Thursday, October 18, 2007 DTI taps private sector to help promote Otop products in CV
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 will be tapping more small businesses to promote One Town, One Product (Otop) items in the region.
DTI 7 Director Asteria Caberte said the department will also focus on non-food Otop products in Cebu, which can be displayed at the Natalie Accessories Shop at the Ayala Center Cebu mall.
“Slowly and simultaneously, we will be developing the non-food (industry) here (in Cebu),” said.
She said DTI will also launch an Otop corner both for the food and non-food products at the Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City next week.
The DTI and Aquarose Designs Inc. inaugurated the Otop permanent showcase at Natalie Accessories last Saturday. The showcase features products of about 20 micro, small and medium enterprises in the Visayas like raffia bags, fashion accessories, souvenir items, Capiz-based products and handicraft made from local fibers.
More shops
Caberte said the DTI hopes that more establishments will display Otop products as well as Natalie Accessories can only accommodate about 15 merchants.
Renilda Kuizon of Lolo Bobby, native handicraft product supplier, said the Otop showcase at Natalie Accessories will help them promote products and generate more income.
Natalie Accessories marketing manager Myra Regner said that since merchants can display their items at the store without cost, they (merchants) want to put in a lot of products. “That’s why we need to screen it for quality control as well,” she added.
Among the popular Otop items are those made from Pawikan shell, coconut shell and sinamay.
Now that it already has a venue to display products, Hannah’s Handicraft wants to attract exporters and international buyers, said company official Josefa Wagas.
She recalled that Hannah’s Handicraft had a difficult start in 2000 but with a permanent display venue, things can get better.
Among those that are able to display their products at Natalie Accessories are Hannah’s Handicraft (which is based in Minglanilla Cebu), 3-Sha Handicraft from Bohol and Lolo Bobby of Leyte.
Carberte said Otop products, being of good quality, can be exported. She is also urging other provinces, like Panay and Siquijor, to supply products to exporters.
She said supply from 100 exporters based in Siquijor is not enough to answer international demand.
The Otop showcase is a way to lure tourists who are attracted to native items, said Joyce Natalie Yang of Natalie and Aquarose Designs Inc. (TEP)
