Wednesday, January 03, 2007 16 Davao Norte MSMEs post P35.88-M sales
A TOTAL of P35.88 million domestic sales were generated by the 16 new micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) developed under the One-Town One-Product (Otop) Program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao del Norte for the year 2006.
This was revealed in a report submitted by the DTI in Davao del Norte to its regional office, adding that the province has also assisted 41 new MSMEs under the program.
Meanwhile, a total of P12.671 million investments were generated by the province with 142 jobs developed, while a total of 255 direct jobs were sustained as the year 2006 ended.
DTI said the biggest event of the program was the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte and 11 local government units-funded Davao del Norte Otop products launching and exhibits during the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) 2006-Mindanao Trade Exhibits held at the SM Mall in Davao City and in the Island Garden City of Samal.
On the other hand, the Mini-Pasalubong Center at the Tagum City Trade and Cultural Center, which housed the products of the Davao Handtouch Novelties Inc. and Tadeco Livelihood and Training Center, was used to display four Otop products namely: Ascove's virgin coco oil of Asuncion, Chocolate de San Isidro's Tabliya, Silagan Handicraft's ticog novelties of New Corella, and Lucille's Food Products' banana chips of Tagum City.
The Davao del Norte State College was also used as a center for technology and enterprise development for the Otop Program. Research and development on food grade flour to substitute wheat by 50 percent was conducted in the state.
The University of Mindanao in Tagum City also served as a center for excellence to the DTI Otop program.
The university was used for the soft launching of the implementation of the industry cluster plans of the DTI to the members of the graduate school students of the university. (JGRS)
