The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) One Town One Product (OTOP) Luzon Island Fair is expected to earn close to P8 million this year, 10 percent higher than last year’s earnings.
In a statement, DTI Undersecretary Carissa Cruz-Evangelista said that last year’s fair generated P6.9-million sales with Cagayan de Oro as the biggest grosser with P1.9 million in total sales followed by the National Capital Region with P1.2 milion and Central Luzon with P1 million.
Aside from double digit sales growth, Evangelista said this year’s trade fair is an improvement from last year as it has more exhibitors. A total of 173 exhibitors are expected to participate, better than last year’s 164.
Of the 173 exhibitors, 34 would be led by their respective local government units while the rest are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), who are beneficiaries of the OTOP program.
Among the products that will be displayed are sweet strawberries of Benguet, hand-loom woven products of Baguio, Bangus of Pangasinan, Furniture of Cagayan, Christmas Lantern of Pampanga, embroidery products of Bulacan, Animation of NCR and Pilinut candies of Bicol.
The OTOP Luzon Island Fair is one of the three major island fairs being mounted by the DTI to help SMEs market their products.
The OTOP program is a full cycle of business assistance given by the DTI and other government agencies to entrepreneurs, which ranges from skills to entrepreneurial trainings, product development to marketing, and financing to consultancy services.
Last May, OTOP Visayas Island Fair was held in Boracay, where a hundred exhibitors coming from the Western, Eastern and Central Visayas generated around P3.5 million in sales.
Among the products that were featured included piña cloth of Aklan, bamboo-based home furnishings of Iloilo, fresh and processed mango of Guimaras, fashion accessories and guitars of Cebu, and abaca-based sandals and bags of Leyte and Bohol.