CEBU CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Central Visayas is urging the public to patronize the first-ever virtual Sandugo Trade Expo in the region as a way of helping micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) amid the public health crisis.
The event starts Monday via “Pasinaya”, a one town, one product (OTOP) digital market showroom, and online trade platform.
Pasinaya, which literally means “debut”, is the kickoff for the new normal trade fairs and the launching of the online OTOP PH Stores otopstores.ph and OTOP app, DTI-7 information officer Jojisilia Villamor said.
The online trade event runs in time for the MSME week celebration, which is organized by the DTI Regional Operations Group, together with the OTOP Project Management Office as the lead team.
The platform is fully conducted virtually with business-to-business (B2B) meetings and networking via Zoom.
Villamor said that with about 320 OTOP homegrown regional exhibitors to choose from, buyers can easily meet, source, and connect right through their computers and mobile devices.
“As one of the reliable sourcing destinations in the Visayas, the virtual Sandugo Trade Expo is an excellent opportunity for people to shop for their needs and requirements from the featured OTOP products in Central Visayas ranging from processed food, health and wellness, wearables and homestyle,” she told the Philippine News Agency.
OTOP is a stimulus program of the DTI for MSMEs as a customized intervention to drive local economic growth.
The OTOP program enables communities to determine, develop, support, and promote culturally-rooted products or services where they can be the best or renowned for.
The program supports MSMEs to manufacture, offer, and market distinctive products or services through the use of indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents.
The OTOP also offers a comprehensive assistance package through a convergence of services from local government units, national government agencies, and the private sector.
Meanwhile, Pasinaya participants may register at https://tinyurl.com/
Once registered, they will receive a welcome packet that will guide them to the respective Zoom showrooms, online trade fair directory, instructions, reminders, and how to download the OTOP Philippines app.
The first three days of the event are exclusively dedicated to buyers, while the last two days are open to the public for free.
The event will be opened from 10 a.m. to 12 noon for non-food products and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for food products.
The DTI-7 is entertaining queries on the expo through email at bdd.dtiro7@gmail.com or otoppasinaya@gmail.com. (PNA)
