The Angeles City government’s One Town One Product (Otop) Store has exceeded its sales expectation for the recent holiday season, earning P250,644 in two months.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. said the Otop Store earned P200,958 for December 2020 and another P49,706 sale for January 2021.
According to Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, sales for December 2020 were from the combined sales from walk-in customers, Shopee orders, and the historic 12.12 live selling event totaling P71,626; orders of First District Representative Carmelo "Jon" Lazatin II, who purchased wooden plate sets worth P62,000 as souvenir gifts to the members of the Congress; and the ChristMask Project intended to raise funds for the Aeta community of Sapang Bato, which earned P67,359.
Manuel is assisted by Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions led by officer-in-charge Irish Bonus-Llego in supervising the Otop Store.
IC Calaguas, Lazatin's chief adviser and tactician, who has been actively supporting the Gawang Angeleño since its launching in June 2020, was one of the main hosts of the Otop Store's historic live selling alongside Manuel.
Calaguas thanked non-Angeleños who, despite being from other regions, still supported Gawang Angeleños. She added that the utilization of various social media and e-commerce platforms such as Shopee has boosted the promotion of the Gawang Angeleño products.
City Councilor Arvin Suller also supported the live selling event.
During the height of the pandemic, Lazatin waived the P500 registration fee among Otop Store sellers.
The city government also guaranteed that Otop Store sales were given directly to the suppliers.
To date, Otop Store's partner merchants are ADTO Ship (miniature souvenir ships); BG Metal (metal plant baskets); JJBMS Blooming Greens (water bonsais); Cutud Weavers (plant baskets); Ellen’s Handbags (recycled bags); Flores Handicrafts (kitchen organizers); Tamayuq (bayong bags); Tabak’s Artworks (painted home decors); K’s Creation (fashion accessories); Woodcraft by Madison (wooden kitchenwares); Chilona Fabrica (Capiz home decors); and Stitched by Raj (hair accessories).
Otop Angeles Store was launched in September 2019 with a mission to support local but high-grade producers and manufacturers. Its launching is also under the Otop Philippines Act of 2020, which mandates the creation of Otop offices and programs among local government units.
Otop Stores are located on Nepomuceno Street, Barangay Sto. Rosario (Heritage District) and at the Angeles City Hall building.