"Tindahang Pinoy" depot to open in Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Gifts, Toys and Housewares, Foundation Inc., (Cebu GTH) is going to open the “Tindahang Pinoy” depot, and the Bridges commercial mall located in Mandaue City.

Even with the delayed budget from the government, which will supposedly give P1million Cebu-GTH member of the board, Jenifer Cruz said the 500 square-meter exporters’ deport or “Tindahang Pinoy” will opened in the next two months.

Although, the “Tindahang Pinoy” concept is a government led program, in Cebu the private sector is going to fast tract the project, not only to help the small and medium exporters, but also to help the tourism industry find another attraction for the tourists.

The Cebu-GTH will be spending at least P2 million from the organization’s coffer for the facility.

According to Cruz, the depot is targeted to be opened by the second week of November this year.

This project has long been overdue. Now, that the government has promised to build this facility, just like in Manila, Cebu-GTH cannot wait anymore, to wait for the release of the funds, but it has to spend its own money to realize it.

“It’s already a promise to the industry players. We cannot wait anymore. We don’t have a showroom,” said Cruz.

If and when the government, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) will release the promised budget for the “Tindahang Pinoy” in Cebu, he said it will be used for sales and promotion of the facility.

The “Tindahang Pinoy” is a depot which will showcase the world-class, export quality products in Cebu, to be managed by Cebu-GTH in cooperation with the DTI.

“The Cebu ‘Tindahang Pinoy” will serve as the pilot project, before PITC and DTI will roll out the same facility in other areas in the country,”said DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte .

According to Caberte, there is an urgent need for Cebu has to establish this kind of facility specifically that Cebu slowly gained prestige in terms of quality products for export.

The store will not only accommodate exporters from the GTH and fashion accessory sectors based in Cebu, but it will also invite exporters from other provinces in the region, that will pass the standard to be set by Cebu-GTH.

In 2009, Caberte was informed by PITC that the P15 million budget to build a permanent showroom for exporters in Cebu has been approved. This will answer to the call of the export sector to have a permanent showroom facility.

The original plan is PITC will partner with DTI to facilitate on the construction of exporters’ permanent showroom in Cebu.

Although, the original plan was not realized, Caberte said the project will be pursued even with lesser budget, realizing that exporters can take advantage of the stronger demand of their products from the domestic market and tourists as well.

“Exporters have learned their lesson after the demand slum. Domestic and tourists markets offer good potential,” she said.

Aside from the P1 million budget, DTI will also provide technical and product development trainings for participating tenants of the “Tindahang Pinoy.”

“We don’t have proper facility to showcase our sought-after export products in Cebu. People all over the world know Cebu’s good craftsmanship, but tourists and domestic markets don’t have easy access to see and buy these products when they visit here,” she said.

In order to sustain Cebu’s prestige in quality, Cebu-GTH will strictly monitor on the products that will be made available in the exporters’ store, Caberte stressed.— (FREEMAN)