From left to right: SM City Telabastagan mall manager Lana Erroba, DTI Pampanga regional director Leonila Baluyut, and DTI Pampanga provincial director Elenita Ordonio. Contributed photo.
Highlighting the creativity and ingenuity of the MSMEs in Central Luzon, DTI officially opened the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Showroom in Region 3 to showcase the top-of-the-line products of the OTOPreneurs assisted by DTI-3 from the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. The launching of the showroom was held on October 8, 2021 at the DTI Regional Office III at the regional government center in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
The showcase serves as a medium to inform and educate walk-in clients, guests and visitors of DTI-3 on the products developed under the OTOP Program. The showcase also aims to provide guests a gainful visual experience on the pride of Likha ng Central Luzon products. Among those who graced the opening of the showroom virtually are DTI Undersecretary Blesila A. Lantayona, DTI Assistant Secretary Demphan Du Naga, Regional Director Leonila Baluyut, Dr. Alvin Belarmino of the Regional MSME Development Council and Crisanto Venzon, President of the Philippine Export Federation Region 3.
During the launching, Usec. Lantayona thanked the DTI’s industry partners, especially the RSMEDC and the NGAs for supporting the agency’s initiatives. She also emphasized her admiration of the OTOPreneurs who exhibited the “Laban Lang” attitude this pandemic. She noted, “we are here to support you all the way as we face this challenge together.” She also thanked those who made the launching of the OTOP Showroom possible.
During his message, Dr. Belarmino shared that “for the past two years upon the onslaught of the COVID 19 pandemic, we have seen how the Philippine government has actively pursued efforts to uplift the livelihood and businesses of our local MSMEs.” He added that despite the pandemic, there are “successes which are emerging right now. One of the physical proofs are the products which shall be showcased in the first Regional OTOP Showroom.”
Regional Director Leonila T. Baluyut said that the OTOP showroom carries the pride of Central Luzon – “its quality products made by the ingenuity, creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and passion of the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs of Region 3.” She also mentioned that the OTOP program is a priority stimulus program of DTI for MSMEs. It is aimed to help in achieving inclusive local economic growth. OTOP enables communities to develop and promote products or services that are based on local resources, local culture, local creativity and competitive advantage. The OTOP program has enabled DTI-3 to promote the ‘pride-of-place.’ With this, homegrown ‘OTOPreneurs’ are capacitated to innovate and produce market-ready products and services, and level them up to add value and enable them to be marketable here and abroad.
