By Minerva Newman
CEBU CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) in Central Visayas opened the second One Town, One Product (OTOP) hub in Bohol Friday as its commitment to MSMEs in the province for their products to be sold to a wider market, the tourist market.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) in Central Visayas opened the second One Town, One Product (OTOP) hub in Bohol Friday as its commitment to MSMEs in the province for their products to be sold to a wider market, the tourist market. (Department of Trade and Industry - Bohol Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
DTI-7 regional director Aster Caberte encouraged the local travel and tour operators and tour guides to make the OTOP Hubs as part of the tour itineraries as there are many good quality pasalubong products/items that are being showcased in these hubs.
The second OTOP hub is at the Lower Ground Floor, Jumawid Apartelle, National Highway, Guiwanon in Baclayon town.
Caberte said the OTOP Hub is DTI’s banner project of the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Next Generation program, a platform for marketing and promoting globally competitive products that are the results of intensive product development and marketing.
“OTOP Hub is a branded, curated pasalubong store, where the best products of the country are displayed in the principle of reciprocity,” Caberte said.
Products from other regions also find their way to Bohol’s OTOP Hubs, in the same manner as Bohol’s local products find their way to other OTOP Hubs in the country, she added.
Crispina Sarate Singh, owner of Crissander Enteprises that operates the hub thanked DTI for supporting the project and for considering Crissander Enterprises as the operator of the 2nd OTOP hub in Bohol.
Present at the launching was DTI OTOP PH consultant Leon Flores, who gave the rationale of the OTOP Hub project; Matt Nemenzo, Chief of Staff of Vice-Governor Rene Relampagos, and Marietta Javier, SB Chair of the Committee on Trade and Industry of Baclayon, who represented Mayor Benecio Uy.
The first OTOP Hub was launched in the province last year at the Island City Mall, Tagbilaran City.