Aklan to host 2nd Visayas OTOP fair

Kalibo, Aklan – The province of Aklan will play host to the 2nd Visayas One Town, One Product (OTOP) with Boracay Island as the venue.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Aklan Provincial Director Ermelinda Pollentes said the Visayas OTOP Fair will be participated in by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from Regions 6, 7 and 8 and will be held for five days from May 23-27.

Pollentes said that of Region 6’ 39 SMEs joining the fair, four will come from Aklan – from the towns of Malinao (abaca slippers), Lezo (potteries), Ibajay (virgin coconut oil) and Kalibo, loomwoven products specifically the Piña cloth.

More than a hundred SMEs will be joining the OTOP Fair in Boracay.

Pollentes said Boracay Island was chosen as this year’s venue because this is the peak of the summer season with tourists, businessmen and visitors as target buyers.

For his part, DTI Regional Director Dominic Abad disclosed that Boracay was chosen because most souvenir shops are there.

“It is where the domestic and foreign tourists abound and it has great market and tourism potential”, said Abad.

Abad said invited to come are buyers from Manila and from the three regions, governors and mayors and other government officials from national government agencies.

He stressed that the 2nd OTOP Fair will focus on the selling of products produced by the SMEs of three regions under the DTI OTOP Philippines program to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs in the countryside. It encourages the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to produce and market distinct products or services using the indigenous raw materials and manpower through the LGUs which take the lead in identifying, developing and promoting a specific product or service which has a competitive agvantage.

PD Pollentes said Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief and SME Czar Cerge Remonde will be the keynote speaker in the opening program to be held at 5:00 p.m. May 23 at the La Carmela Resort.

Some features of the OTOP Fair, according to Pollentes, will include the night market in the beach from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. nightly, regular selling at the second Floor of La Carmela Resort, and a daily mannequin show from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. featuring the different products of Regions 6, 7 and 8.

A rolling band will also be commissioned to raom from Stations 1, 2 and 3 in addition to a sailboat bearing the OTOP logo that will sail around the island.

Kalibo’s OTOP, the loom-woven piña, is also WV’s regional OTOP.

Currently, Aklan is aiming to be the loom-weaving capital and loom-woven products destination of the country. (PIA/DTI)