Locally-made products vital to Mandaue growth

CEBU, Philippines - The local producers in the community has helped in the economic growth and development of the local tourism industry while generating jobs and income to small entrepreneurs.

This acccording to the acting mayor of Mandaue City Glenn Bercede, who also said that the making of locally-made products has provided the people of Mandaue a good livelihood and an opportunity to be part of the thriving local economy.

“Pwerteng daghana nato og Mandaue manufactured products nga ikapasigarbo especially ang atong mga furniture ug silhig,” Bercede told The FREEMAN during the city’s opening of the Food Festival and Trade Fair 2014 last Friday.

The fair displays food and non-food products from Mandaue and other neighboring provinces.

The key purpose of the event which is part of the city’s month-long fiesta celebration is to give makers and vendors of delicacy products, accessories, furnitures, etcetera an avenue to reach to more local and foreign customers, the acting mayor said.

“Expected man gyud nga daghan moanhi sa fiesta,” the Mandaue official added, saying that the city has been known in the export of world-class and quality furniture.

These furniture are internationally sold while the rest of the products are only exported within the country.

He also cited mazareal and bibingka as two of Mandaue’s most well-known delicacies, which give pride to the city and a reason for the government to further help local producers on developing their business.

Mandaue, being known for silhig production, celebrates every year its Silhig Festival which started in 2012 to support the broom-making industry

Bercede, who also sits as city vice mayor stressed that the booming commerce in Mandaue can also be attributed to the trust of its investors: “Salig sila kay duna may administrasyon nga motabang nila sa ilang negosyo.”

New features

The highlights of this year’s trade fair include the bargain, the participation of Islands Pasalubong and the display of high-class wooden furniture, said the chairman of Mandaue Fiesta Executive Committee Clarito Frueldas.

“This is first time for bargain, something that has elevated our fair,” the chairman shared. “Since Mandaue is known for the furniture industry, it’s only fitting that we also include these in the fair.”

Bargaining is a type of agreement in which the buyer and seller negotiate on the price of the product for purchase. By this means, the price usually is cheaper than expected.

For her part, Nice Loreto, the sales manager of Islands Pasalubong, said their first participation in the yearly trade event is also aimed at reaching to the locals in the city.

The company’s one-stop shop sells various delicacies from Bohol province, Bacolod, Iloilo, Manila, Albay and Mandaue and various souvenir items.

Attracting tourists

Frueldas also noted the fair has always been a big help to the tourism industry in Mandaue, as it attracts visitors to shop at the fair which is located at the Heritage Plaza, just in front of the City Hall.

“It can really add to the attraction,” he further said, “because those who go to church posible nga mohapit dinhi kay duol ra man.”

The chairman also said the city government and the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry have helped in putting up the food and trade festival, emphasizing that public service should always be considered as a shared task by both public and private officials.

The MCCI is the main organizer of the event.

He stressed, “Again both have roles to play and if we continue the public-private partnership system, things will really progress.”

He further said the fair’s participants who are mostly small-scale entrepreneurs in Mandaue City were informed and invited beforehand about the event.

Trade exhibitors said they have paid P15,000 for the selling period from April 21 until May 16.

“Paninguhaon gyud namo makabawi mi ana nga amount kay nagpaabot mi nga daghang mosuroy dinhi ilabi na adlaw na sa piyesta,” said a bag and sandal trader, who asked for anonymity.

They said throughout the year they transfer from one place to another to sell their products, visiting cities and municipalities in Cebu that celebrate their festivals.

For instance, most of them display their wares every year at the Abellana National High School sidewalk for the annual celebration of the Sinulog Festival.