AROUND P7.9 million-budget has been allotted for Davao Region by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the implementation of One Town, One Product (Otop) Next Gen, an improved and upscaled version of the Otop program which was first launched in 2004.
DTI-Davao Region Development Specialist Romeo Vasquez Jr. said if the previous Otop program focused more on the products of the specific towns, Otop Next Gen will specifically give emphasis to the branding of these products and how well these can be presented to the consumers.
“This is expected to be a level higher than Otop. This time, Otop Next Gen focuses on product development and brand equity. It’s more technology-driven and market-driven compared to Otop,” said Vasquez.
He added that out of the P7.9 million-budget allocated for the entire region, P1.7 million of this will be for Davao City. Provinces like Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, and Davao del Sur will each receive P800,000 for the project.
“We want to focus more on the value that is derived from the brand itself, not just by the product. It’s more of expecting more competitive products, more world-class products from our provinces,” he said.
Vasquez also shared that last week, from April 26 to 27, more than 50 micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) underwent the screening, assessment, and triage (SAT) sessions for DTI to be able to screen whether or not these MSMEs can be qualified as Otop Next Gen businesses. Forty of these were qualified.
These 40 MSMEs that made it to the first phase of SAT will then undergo through the second phase which is the Extensive Product and Brand Development.
Anyone making it to the second phase will then go through the third phase which is the Market Exposure, which will prepare them for participation to the Go Lokal project. Go Lokal stores are a partnership project of DTI with private sectors such as SM Malls and Robinson’s nationwide.
“If they pass the phase two, they will have their products displayed at our Go Lokal stores all over the Philippines,” Vasquez said.