DTI sees fresh brighter hopes for the SME’s

Jun Ariolo N. Aguirre
Boracay Island, Aklan- The Department of Trade and Industry sees fresh and brighter hopes for the upliftment of Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SME’s) citing the success of the 2nd Visayas One Town One Product (OTOP) Fair in this resort island recently.

Ermelinda Pollentes, Aklan Provincial Director of DTI said that small medium entrepreneurs participated in the said fair netted a total of P3, 105,321.50 in cash sales and booked orders.

“The amount has increased from P3.77 million last year during the first Visayas OTOP held in Cebu City to P3.100 million this year,” Pollentes said.

Based on the sales figure provided to Business World, the top seller this year was grabbed by the Western Visayas region, which earned a total of P2, 220,450 in cash (booked orders and under negotiations arrangements) followed by Region 7 earned P545, 386 in cash and booked orders and Region 8 which grabbed P339, 485.50 cash, booked orders and under negotiations arrangements.

The Visayas OTOP started last May 23 and ended May 27 here.

Pollentes said, the reason that Western Visayas provinces topped the bulk of orders because majority of the 102 SME’s participated in the affair came from the provinces of the region. Many of them came from the provinces of Aklan, Iloilo and Guimaras province.

Also based on the said figure, Aklan got hold of the biggest number of sales with Yabut’s Pottery of Lezo, Aklan as the topped entrepreneur of OTOP this year.

During the launching of OTOP at La Carmela Resort last May 23 Secretary Cerge Remonde of the Presidential Management Staff and the oversight official for the Development of Micro, SME’s he said that there is still room for micro enterprises to prosper.

“As of February this year, government agencies involved in MSME development have already released P159.8 billion in loans to more than 2.6 million active micro finance clients and SAME accounts, generating to more than 1.5 million jobs,” Remonde said.

Pollentes also attributed the successful operation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway or the roll-on roll off scheme in Caticlan and in several areas in the country that provides access for a speedy transport of OTOP products in several destinations in the country.