TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Exhibitors in the recent Patawid Agro-Industrial Trade Fair hauled P1,380,149 in sales, 16 percent higher than last year’s P1,186,290.
A joint project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Kalinga) and Tabuk City Government, the Patawid has become part of the traditional celebration of Matagoan Festival and the City Founding Anniversary.
Benita Mangadap of DTI-Kalinga, one of the organizers, attributed the high sales to a display of wider product line from woven apparel, processed foods, furniture, souvenir, decors, gifts, handicrafts, ornamental, and organic agri-products. This year, 65 exhibitors joined the fair compared to 57 in 2012.
The top five sellers came from the sectors on processed foods with P291,565; wearables, fashion accessories, gifts, housewares and decors – P754,611; ornamental plants – P156,310; agri-tech, health products/services – P133,468; and barangays – P44,195.
Mangadap said to add fun and excitement to the Patawid, organizers held a search for special awards.
Best Product Award went to E. Bro’s Antique & Modern Furniture Shop, Kinwa Etnika Handicrafts, Balik-Tribu Fashion Accessories, Shekinah’ Malunggay Cookies, Garcia’s Sugarcane Products & Mananig MPC, and Peralta’s Souvenir Shop. Each got P1,000 cash prize.
Best Dressed Booth went to Peralta’s Souvenir Shop, Elda’s Homemade Products and Ashley Ornamentals with a cash prize of P2,000 each.
The Best in On-the-spot Flower Arrangement was bagged by Imelda Vecaldo and the Best Exhibitor was Carolina Manadao. Both received P2,000 cash prize.
According to Mangadap, organizers this year have included Best Pasalubong Product for food and non-food categories in the search.
“The concept here is selling pasalubong products that carry distinct quality and brand to identify a ‘Tabuk mark’,” Mangadap explained.
The Best Pasalubong Product for food category went to Sally’s Bakery, while Praj’s Pasalubong Center won the non-food category with P2,000 cash prize, each.
Exhibitors participating in the yearly Patawid come from the sector of DTI-assisted Micro, Small-Medium Entrepreneurs in the province and other guest-exhibitors from the provinces of Benguet, Mt.Province, Ifugao, Quirino, and Isabela.
The Patawid is one of the regular projects of DTI-Kalinga to help small entrepreneurs in the province market their products. (Larry T. Lopez)