IN A bid to provide a venue for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to showcase their products, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be establishing a One Town, One Product Philippines Hub (Otop.PH) in each region nationwide.
Demphna Du-Naga, DTI assistant secretary, in an interview with reporters on Tuesday, May 15, at the sidelines of the DTI-Davao Otop Next Gen Act Session at the Seda Abreeza Hotel, Davao City, said the Otop.PH are centers where MSME can display their products that have been given assistance by DTI.
DTI said on its website that Otop.PH is the demand side of the Otop program of the government that provides the physical and online channels and market access platform where Otop products are showcased on a day-to-day basis.
Du-Naga said they are targeting to officially launch the hubs starting June or July this year. However, they are set to have the soft opening of the Otop.PH in Caraga Region today.
She said after Caraga, they are looking into opening the next Otop.PH in the province of Bulacan in Central Luzon.
For Davao Region, Rachel Remetio, DTI-Davao chief for Consumer Protection Division and SME Development Division, said they are looking into establishing Otop.PH in the region around October or November this year.
She said DTI-Davao is currently in the process of identifying the location for the Otop.PH in the region.
The Otop.PH is one of the two components of DTI's Otop Program. The other is the Otop Next Gen, which serves as a venue for MSMEs to develop their products through various assistance from DTI.
Du-Naga said the Act (Assess, Consultation, and Triage) Session on Tuesday, May 15, and Wednesday, May 16, will allow the agency to assess the product of MSMEs, consult on how they can improve their products, and find solutions to their challenges. (RJL)