BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Amanda’s Marine Products of Puerto Rivas, a small and medium enterprise (SME) here venturing into fish processing, was awarded on Tuesday as the Outstanding One Town One Product SME for 2008 and to represent Bataan in the regional search.
Amanda’s won the OTOP for the third straight year, besting all other SMEs into the program in 11 towns and one city in the province. It was also adjudged as the “Best OTOP SME” in Region 3 for 2007.
The firm is into processing of dried (tuyo) and smoked (tinapa) fish and bagoong.
The city government here also won the “Best OTOP LGU Implementer” while the provincial office of the Department of Labor and Employment was awarded as “Most Supportive OTOP Partner Agency”, all for 2008.
At the OTOP Congress and Awarding rites, the branding of five products was also launched. These were the lasa brooms of Abucay, cashew nuts of Bagac, bags of Mariveles, vinegar of Morong and mangoes of Orion.
The kasuy of Bagac got the 2nd runner-up award in 2006 in the regional selection with the processed fish of Balanga as first runner-up.
Orion Mayor Tony Raymondo, president of the Bataan Mayors’ League attended the launching and awarding rites together with Gila Garcia, daughter of Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia. “Tulong-tulong nating palakasin ang OTOP,” Ms. Garcia asked the participants.
Blesila Lantayona, Region 3 director of the Department of Trade and Industry, urged the OTOP participants to “contribute in the regional pride by rediscovering indigenous products and the promotion of entrepreneurship and public-private partnerships.”
She announced that Yay P. Lasam, DTI Bataan director, got the “Most Organized Leader” award “for demonstrating extraordinary skills in mapping out careful plans and work methodologies that enabled her to maximize every asset and resources resulting in a ‘balanced scoreboard’ for DTI-Bataan.”
Lasam said that OTOP is one of the priority programs of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs.
“To bring out the best in each municipality, the DTI has identified, together with Local Government Units and Small Medium Enterprise Council, priority products under the program considering their potential for growth,” she said.
Other identified priority products include: lasa brooms for Abucay, processed cashew nuts (Bagac), processed fish (Balanga City), bamboo-based products (Dinalupihan), fresh mango (Hermosa, Orion and Limay), bags (Mariveles), processed fruits (Morong), prawns and crabs (Orani), eco-tourism (Pilar) and araro cookies in the town of Samal.
DTI said there are 115 OTOP SMEs in Bataan that it has assisted as of August 2008.
“Since its implementation in 2005 to date, the program has generated more than P50 million in investments and more than 20,000 jobs created all over the province. Sales generated has reached more than P60 million,” Lasam said.
