Saturday, February 03, 2007 Otop-DavSur posts $3M export sales in 2006 By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE One Town One Product (Otop) Program in Davao del Sur has generated a total of US$3.274 million in export sales last year.
In a report submitted by the provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to DTI-Southern Mindanao, it showed that domestic sales of the Otop program in Davao del Sur have also reached P30.56 million, investments amounted to P32.33 million, while employment generated was pegged at 1,247 jobs.
DTI reported that 10 towns in the province have contributed to the successful job creation, investment generation, and creation of entrepreneurs with the Otop program.
Bansalan is known for its fortified rice, while Digos City has established mango as its Otop. The anchor group of Digos City's Otop is the San Roque Mango Processors Coop, one of the four firms included in the National Trade Fair (NTF) this year.
In Don Marcelino, the Lawa Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative anchored the municipality's Otop, which is coconut.
Meanwhile, Hagonoy was known for its hybrid rice, while mango was Kiblawan's Otop. Its anchor group is the Kiblawan Mango Growers Association (Kimanggas).
Mango is also the Otop of Malalag, with Malalag Women's Council as anchor organization, whose product (mango juice) is envisioned to form part of the LGU's thrust of promoting the product as health food to school children.
In Magsaysay, the Otop was the organic rice. Its anchor group is the Kilolog Magsaysay Farmers Coop (Kimfaco), which contributed to the domestic sales by participating in different regional fairs last year.
Malita, Matanao, and Sta. Cruz, on the other hand, are known for its banana chips, mango, and seaweed products, respectively. The municipalities, with their Otop, have also performed in generating sales and investment for the province.
