OTOP Pasalubong Center to open in Mactan airport

With the all-out promotion and implementation of the government’s OTOP (One-Town-One-Product) project, a Pasalubong Center that will highlight OTOP products from food and non-food product category will soon be built at the Mactan International Airport.

According to DTI 7's Center Manager Elias Tecson in an interview, the concerned authorities in Mactan Airport already approved of this plan.

He said that a pasalubong center that will sell OTOP products will be a very good opportunity for small and medium sized entrepreneurs from different local government sectors in Cebu to showcase their products to a wide market segment.

 "There is already an agreement between DTI 7, DOT and the Mactan International Airport to put up a display corner for OTOP products and this is targeted to be implemented in January next year in time for the Sinulog celebration," said Tecson.

The OTOP Pasalubong Center will sell quality but affordable products to both domestic and international travelers coming in and out of Cebu.

Tecson pointed out that although the project will benefit small and medium entrepreneurs, it has not yet been immediately implemented because DTI has recently held "Pasigarbo sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo" and Cebu O.T.O.P Fair 2007 at the SM City Cebu.

DTI Regional Director Asteria Caberte also revealed that within this year, an OTOP Island Souvenir Pasalubong Center will be opened in the islands of Boracay and in Loboc, Bohol.

"Aldeguer already committed himself with this project and Loboc in Bohol was chosen because most of the tourists that visit Bohol usually go there," she said.

Aside from Pasalubong centers, Caberte noted that it is also very much ideal to put up OTOP centers in the malls and souvenir shops to make these products closer to the market as many consumers will be able to patronize and recognize them. —Rhia de Pablo