quezon, the nearby town of Paete, Laguna can provide the expertise to Quezon residents to enable its people to transform the logs into marketable finished products.

Through the help of the Department of Trade and Industry, such products can be marketed to retailers such as SM, Rustans and Robinsons or to local architects and interior designers for their projects, Purisima said.